The 2023 ski season is upon us and hundreds (I wouldn’t be surprised if it is thousands) of travellers from all over the world are looking to make Whistler their home for the winter. The dream of hitting the slopes everyday, on the commute to work and at the end of the day. It would be amazing wouldn’t it? But there is only one problem. Housing.

It starts out with a dream of living and working in Canada, getting accepted into the visa programme and then booking flights, Excitement is at an all time high of what incredible experiences the next two years are going to hold. You search and search for that perfect job to get you where you want to go and then it is time to plan. Little did you know that housing feels near impossible to find.

We have been there and feel your pain, I have put together some tips and tricks to help you hopefully find accommodation for the upcoming season too.

Why is it so Hard to Find Housing in Whistler?

Whistler is Canadas top ski resort, with 200 marked runs over two mountains it is easy to see why. There is something for everyone in this gorgeous mountain town with alpine, backcountry, heli and Nordic skiing and snowboarding.

The pedestrianised town with bars and restaurants a plenty there are so many things to fill your time during the ski season. Whistler is well known for its incredible winter activities but it doesn’t stop there, the summer is just as fun.

In the summer time would you believe it there is even more to do?! As the sun starts to beam down and the lakes start to melt the beauty of Whistler changes. If you love the outdoors then Whistler in the summer will definite scratch that itch with hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, camping, and that’s just to name a few.

This makes Whistler an extremely popular location for expats and Canadians all year round, whether that is to work or enjoy a well deserved adventure holiday.

Being so close to Vancouver a lot of Vancouverites have their own holiday home within the Whistler area that they utilise throughout the year, some have them for personal use while others will rent it out as an airbnb. As more individuals and companies build up their housing portfolio this leaves less accommodation options for locals who want to stay long term. That is only the first issue.

The intense amount of travellers that want to call Whistler home makes the house hunt feel very much like a rat race. I have spoken to some individuals who have put sublets up online and had over 200+ house hunters message them looking to secure a spot. It is a dog eat dog world when searching for Whistler accommodation. You have got to be ruthless.

Do I Need a Job Before Looking For Housing?

When you move to any new location the worry is always how will I earn money. This makes it the first thing we want to sort, am I right? Especially in Canada, I actually couldn’t believe how expensive it was to set ourselves up here.

With the housing crisis being a never ending fight, a lot of companies within the area are always looking for staff. There isn’t enough accommodation to meet the demand of staff requirements for the local businesses.

Even though it may settle the money worries knowing a job has been secured, I am sorry to tell you that is the easy part! You definitely don’t need a job before you can find somewhere to live.

Starting the Search

This all might sound intimidating but I know you have got this. Take a deep breath and lets jump in.

Staff Housing

One great way to give you the best opportunity to secure housing is to find a job that has housing options available. Not every company does and sometimes they have limited spots available but it is a great place to start.

Vail Resorts is a huge mountain resort operator who own multiple resorts across the world, including hotels, restaurants and golf courses that are within the area. Whistler Blackcomb is one of the worlds resorts that is owned by Vail and so many jobs within the area are through them. Each winter they hire upwards of 4000 staff but even then only have enough housing for 1200 individuals, that is only 30%! If your aim is to work for the mountain and get their staff accommodation, put your housing application in as soon as possible. Even then don’t expect to hear straight away, they have so many applicants that it does take time for their decisions to be made. Sometimes you may not even hear until December…

In Whistler you will always need a Plan A, B, C, D and E.

During your search you will find that there is more housing available during the summer months than the winter, this is also true for businesses. When we first arrived in Whistler in March 2023 we secured housing with our job (Yay) but at the time they only provided accommodation during the summer months. They hadn’t secured anything for winter.

If you are thinking to visit Whistler for a summer and winter season I recommend starting with the summer, it makes it easier to establish yourself and get your foot in the door before the winter season starts.

Budget

No-one comes to Whistler to save money.

When arriving in Whistler be prepared with some savings in the bank. I would advise a minimum of $3000 CAD per person to get you started.

The budget you need for housing unfortunately does change between the summer and winter seasons. This can be due to property owners increasing the price by demand, or they know individuals will pay way too much so they can live in Whistler for the winter. It’s sad but it’s true.

During the winter months you can expect to pay up to $3000 a month for a private room and if you are lucky a 1 bed apartment. We have one friend who really struggled to find accommodation when they arrived and had to pay $4200….

That is the extreme end of the scale. On average for a shared room you are looking at between $1,200 to $1,750, this may or may not have utilities included too. Yes you are right I said shared.

If you do manage to snag a spot in staff accommodation your rent can be a lot lower, between $600-$900 a month with utilities included!

When you first sign a lease agreement a landlord can ask for 1 months rent upfront and half a months rent as a damage deposit. It is a lot of cost upfront but it is such a huge relief once that housing is secured.

Lease

Whistler has two very different, distinct seasons and because of this it is hard to find 1 year lease agreements, not impossible though! You are more likely to come across 6 month lease agreements, May 1st – October 31st and then November 1st until April 30th.

With so many nomads living in the area there is constant movement with individuals moving in and out of the area constantly, this can open up opportunities to sublet. When an individual signs a lease agreement for a property they are taking on the responsibility to see it through for the full duration. If they decide they want to leave early or go on holiday during this period, depending on the agreement with the landlord, they are responsible to find someone to take up the remaining time.

It isn’t unheard of for individuals to jump from sublet to sublet if they can’t find long term accommodation in the area.

Best Places to look

It is all well and good talking about sublets and staff accommodation, but where can you find them?!

You may have to get a bit creative on how you find the available options especially if you aren’t in Whistler yet, but there are a few go to places that you can start.

The Whistler Housing Crisis Facebook Group is a great place to start, to search for posts looking for individuals to take a bed but also for you to advertise looking for one. On your post make sure to include a good description of yourself along with some pictures.

Craigslist is an online platform for advertisements, you can find just about anything on there. Including housing! Be cautious when contacting individuals on both Facebook and Craigslist as they are not policed, scammers can be on there too.

Pique magazine is the weekly magazine in Whistler, filled with stories, job postings and housing options too! If you haven’t arrived in Whistler yet you can check any postings on their website.

If it is staff accommodation you are looking for check out company websites for job postings and see if they offer the opportunity of securing housing.

Scams

Accommodation in Whistler is so sought after that it’s sad to say, scam artists have seized the opportunity. Facebook and Craigslist are great places to look, in theory. They are not certified rental agencies, posts are made by individuals and not vetted before being shared. Be extremely vigilant when contacting individuals through these avenues. Not every one is genuine.

Imagine this. You come across a post, the photos are perfect and the price is just right. You request a tour of the property and they promptly send you through a video. You don’t arrive in Whistler for a few weeks and the thought of having somewhere as soon as you arrive is a huge weight lifted off your shoulders. You send over the deposit and the first months rent, ecstatic that your search has come to an end.

Then you finally start the travel to Whistler, luggage in tow ready to check in to your home for the season. The landlord hasn’t replied to any of your messages for the past week but he must be busy, however when you finally arrive you still haven’t heard anything. They have ghosted you and removed their facebook account.

Unfortunately this isn’t an uncommon story. Sometimes it is extremely hard to tell and this is what gets a lot of desperate housing seekers.

Top Tips

• Never send anyone money without seeing the accommodation in person.
• It seems stressful but I highly recommend booking an airbnb or a hostel for your first few days when you arrive. During these days try to organise as many viewings as possible.
• If you have the option arrive in the summer time.
• Don’t give up hope!