Furnished Move-In Guide: What to Expect When Relocating to Aria from Out of Province or Abroad

Aria suites come unfurnished, but a limited number of furnished suites are available for people who would rather not ship or buy furniture before they arrive. If you are moving to Calgary from another province or from abroad and searching for housing near the University of Calgary, ask about a furnished apartment early, then work through the steps below: documents, your rights as an Alberta tenant, utilities, getting from the airport, and the government tasks to finish in your first 90 days.

Move-In Checklist at a Glance

• Furnished or not: suites are unfurnished by default; a limited number of furnished suites are offered. Ask what is included and whether one is open for your dates.

• Location: 4135 University Ave NW, in Calgary's University District.

• Lease: 12-month terms.

• Utilities: heat and water are included in the rent; electricity and internet are set up in your name.

• Already in every suite: in-suite washer and dryer, fridge, oven, dishwasher and microwave.

• Shared amenities: fitness centre, games room, social lounges and a 30,000 sq ft courtyard.

• Required before move-in: tenant (renters) insurance.

• First 90 days in Alberta: health coverage registration, a driver's licence exchange if you are moving from another province, and a SIN if you will work.

Step 1. Decide Whether You Need a Furnished Apartment

If you are moving to Calgary, a furnished apartment saves you from buying a bed, sofa and table in your first week, which matters most if you are arriving on a long flight with two suitcases. An unfurnished suite gives you more choice of layout and lets you bring your own furniture. If you are moving with family, a two- or three-bedroom layout leaves room to grow. Because furnished suites at Aria are limited, the choice is partly about timing: if you need a furnished suite from the day you arrive, raise it when you first contact the leasing office.

Many people moving to Calgary book a short-term rental or other temporary housing for their first weeks, then search rental listings once they arrive. Across Calgary, furnished apartments and other furnished rentals are often offered month to month, and many rental listings are for condos rented out by individual owners. Aria works differently: leases are 12 months, so a furnished suite there is a longer commitment rather than a stopgap.

Whichever you choose, the large appliances are already there: every one-, two- and three-bedroom layout has a washer and dryer, fridge, oven, dishwasher and microwave.

Step 2. Get Your Application Documents Ready

Most Calgary landlords require ID and proof that the rent will be paid, so have the paperwork ready before you start your housing search. For students, Aria asks for:

1. Government photo ID for the student.

2. Proof of enrolment at a recognized post-secondary institution.

3. A guarantor (co-signer) with photo ID and proof of income. A credit check applies to Canadian and US guarantors.

International students with a valid study permit, and international guarantors, are accepted. If you are moving for a job rather than study, ask the leasing office which documents apply to you. If you are moving alone into a multi-bedroom suite, Aria also offers roommate matching based on lifestyle preferences.

Step 3. Know Your Rights as an Alberta Tenant

Tenancies in Alberta follow the Residential Tenancies Act, the provincial law that sets the rules for every landlord and tenant, and your lease agreement cannot take away the rights it gives you. Three rules matter most when you move in from elsewhere:

• Security deposit: it cannot be more than one month's rent at the start of the tenancy, and the landlord must hold it in an interest-bearing trust account at an Alberta financial institution.

• Move-in inspection: the landlord and tenant must inspect the suite together within one week before or after move-in and record it in a written report. You sign to say whether you agree, and you get a copy. Take photos on the same day.

• Disputes: the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service handles landlord and tenant disputes without going to court.

The province explains each rule on its starting a tenancy page. Aria also requires tenant insurance, which typically covers your belongings and personal liability, so arrange a policy before your keys are handed over. Reading the full agreement before you sign is the simplest way to avoid surprises later.

Step 4. Set Up What the Rent Does Not Cover

Heat and water are included at Aria, so they are not separate bills. Electricity and internet are the two utilities you set up and pay for in your own name, so your main monthly living costs are rent, electricity, internet and tenant insurance. Alberta's electricity market is deregulated, which surprises many people moving from Ontario or other provinces: you can stay on a month-to-month default rate or sign a contract with a competitive retailer. Budget for electricity and internet as monthly costs on top of the rent. If you are furnishing an unfurnished suite, note that Alberta has no provincial sales tax, so purchases carry only the 5% federal GST, which saves some money on furniture. The Utilities Consumer Advocate explains the options in plain language.

Step 5. Get From the Airport to University District

Calgary International Airport (YYC) connects to the city by Calgary Transit. The airport express bus, now numbered Route 500 Airport Express after the fall 2026 service change, runs along Centre Street into downtown. The University of Calgary's own advice is to take the airport bus to the CTrain, then ride the Red Line to University station, which is the closest stop to campus and University District. Transit does not run 24 hours a day, so check times if you land late. A taxi or rideshare is simpler with luggage.

International students can also look for the White Hat Volunteers at the airport for directions. The University of Calgary does not run an airport pick-up service.

Step 6. Sort Out Health Care, ID and Banking in Your First 90 Days

If you are bringing a car or other vehicle from another province, ask the registry agent about registering the vehicle in Alberta at the same visit. Four details in the table above catch people out:

1. The AHCIP gap for interprovincial moves. Your old province's health care coverage applies during the waiting period, so check with that province what it covers before you leave. If you are moving from Ontario, for example, ask Ontario's health plan how it treats the months before your Alberta coverage starts.

2. Documents for AHCIP. Bring proof of Alberta residence (your lease counts), photo ID such as a passport, and proof of your right to be in Canada, such as a study or work permit. A work permit must name an Alberta employer or be an open permit. Registration is free.

3. Student health plans. Full-time University of Calgary students are enrolled in the Students' Union or Graduate Students' Association health and dental plan, which is separate from AHCIP.

4. Driving on a licence from home. Visitors can drive on a valid licence from home for up to a year. Alberta says students and others who do not live in the province permanently cannot get an Alberta licence; they keep using their home licence instead.

Sources: AHCIP for people moving to Alberta and exchanging a non-Alberta licence.

Step 7. Pack for Calgary Weather

Calgary sits close to the Rocky Mountains, and the weather in Calgary moves fast. Environment and Climate Change Canada's 1991 to 2020 normals put the average January temperature at -7.6°C and the average July high at 23.5°C. Snow can fall from September to May, about 139 cm a year on average, and the first fall frost arrives around September 18. In winter, chinooks (warm, dry winds off the mountains) can bring sudden mild spells.

What to bring or buy soon after arrival:

• A winter coat rated for -20°C or colder, plus a warm hat and gloves.

• Waterproof winter boots with good grip for icy sidewalks.

• Layers you can add or remove, because temperatures can change sharply in one day.

• Sunglasses, because Calgary gets around 2,400 hours of bright sunshine a year.

Settling In During Your First Month

The hardest part of moving to a new city is often the first few weeks without friends or family nearby. Aria's monthly resident events, such as cooking classes, are included in the rent and are an easy way to meet neighbours and feel part of the community. Building amenities help too: the fitness centre, games room and 30,000 sq ft courtyard give you somewhere to go before you know the city well. For safety, the building has key fob access, security cameras and an on-site management team on weekdays.

Aria's location also makes daily life simpler. University District's parks, pathways and coffee shops are steps from the door, and Save-On-Foods and Shoppers Drug Mart are a short walk away on University Avenue for first-week grocery shopping and a pharmacy stop. The University of Calgary campus and Alberta Children's Hospital are about a 7-minute walk from Aria, which suits students and new hospital staff alike.

Common Questions Before You Move

Does Aria come furnished?

No. Suites are unfurnished by default, and a limited number of furnished suites are available. Contact the leasing office to ask what a furnished suite includes and whether one is open for your dates.

Can international students apply to Aria?

Yes. International students with a valid study permit can apply, and international guarantors are accepted.

When does Alberta health coverage start if I move from another province?

On the first day of the third month after you establish residency in Alberta. If you arrive on July 12, for example, coverage starts on October 1.

Tell Us Your Arrival Date

If you want a furnished apartment, contact the leasing team with your arrival date and ask whether one is available then. Give the leasing office a call at (587) 804-7347, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm Mountain Time; from abroad, send your move-in details in writing so the time difference does not matter.