FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Homesharing simply means that you are sharing your home. Typically, a homeowner offers space in their home to a housemate. While every homeshare is unique there are two types of homesharing:

Task exchange homeshare – Extra help around the house in exchange for subsidized rent.

Long-term homeshare – Housemates stay as a permanent resident in exchange for rent.

HomeShare Alliance provides services for task exchange arrangements.

We designed HomeShare Alliance to meet the demand for shared living and anyone over the age of 18 is eligible to apply.

HomeShare Alliance is not a service for short-term accommodations. All of our agreements are for one year.

HomeShare Alliance is designed to be flexible to meet the needs of each individual homeshare arrangement, which can range from one year or more.

Yes, homesharing with one housemate for a period of more than six months is legal in most circumstances. In many cities and towns, you can even host up to three housemates at a time with no issue.

No. Homesharing does not fall under the Residential Tenancies Act as it would in a landlord and tenant relationship. Since the homeowner is sharing the kitchen with their roommate, this is a different type of relationship. The homeowner is a licensor and the housemate is a licensee.

The homeshare agreement is customized to the terms and expectations set by both parties with mutual agreement. Find out more about how shared living applies to Ontario laws here.