When it comes to finding a place to call home, an apartment isn't your only option - a house rental is becoming an increasingly popular choice for people from all walks of life. Whether it's a group of students, a young family or someone simply searching for more space, choosing a house rental has a number of benefits - but also a few drawbacks. How do you know which one is right for you?

Size Matters

There is no mistaking it - a house rental will simply provide you with much more space than an apartment rental can. For people with children and large pets, this is often the deciding factor when choosing what type of home to rent. Having a yard means it's easier to let Fido out in the morning or give your kids a safe place to play. If you have more than one vehicle, a house rental generally comes with a garage (or a driveway) that provides you with ample parking room. While an apartment building may have a parking garage, there is often an extra monthly cost to use it.

A Question of Convenience

When it comes to amenities, an apartment rental has the upper hand over a house rental. Going with an apartment means you will likely have access to a gym, pool or other recreational facility. Additionally, an apartment building will generally be more centrally located than a house, meaning you will have easier access to public transportation and be closer to shops and grocery stores. However, other building-specific amenities, such as a dishwasher, are often found in house rentals and are not as common in apartment buildings.

The Cost Factor

A house rental may be more cost-effective than an apartment building in terms of the amount of square footage for your money, but don't forget to factor in the monthly utility expenses. The cost required to heat a home is considerably greater than the cost to heat a one bedroom apartment, so expect larger bills. By the same token, it is possible to find a house rental that is all-inclusive - meaning you won't have to worry about those big bills each month. Set your price and shop around for the best house rental bang for your buck.

Quiet Time

Living in an apartment, you have to expect to hear your neighbours sometimes. Even with excellent sound-proofing, it's not realistic to have a completely sound-free home.  If you work the nightshift, for example, this can become problematic. Enter a house rental, which can provide you with a quiet environment during the day (and night). On the other side of the coin, an apartment rental provides you with more opportunity to get to know your neighbours and foster a sense of community and camaraderie that is hard to find with a house rental.

Need more information to help you make the final decision? Street Directory has created a handy list of benefits for both house rentals and apartment rentals in their editorial piece "Renting A House Versus Renting An Apartment: The Pros And Cons":

The Benefits of Renting a House:

1. More space, including outdoor space. Typically, a house is going to provide you with more room inside as well as outdoor space like a yard. If you've got pets, children or a lot of stuff, this could be a huge incentive.

2. Parking. While many apartments come with a parking spot, a large number of urban apartments, particularly older buildings, don't. If you have a vehicle or two, you may want to look at renting a home with parking.

3. Privacy. Typically, a house is going to afford you a lot more privacy. With no neighbors listening through the walls or complaining about your footsteps in the morning, you have a lot more freedom in a home.

The Benefits of Renting an Apartment:

1. Low maintenance. Depending on your rental agreement, renting a house may also mean taking on shoveling the walkway, mowing the lawn, maintaining the garden and general upkeep of the house. In an apartment, the grounds and outdoor maintenance are all taken care of for you.

2. Professional management. Typically, homes are rented by individual property owners while apartments are managed by a building supervisor and a property management firm. This means you have on-call support that's professional, business-minded and knows and follows the tenancy laws.

3. Location. If you're looking for a prime location right in the downtown are, in the heart of the city, you're most likely going to be looking at an apartment. Single-family dwellings are usually found in more suburban or outer-city regions.

Additional Considerations for Either

Before you sign a lease for a house or an apartment, make sure you understand what is and isn't included in the space. Some include heat and power in the rental agreement, while others don't. Others include cable television and grounds maintenance, while others don't. It's important to know exactly what you can expect from your landlord and what they expect of you before you sign.

Thanks to the team at Rentseeker.ca for sharing these tips with us!