Blog

Tips for living in Ottawa, co-living guides, neighbourhood spotlights, and stories from our community.

Comfortable furnished room with sofa, shelving and warm lighting

furnished room checklist4 min read

Furnished Room Checklist: What to Verify Before You Rent | Passage

Renting a furnished room? The complete checklist: what furniture must be there, quality checks that take 60 seconds, inventory documentation, and what 'furnished' legally means.

Published on September 1, 2026Read More

Packed moving boxes and a plant beside an apartment door

moving out of residence4 min read

Moving Out of Residence: The Complete Transition Guide | Passage

Leaving university residence — at year's end or mid-year? Timelines, deposit rules, what changes in off-campus life, and how to land the transition smoothly.

Published on September 1, 2026Read More

Padlock resting on a laptop keyboard symbolizing online security

Ottawa rental scams4 min read

Ottawa Rental Scams: How Apartment Fraud Works & How to Beat It | Passage

Beyond fake room listings: how full-apartment rental fraud works in Ottawa — fake landlords, deposit theft, lease fraud — and the verification habits that beat all of it.

Published on September 1, 2026Read More

Official documents and forms organized on a desk

SIN number international students4 min read

SIN Number for International Students: The Complete Guide | Passage

How international students get a SIN in Canada: eligibility, documents, the Service Canada visit, what it unlocks, and the mistakes that delay it — explained simply.

Published on September 1, 2026Read More

Old brick house with a worn porch on a residential street

student house red flags4 min read

Student House Red Flags: 12 Warning Signs at a Viewing | Passage

The 12 warning signs that a student house will make your year miserable: mould, bad landlords, firetrap layouts, and lease traps — spotted in one 15-minute viewing.

Published on September 1, 2026Read More

Warmly lit furnished bedroom with a bed, plants and reading lamp

all-inclusive room what's included4 min read

All-Inclusive Room Rentals: What's Actually Included? | Passage

What does 'all-inclusive' really cover in a room rental? The full inclusion list at Passage, the questions that expose weak bundles, and what's never included anywhere.

Published on August 17, 2026Read More

Hand holding a bank card in front of a laptop

bank account international student Canada4 min read

Opening a Bank Account in Canada as an International Student | Passage

How international students open a Canadian bank account: documents needed, choosing between banks, student packages, credit building, and paying rent from day one.

Published on August 17, 2026Read More

Moving boxes stacked in a bright empty room

first student apartment checklist4 min read

First Student Apartment Checklist: Everything You Actually Need | Passage

Moving into your first student place in Ottawa? The complete checklist: what to buy, what to skip, setup tasks, and the furnished shortcut that skips 80% of it.

Published on August 17, 2026Read More

Bright modern apartment living room with large windows

how to find apartment Ottawa4 min read

How to Find an Apartment in Ottawa: The Complete Search System | Passage

A step-by-step system for finding an apartment or room in Ottawa: where to search, how to shortlist, viewing tactics, and closing fast in a competitive market.

Published on August 17, 2026Read More

Healthy home-cooked meal in a bowl on a wooden table

residence meal plans worth it4 min read

Are Residence Meal Plans Worth It? The Real Per-Meal Math | Passage

University meal plans cost thousands per year — but what's the per-meal price, and how does it compare to cooking? The honest math for Ottawa students.

Published on August 17, 2026Read More

Student desk with laptop, notebooks and coffee by a bright window

Carleton residence vs off-campus4 min read

Carleton Residence vs Off-Campus: The Honest Comparison | Passage

Carleton residence or off-campus housing? Costs, commutes, independence and social life compared honestly — with the decision framework by year of study.

Published on August 10, 2026Read More

Canadian flag flying in front of a city skyline on a clear day

first week in Canada checklist4 min read

Your First Week in Canada: The Day-by-Day Checklist | Passage

A day-by-day first-week checklist for newcomers to Canada: SIN, bank account, phone, health coverage, transit — sequenced so each step unlocks the next.

Published on August 10, 2026Read More

Scales of justice on a desk beside legal reference books

Ontario tenant rights4 min read

Ontario Tenant Rights: A Renter's Plain-English Guide | Passage

Your rights as a renter in Ontario, in plain English: deposits, rent increases, repairs, entry rules, evictions — and where room rentals fit under the RTA.

Published on August 10, 2026Read More

Two people reviewing and signing a rental agreement at a table

room rental lease checklist4 min read

Room Rental Lease Checklist: What to Verify Before Signing | Passage

The 12-point lease checklist for room rentals in Ontario: what must be in writing, the clauses that hide costs, per-room vs whole-house liability, and red-flag terms.

Published on August 10, 2026Read More

Savings jar with coins next to a notebook and calculator

student budget Ottawa4 min read

Student Budget in Ottawa: A Realistic Monthly Breakdown | Passage

What does a month actually cost a student in Ottawa? Line-by-line budget for housing, food, transit and life — with the three levers that matter most.

Published on August 10, 2026Read More

Students studying together at a table in a bright campus building

Algonquin College housing4 min read

Algonquin College Housing Guide: Neighbourhoods & Commutes | Passage

Housing guide for Algonquin College students: where to live, transit realities from central Ottawa to Woodroffe, costs, and why some students choose central + commute.

Published on July 27, 2026Read More

Calculator, receipts and a notebook laid out on a desk

all-inclusive rent Ottawa4 min read

All-Inclusive vs Plus-Utilities Rent in Ottawa: The Real Math | Passage

Is all-inclusive rent worth it in Ottawa? The real math on utilities, internet and hidden costs — when the bundle wins, when it doesn't, and how to compare fairly.

Published on July 27, 2026Read More

Person planning travel on a laptop with a notebook and passport nearby

booking accommodation from abroad4 min read

Booking Student Accommodation From Abroad, Safely: A Protocol | Passage

How to book accommodation in Canada from another country without getting scammed: the verification protocol, payment rules, and what a trustworthy remote booking looks like.

Published on July 27, 2026Read More

Bright empty bedroom with hardwood floors and large windows during a viewing

questions to ask room viewing4 min read

21 Questions to Ask at a Room Viewing (Ottawa Edition) | Passage

The 21 questions that expose a bad room rental before you sign: costs, lease terms, housemates, maintenance and building health — printable Ottawa viewing checklist.

Published on July 27, 2026Read More

Modern residential building facade with balconies against a blue sky

student residence types4 min read

Student Residence Types in Ottawa Explained: Dorm to Suite to Private | Passage

Traditional dorm, suite-style, apartment-style, private residence, co-living: every student residence type in Ottawa explained with honest costs and who each fits.

Published on July 27, 2026Read More

House keys handed over in front of a bright doorway

average rent Ottawa4 min read

Average Rent in Ottawa 2026: Real Numbers by Housing Type | Passage

What's the average rent in Ottawa in 2026? Realistic ranges for apartments, rooms, and co-living by neighbourhood — plus the costs averages hide.

Published on July 16, 2026Read More

Students walking through a university campus courtyard

Carleton University housing4 min read

Carleton University Housing Guide: Where Ravens Actually Live | Passage

Off-campus housing guide for Carleton University students: the neighbourhoods that work, commute realities by transit and canal path, costs, and furnished options.

Published on July 16, 2026Read More

Person cautiously reviewing a listing on a laptop screen

room rental scam Ottawa4 min read

How to Spot a Room Rental Scam in Ottawa: 9 Red Flags | Passage

Room rental scams spike every summer in Ottawa. The 9 red flags that expose fake listings, the scripts scammers use on students, and how to verify before you pay.

Published on July 16, 2026Read More

Person reviewing official documents with a pen at a desk

study permit housing Canada4 min read

Study Permit & Housing in Canada: What Students Must Know | Passage

How your study permit and housing interact: proof of funds, why a housing letter helps at the border, renting without Canadian credit, and permit-friendly lease choices.

Published on July 16, 2026Read More

Students celebrating on a university campus lawn

uOttawa residence application4 min read

uOttawa Residence Application Timeline: Dates, Deposits & Decisions | Passage

How the uOttawa residence application actually unfolds: when to apply, when offers and deposits land, what each decision point means, and the backup plan for every stage.

Published on July 16, 2026Read More

International students with luggage smiling outside a university building

international student arrival checklist Ottawa4 min read

International Student Arrival Checklist for Ottawa: First 30 Days | Passage

The complete arrival checklist for international students coming to Ottawa: what to arrange before flying, landing-day steps, and your first 30 days sorted.

Published on July 15, 2026Read More

Apartment buildings and cranes on a city skyline

Ottawa rental market 20264 min read

Ottawa Rental Market 2026: Prices, Vacancy & What Renters Should Expect | Passage

A renter's view of the Ottawa rental market in 2026: current price ranges by housing type, the seasonal demand cycle, and how to time your search.

Published on July 15, 2026Read More

Student checking email on a laptop with a concerned expression

residence waitlist what to do4 min read

On the Residence Waitlist in Ottawa? Your Plan B Playbook | Passage

Stuck on a university residence waitlist for September? Here's how waitlists actually resolve, when to activate plan B, and how to secure great off-campus housing fast.

Published on July 15, 2026Read More

Cozy furnished bedroom with warm lighting and a desk by the window

room rental prices Ottawa4 min read

Room Rental Prices in Ottawa 2026: What a Room Really Costs | Passage

What does renting a room in Ottawa cost in 2026? Price ranges by neighbourhood and room type, the hidden costs that inflate cheap listings, and how to compare fairly.

Published on July 15, 2026Read More

University building with students on the front lawn in summer

uOttawa housing timeline4 min read

uOttawa Housing Timeline 2026: When to Search, Apply & Sign | Passage

Month-by-month uOttawa housing timeline for September 2026: when residence decisions land, when off-campus stock peaks, and the deadlines that matter.

Published on July 15, 2026Read More

Ottawa cityscape with Parliament Hill and the Rideau Canal during autumn

cost of living Ottawa5 min read

Cost of Living in Ottawa 2026: Rent, Transit, Food & How to Save on Housing

What does it actually cost to live in Ottawa in 2026? Honest breakdown of rent, transit, groceries, and utilities — plus how co-living can cut your housing costs significantly.