Rooms Available in December in Montreal: What's Actually on the Market
If you need a room for December 1st, or you're searching right now for something that starts in the next six weeks, you're working against two things at once: an inventory cycle built entirely around July, and a city that effectively closes for two weeks at the end of the month. The supply is real but it's a specific kind of supply, and the window to secure it closes earlier than people expect. Here's what's actually out there in December and how to move on it.
Available now, any start date: Coliville — furnished rooms from C$160/week, all-inclusive, move in any day of the month.
Why December supply looks the way it does
Montreal's leases run July 1 to June 30. Almost nothing new enters the market in December by design — what's available is there because someone's plans changed, not because a landlord scheduled a vacancy.
That shapes the whole search. You're not shopping a catalogue; you're finding the specific openings that exist this month. There are fewer of them, but there are also almost no other applicants. Our off-season guide covers why the quiet window generally favours the tenant.
What's actually available
Rooms in shared apartments — the largest source. Roommate turnover runs all year and peaks slightly at semester end. Someone finished a contract, failed out, moved in with a partner, or is going home. Posted in Facebook groups, on Kijiji and Marketplace, and on university boards.
Sublets from students leaving for winter term. Hundreds of Montreal students depart in late December for exchanges abroad and need someone in their room from January. These post in late November and are gone before the holidays — this is the single most time-sensitive category. Our sublet guide has the consent rules.
Lease transfers (cessions). Someone leaving the city hands over the remaining term, often January to June. The landlord can only refuse for serious cause.
Furnished coliving rooms. Availability isn't tied to anyone's calendar — rooms turn over continuously and start dates are flexible.
End-of-contract departures. Interns, contract workers and visiting staff finishing in December vacate on real December dates, which is exactly what you need if you're looking for a December 1 or December 15 start.
What's thin: whole apartments on fresh 12-month leases. Those cluster around the July cycle and barely exist now.
What it costs
| Option | Monthly |
|---|---|
| Room in a shared apartment | $600 – $850 |
| Furnished all-inclusive room | $693 – $888 (C$160–205/week) |
| Sublet (often slightly under market) | $550 – $800 |
| Studio / 2½ | $1,100 – $1,500 |
| Monthly Airbnb | $1,400 – $2,200 |
Two December-specific cost notes. First, utilities are at their annual peak — if heat isn't included, add $80 – $140/month to any non-inclusive listing, which is enough to flip which option is cheapest. Our heating guide has the ranges.
Second, there is no legal deposit in Quebec. Only first month's rent may be collected. Anyone asking for a damage or security deposit in December — when people are rushed and distracted — is either uninformed or working you.
Neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood prices are in our by-neighbourhood comparison.
The holiday dead zone — the thing that actually bites
Montreal stops between roughly December 20 and January 5. Property managers are away, landlords travel, listings go unanswered, and viewings don't happen. If you're still searching on December 18, you are not searching — you're waiting until January 6.
The practical calendar:
| When | What's happening |
|---|---|
| Now – mid-November | Best moment to search. Quiet market, responsive landlords, real choice |
| Late November | Peak sublet postings for January starts |
| Dec 1 – 15 | Last functional window. Decisions get made here |
| Dec 20 – Jan 5 | Dead. Nothing moves |
| Jan 6 onwards | Market restarts, but you're now living somewhere temporary |
If you need December 1, you should be viewing this week. If you need January 1, you should decide before December 15.
Viewing in late autumn — the advantage
One genuine upside of searching now: the building can't hide anything.
- Drafts are obvious — run your hand around every window frame
- The bedroom's real temperature, not the living room's
- North-facing rooms reveal themselves immediately
- Street and sidewalk clearing — walk the route to the metro yourself; main arteries are cleared early, side streets much later (see our snow and parking guide)
- Who shovels the outdoor staircase — ask directly
An apartment viewed in August hides all of this. Full list in our viewing checklist.
Moving to a short list fast
- Set your real minimum — budget, commute, what must be included. Write it down.
- Join the channels today — Facebook housing groups, university boards, Marketplace, Kijiji. Post a "looking for" ad, don't just read.
- Ask about inclusions first. "Is it heated?" filters a list faster than any other question in December.
- View in person or by live video. Never a recording.
- Decide fast when something fits. In a thin market, a good room is gone in days — but don't let speed push you past the scam checks in our rental scams guide.
- Never pay a deposit.
If nothing fits in time
The failure mode is signing a bad 12-month lease because the date forced you. It's also the most expensive mistake available in this city.
The better move: take something flexible for December and January, then search properly in the quiet window with the neighbourhood knowledge you'll have by then. A month-to-month furnished room costs roughly the same as a lease once utilities and furniture are counted, and it buys you the ability to walk away. See our weekly vs monthly pricing breakdown.
FAQ
Are there rooms available in Montreal in December? Yes — mostly roommate openings, sublets, lease transfers and furnished coliving. Less inventory than July, far less competition.
When should I start looking for a December 1 move-in? Now. Viewings should happen in the next two weeks; nothing useful happens after December 18.
Is December a bad time to rent in Montreal? The market is thin but tenant-friendly. The real risk is the holiday shutdown, not the prices.
Do I need a deposit? No. Security deposits are illegal in Quebec. Only first month's rent may be collected.
Can I move in mid-month? With a standard lease, rarely. With a furnished room priced weekly, yes — any day.
Bottom line
December inventory exists, it just comes from people whose plans changed rather than from a leasing calendar. Search now rather than in December, lead with "is it heated," view in the cold while the building tells you the truth, and never let a move-in date push you into a twelve-month lease you haven't thought about.
Need something for December? Coliville — furnished rooms from C$160/week, all-inclusive, any start date, no deposit and no credit check.