Searching for a “900 1 bedroom apartment Toronto” is a common starting point for budget-focused renters and value-minded investors. In today's market, true 1 bedroom under $900 is rare within the City of Toronto, but not impossible with trade-offs such as location, age of building, or basement configuration. Below is practical, province-aware guidance to help you assess what's feasible, where to look, and how to protect yourself legally and financially.
What $900 means in Toronto's rental market
Across the GTA, typical 1-bedroom asking rents are often well above $2,000/month, with premium downtown and transit-adjacent buildings commanding more. A $900 one bedroom apartment generally appears in one of the following forms:
- Older, rent-controlled stock where a long-term tenant is moving out and the unit needs cosmetic updates.
- Basement or garden-level suites with limited natural light, shared laundry, or modest finishes—see examples like a one-bedroom basement apartment in Toronto or a downtown basement 1-bedroom.
- Scarborough, North York, or outer-ward locations farther from core subway nodes—occasionally, you'll find opportunities, such as a Scarborough 1-bedroom around $750, though availability is sporadic and competition is strong.
- Co-ops, subsidized housing, or rooming houses (licensed “multi-tenant houses”). Wait-lists can be lengthy.
For context, “$900 1 bedroom apartment” and “900 dollar apartments” today typically signal compromises on size, finishes, or privacy (e.g., partial kitchens) rather than modern, full-sized condos.
“900 1 bedroom apartment Toronto” — a reality check
Expect the unit to be smaller and older, with modest amenities (coin laundry, radiator heat). Some landlords may advertise “hydro included” to attract interest; if that's important to you, watch for listings such as a hydro-included 1-bedroom. If your budget is firm at $900, it's wise to expand your search radius to parts of Scarborough, east Danforth, or stops along the future transit corridors where pricing is sometimes more forgiving.
Comparing with higher-priced options can help benchmark value: a 1-bedroom near Yonge & Lawrence or an Avenue Road 1-bedroom typically trades at higher rent due to transit access and neighbourhood amenities.
Zoning, building type, and legality checks
Confirm the unit is legal. Toronto permits secondary suites, laneway suites, and garden suites subject to zoning and building/fire code compliance. Ask the landlord for:
- Evidence the suite complies with fire separation, smoke/CO detectors, and egress window requirements.
- Any municipal registration or permit relevant to the unit type. Multi-tenant houses are now licensed citywide; if your “$900 one bedroom apartment” is a room within a larger shared home, the property should carry an active license.
Ontario's Bill 23 also broadened as-of-right permissions for multiple units on many residential lots province-wide, but local implementation varies. Always verify at the municipal level, as ward-specific standards, parking rules, and set-backs can affect legality and habitability.
Short-term rental bylaws and subletting
Toronto allows short-term rentals (28 days or less) only in a host's principal residence, with municipal registration. If you're renting a 1-bedroom under $900, you generally cannot legally Airbnb it without living there as your principal residence and obtaining a registration number. Most condo corporations also restrict STRs in their declarations. Subletting longer-term is governed by the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) and your lease—obtain written consent where required.
Investor view: cash flow, resale potential, and building choice
A $900 1 bedroom apartment will not cover carrying costs on a typical condo purchase in Toronto. Investors instead target stable, transit-oriented 1-bedrooms for liquidity and lower vacancy risk, accepting that rent will exceed $900. Resale outlook tends to be best near TTC subway and GO nodes, with balanced maintenance fees and healthy reserve funds.
- Older condos: Usually larger layouts, stronger end-user demand at resale; maintenance fees may be higher, but rents are resilient near transit hubs like Yonge & Eglinton or Lawrence—see the neighbourhood context of a Yonge–Lawrence 1-bedroom.
- Purpose-built rentals: Lower turnover; good for buy-and-hold if acquiring a building/unit interest, but professional management is key.
- Pre-construction: Assignments and closing risk require careful underwriting. Conservative rent assumptions and rate buffers are essential.
Benchmark against larger formats to understand family-driven demand and resale stack—e.g., compare with a 2-bedroom with ensuite laundry or even a luxury 3-bedroom. Some investors also consider house-hack scenarios (e.g., sharing a 4-bedroom apartment in Toronto) to lower personal housing cost while building equity elsewhere.
To compare rents and neighbourhood absorption, market snapshots on KeyHomes.ca are a practical reference point, and the site connects you with licensed professionals for due diligence on condo status certificates, special assessments, and reserve fund health.
Tenant protections and rent control basics in Ontario
Most units first occupied before Nov. 15, 2018 are subject to Ontario's rent increase guideline (capped at 2.5% in recent years). Units first occupied after that date are generally exempt from the guideline, meaning increases are not capped by the guideline (notice rules still apply). Always check which category your unit falls into before you sign.
- Deposits: Landlords can request a rent deposit up to one rental period (commonly last month's rent). Damage deposits are not permitted. Key deposits must not exceed replacement cost.
- Rent increases: Proper notice and timing rules apply under the RTA. Confirm whether your unit is rent-controlled before budgeting for renewals.
- Applications: Expect proof of income, credit, references. Post-dated cheques cannot be required by law (you may offer them voluntarily).
Tip: If a $900 1 bedroom apartment looks unusually cheap for the area, ask why. Sometimes it reflects missing amenities or a short-term discount, but it can also indicate an unregistered suite or atypical lease conditions.
Seasonal patterns: when to search for value
Leasing demand peaks late spring through early fall (student cycles and relocations), with a secondary bump in January. For renters seeking 1 bedroom under 900, winter can bring slightly better negotiating leverage and longer days on market, particularly for basement units. For buyers, listing activity often climbs in spring and fall; investors should watch inventory spikes for negotiability on older, larger 1-bedrooms.
Lifestyle and neighbourhood fit
At this budget, prioritize safety, commute, and essentials over amenities. Basements may offer space at a lower price, sometimes pet-friendly, similar to a pet-friendly 2-bedroom basement listing but scaled to one bedroom. Proximity to bus or LRT lines matters if you're outside the core. Where utilities aren't included, confirm average costs—electric baseboard heat can swing winter bills.
If you need inclusionary features (e.g., utilities included or ensuite laundry), set expectations accordingly. The more must-haves you add, the less likely $900 will be attainable. Reviewing a spectrum of listings on a trusted resource like KeyHomes.ca—ranging from entry-level suites to mid-market examples—can help calibrate choices quickly.
Example scenarios to ground your search
Scenario A: Basement 1-bedroom at $900
You find a basement suite in East York at $900. Steps to take:
- Request confirmation it's a legal secondary suite with compliant egress and fire separation.
- Check for moisture issues, ceiling height, and soundproofing. Verify laundry access and hours.
- Clarify utilities: Is heat included? If hydro is separate, estimate based on prior bills.
- Confirm rent control status and deposit terms in writing.
Scenario B: Investor buying an older 1-bedroom
You purchase an older condo near a subway line, expecting strong leasing demand at market rent (well above $900). You benchmark against nearby rental comps like an Avenue Road 1-bedroom and a Yonge–Lawrence 1-bedroom. You review the status certificate, budget for potential elevator modernization costs, and set a conservative vacancy allowance. If cash flow is tight, you avoid pre-construction risk and prioritize immediate, rentable inventory.
Regional note for seasonal cottage seekers
If you're weighing city rent versus occasional cottage escapes, remember that shoulder-season rentals north of the GTA can be cost-effective compared to year-round carrying costs. Cottage ownership introduces different due diligence: septic systems (age, last pump-out), well water potability, and winterization. Short-term rental bylaws in cottage jurisdictions (e.g., Muskoka or Kawartha Lakes) vary widely—some require licensing, caps, or septic capacity proofs. Verify locally before relying on offsetting income from STRs.
Finding legitimate listings and reading between the lines
Descriptions often hint at trade-offs. “Cozy” and “lower level” can signal smaller basements. “Hydro included” helps with predictability—see a representative hydro-included 1-bedroom example. Compare across the spectrum—from entry-level basements to family-sized suites like a 4-bedroom apartment in Toronto—to understand what you sacrifice or gain at different price points. Platforms such as KeyHomes.ca allow you to scan neighbourhood data and connect with licensed professionals who can confirm zoning and tenancy details before you commit.