How to Find a Roommate in Vancouver Safely

Shared housing is how most newcomers afford Vancouver. A room in a shared apartment runs $800-1,200/month — way less than getting your own place. But finding a good roommate (and avoiding bad ones) takes some know-how. Here's what works in 2026.

Where to Find Roommates

Facebook Groups (Most Popular)

• "Rooms & Roommates in Vancouver" — 50,000+ members, very active
• "Vancouver Rentals & Roommates" — newer group, less spam
• Language/nationality-specific groups — search for "[your language] Vancouver housing" for community-specific listings

Advantage: You can check the person's profile, see mutual friends, and message them directly. Most newcomer-to-newcomer connections happen here.

Craigslist Vancouver — Rooms/Shared Section

Go to vancouver.craigslist.org → housing → rooms/shared. Lots of listings, but also lots of scams. Always visit in person before sending money. Never send an etransfer without seeing the place first.

SpareRoom.com

A roommate-matching platform that's growing in Vancouver. You create a profile, list your preferences, and get matched with compatible people. It's more structured than Facebook or Craigslist. Free basic plan, paid plan for messaging first.

University/College Housing Boards

If you're a student, check your school's housing board: UBC, SFU, BCIT, Langara, and Douglas College all have online boards for students looking for roommates. These tend to be safer since they're verified students.

Red Flags to Watch For

• "Send deposit to hold the room" — without you visiting first = likely a scam
• Way below market price — a $500/month room in downtown Vancouver doesn't exist. If it sounds too good, it is.
• Won't show you the place in person — says they're "out of town" and wants you to send money. Classic scam.
• No lease or written agreement — always get something in writing, even for a room
• Asking for first + last + damage deposit upfront — in BC, landlords can only ask for half a month's rent as a damage deposit. No last month's rent allowed.

How to Screen a Roommate

• Meet in person (or video call first, then in person)
• Ask about their work schedule, guests policy, noise tolerance, and cleanliness standards
• Check their social media — does their lifestyle seem compatible with yours?
• Ask for references from a previous roommate or landlord
• Discuss money upfront: how will rent be split? How about utilities and internet?

Know your rights: BC's Residential Tenancy Act covers roommates too. Check our tenant rights guide for details.

Shared Housing Costs in 2026

• Downtown Vancouver: $900-1,400/room
• Burnaby near SkyTrain: $800-1,100/room
• Surrey: $600-900/room
• Coquitlam: $750-1,000/room

Use our rent affordability calculator to figure out how much of your income should go to rent.

Making Shared Living Work

• Set up a shared expense tracker (Splitwise app is free and popular)
• Agree on a cleaning schedule from day one
• Label your food in the fridge (seriously, it prevents 90% of roommate conflicts)
• Communicate directly about issues before they become grudges

Frequently Asked Questions

Is shared housing safe for women?

Many women-only shared housing options exist — search for "women only" in Facebook groups and Craigslist. Always visit in person, meet all current roommates, and trust your gut. Having a written roommate agreement adds a layer of protection.

Can my landlord add a roommate without my consent?

No. If you're the primary tenant, you control who lives there (unless your lease says otherwise). If you're the newcomer being added, make sure the primary tenant has permission from the landlord to sublet.

What if my roommate doesn't pay rent?

If you're both on the lease, you're both liable. If you're subletting from them and they don't pay the landlord, you could face eviction. This is why written agreements matter. Get everything in writing.

References

[1] BC Housing, "Rental Market Reports." https://www.bchousing.org/research-centre/housing-data

[2] Statistics Canada, "Census Profile, Vancouver CMA, 2021." https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2021/dp-pd/prof/index.cfm

[3] City of Vancouver, "Open Data Portal." https://opendata.vancouver.ca/

[4] Government of Canada, "Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship." https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship.html

Budget planning? Our settlement cost calculator helps you estimate all your first-month costs including rent, deposits, and groceries.