Roommate matching for students and newcomers

Students, newcomers and sometimes their families, plus landlords or homeowners with rooms who want reliable tenants. Colleges or settlement groups might refer clients, but check whether they allow it.

A fixed matching fee per person or a successful-placement fee, with optional extras such as a follow-up check-in after the first month.

• Interviewing and listening
• Good people judgment
• Organised record keeping
• Cultural awareness and, ideally, a second language

• Handling sensitive personal details: check PIPEDA or your provincial privacy law and store data securely
• Fees: some provinces limit what can be charged to tenants for finding housing, and rental referral may be regulated, check your provincial regulator and municipality
• Human rights codes: screening and matching must not discriminate on protected grounds, check your provincial human rights code
• Do not promise a tenancy outcome or act as landlord or agent unless you hold the right registration
• Scams targeting newcomers: never take large deposits on behalf of landlords and be clear about what you do and do not do
• Consider professional liability or commercial general liability insurance, and ask a broker what fits
• Quebec has French-language and tenancy rules of its own if you operate there

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $500 to $2,500, depending on your tools, website and how you set up interviews and reference checks. Treat these as estimates and plan your own budget.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on how many clients you take on and your fees. Check whether your province limits fees charged to tenants for finding housing.

Check PIPEDA or your provincial privacy law, your human rights code, and whether rental referral is regulated by your provincial regulator or municipality. Do not promise tenancy outcomes or act as landlord or agent without registration. Quebec has its own rules.