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Three months. You can pick any duration from 3 to 12 months in the reservation box on a room's page. Need a longer stay? Just message us — we regularly arrange 12-month+ leases directly.

Pick a room from Find a room, choose your move-in date and duration, then tap Reserve my room. You'll be taken to Stripe to pay your $500 refundable deposit and $295 one-time membership. Rent itself is collected at move-in, not at booking.

Not ready to pay yet? Every room page has a Have questions? Ask us button that puts you in touch with our team.

Just two things:

• $500 damage deposit — refundable, returned within 10 business days of move-out if the room is in good shape.
• $295 membership — one-time, covers matching, verification, and onboarding support.

Rent is not charged at checkout. You'll pay your first month's rent at move-in and monthly after that.

Yes. As long as the room is returned in the state it was handed over (normal wear and tear excluded), we return the full $500 damage deposit within 10 business days of your move-out inspection. We share the inspection checklist with you in advance so there are no surprises.

Almost always. Message your house manager on WhatsApp (or email [email protected]) as soon as you know the new date. If the room is still available on the new date we'll just slide the booking; if it's already promised to someone else we'll find you the closest alternative.

Yes — that's exactly why the deposit is refundable and rent is charged at move-in instead of booking. Reserve the room to lock it in; if your visa is refused or your plans change before move-in, you get your deposit back under the cancellation policy.

Your live-in house manager meets you at the house, hands over keys, walks you through the room and shared spaces, and answers any early questions. First-month rent is collected at this point (card, Interac e-Transfer, or cash — your choice).

Yes — a flat $65 CAD for a private driver from YVR, YYZ, or YUL. Bookable at checkout or added later via WhatsApp. Your driver will be tracking your flight and will wait inside arrivals with a sign.

Every room is fully furnished — bed, mattress, desk, chair, wardrobe, lamp, linens. Kitchens are stocked with cookware, cutlery, and basic appliances. Wi-Fi and utilities are included.

Bring your clothes, personal toiletries, and whatever makes a place feel like yours. That's it.

Yes. Your house manager will walk you through SIM options (we have discount codes with a couple of carriers), show you how to top up a Compass/Presto/OPUS card, and point you to the easiest newcomer bank account — usually TD, RBC, or Scotia depending on the city.

Absolutely. For students under 18 (and on request for anyone nervous about their first trip), we do an intro call with parents before arrival, meet the student at the airport if needed, and send a photo check-in to parents on move-in day. You can reach our coordinator on WhatsApp any time.

After move-in, we set up a recurring monthly charge on your preferred method: card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex), Interac e-Transfer, or bank pre-authorization (PAD). Rent is charged on the 1st of each month.

Yes. The deposit + membership at booking work with any international card through Stripe. For monthly rent, international cards work too — or we can switch you to a Canadian method once you open a local bank account.

No. Every Vanmates room is all-in: rent includes furniture, Wi-Fi, utilities, weekly common-area cleaning, and maintenance. Nothing else shows up on your bill unless you explicitly add it (e.g., airport pickup, extra cleanings).

Within 10 business days of your final inspection at move-out. If we need to hold any portion for repairs, we send you photos and an itemized breakdown first — and any unused amount is returned the same way.

The $295 membership is non-refundable in most cases — it covers the matching, background checks, and onboarding work that happens between booking and move-in. We make exceptions for visa refusal (with supporting document) and other significant life events. See the cancellation policy.

Your live-in house manager. They handle day-to-day stuff — access, small repairs, roommate coordination, and any friction. For anything bigger, our city coordinator is one WhatsApp message away.

File a service request or ping your house manager on WhatsApp. Most common issues (internet, appliances, plumbing) get a tradesperson booked within 24 hours. Emergencies (flooding, no heat, lockout) get same-day response.

Shared spaces (kitchen, living room, bathrooms, hallways) are professionally cleaned weekly — included in your rent. You're responsible for keeping your own room tidy and doing your own dishes.

Day guests are fine — just give your roommates a heads-up if things will be loud. Overnight guests are OK for up to 3 nights a month; anything longer needs approval so we can keep the house running smoothly.

No smoking anywhere indoors. No pets unless the listing explicitly says otherwise. Small gatherings are welcome; big parties aren't — we want everyone to sleep and study. Quiet hours are 10pm–8am.

Message your house manager — they have spare keys and most of our buildings have smart locks with temporary codes. If it's 3am and no one's answering, our on-call coordinator's WhatsApp is pinned in your welcome doc.

Let your house manager know at least 30 days before your current end date. Assuming the room's not already promised to someone else, we'll just extend — no new deposit, no new membership.

Usually yes. Message us with what's not working and what you're looking for — if we have a suitable room available we'll move you at cost (one-time $150 admin fee, no new deposit or membership).

Full details, notice windows, and exceptions live on the Cancellation policy page. Short version: before move-in, your $500 deposit is fully refundable; the $295 membership is kept (with exceptions for visa refusal and emergencies). After move-in, we ask for 30 days' written notice.

Your house manager does a quick walk-through inspection with you, compares against the move-in checklist, and notes any damage beyond normal wear and tear. Deposit is returned within 10 business days.

Yes. We fully manage homes in Vancouver, Toronto, and Montréal — finding tenants, cleaning, maintenance, rent collection. Zero setup cost, you get predictable monthly income. Details on the Real Estate Partners page.

We'd love to meet you. We match international students with vetted Canadian families — you provide a private room, breakfast + dinner, and a warm welcome. See Become a host family for how it works and compensation.

Yes — we have formal partnerships with language schools, colleges, and education agencies worldwide. Referral fees and dedicated account support. See Agency Partners.

House managers live in the home rent-free in exchange for running the day-to-day. More on House Managers.