Eight moving costs renters forget to budget for

I have moved apartments six times, across two provinces, and I have under-budgeted every single time. Not by much on any one item. By a little on everything, which adds up to a credit card balance that takes three months to clear. These are the costs that caught me, and the ones friends have told me caught them.

All the dollar figures below are illustrative. Prices vary a great deal by city, season and how much stuff you own, so use them as a prompt for your own list rather than a quote.

1. The overlap month

Leases rarely line up. If your new place starts on the first and your old notice period runs to the end of the month, you may pay two rents at once. Even a two-week overlap on a $1,800 apartment is around $900. Check your notice requirements early: most provinces require written notice well ahead of your move date, and the timing decides whether you overlap at all.

2. The deposit before the old one comes back

If your new landlord collects a deposit, you will usually pay it weeks before your old one is returned, if your old landlord holds one. Plan to fund both at once. What a landlord can charge varies by province; see rental deposits province by province.

3. Utility set-up and deposits

Some utility and internet providers charge an activation fee, and some ask new customers without a history with them for a security deposit. Internet installation can carry a fee too. None of these is large on its own, but $50 here and $100 there is easy to miss.

4. More truck than you planned

A rental truck quoted by the day is often charged by the kilometre as well, plus fuel, plus insurance. Movers who charge by the hour bill from the moment they leave their depot in some cases, and stairs, elevators and long carries can add to the total. Ask for the full price in writing, including minimum hours.

5. Elevator bookings and building fees

Condo buildings often require you to book a freight elevator for a move, and some charge a refundable deposit or a non-refundable fee for it. Ask both your old and new building before moving day, not on it.

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Not by much on any one item. By a little on everything.

6. The things the old place had

Curtains that fit the old windows will not fit the new ones. The new bathroom needs a different rod. The kitchen has no microwave. A first week of small purchases can easily reach a few hundred dollars.

7. Cleaning the place you are leaving

Leaving the old unit in reasonable condition protects any deposit you are owed. Supplies, a carpet cleaner rental or a few hours of paid cleaning all cost something, and it is far cheaper than a dispute later.

8. Time off work

If you are paid by the hour or self-employed, as I am, a moving day is often an unpaid day, and so is the day after. Count it as a cost.

The CRA’s page on moving expenses covers who qualifies and what counts. If you run a business from home, a move can also change what you can claim; see how to claim home office expenses when you rent.

My rule now is simple: whatever I think the move will cost, I add a quarter, and I put that money aside a month early. It has not been wrong yet. If you want to plan the months after the move, our renter budget guide is a good place to start.