Posted on Thursday, February 13 2025
Serviced apartments, executive suites, furnished apartments, insurance housing: There are many colloquial names for what is ‘officially’ called ‘corporate housing’.
Essentially, corporate housing is the term used to describe fully-furnished housing that can be rented for periods of less than one year. In Canada, minimum stay lengths are generally governed by municipalities. Most areas of Canada require corporate housing stays to be a minimum of one month, though in some locations it’s possible to stay for 3 or 7 nights.
While Airbnb properties may cater primarily to very short-term stays for vacationers, corporate housing has a very different, and important, role to play in accommodation.
Here are some of the situations in which corporate housing is crucial:
Relocating employees: People who are relocating for work for a month or two often choose corporate housing over hotels because it provides more space and comfort than a hotel room can (and it’s often much less expensive) while helping them to feel part of the community. When they’re relocating for the long-term, they may choose to stay in corporate housing for a few months in order to give themselves time to get settled, get to know their new location, and take their time to buy or rent a more permanent home.
Insurance or emergency housing: When a home is badly damaged by fire or flood and is rendered uninhabitable for an extended period, insurance companies will often provide corporate housing accommodation to their clients while their home is repaired or rebuilt. This is a particularly good solution for families, because it can help maintain the normalcy for kids (family dinners, private bedrooms) that hotel rooms just can’t provide.
Government and executives: Executives and government workers who find themselves working out of more than one location for extended periods often find it helpful to use corporate housing as a temporary ‘pied a terre’ in a city. They can return home on weekends or invite their family to stay with them without having to live out of a suitcase when they travel back and forth. (And salespeople report that it can be a fantastic way to expand their network by becoming part of a whole new community.)
Entertainment and movie/tv production: When a tv show or movie shoots ‘on location’, they often have to bring in production teams for weeks at a time. Corporate housing is a good way to house these teams comfortably while containing costs.
Medical stays for outpatients and families: Corporate housing near hospitals and medical centers can be a lifeline for patients and their caregivers. Patients who don’t live near the hospital but require long-term, outpatient care, for example, may find that it’s easier to stay in a corporate suite to make it easier to travel back and forth. Likewise, people with a family member experiencing a long-term hospital stay may choose corporate housing in order to be in closer proximity.
Construction delays or renovation gaps: When a home is undergoing a gut renovation that takes several weeks, or finds that their new-build home won’t be ready on time, they often turn to corporate housing to provide them with a comfortable place to stay while they wait for their home to be finished. Again, this is a great solution for families who need stability and normalcy through what can be a stressful time – and it’s almost always much less than a hotel stay would be.
Digital nomads: Since the pandemic, more people have found they prefer to work remotely – but that doesn’t mean they want to stay in one place all the time. Corporate housing provides people the opportunity to establish a temporary home base in one city for a month or two, then relocate to another city when they feel the need for a change.
Extended vacations or bleisure travel: While in most Canadian locations, the minimum stay in corporate housing is 30 nights, it can still be a great choice for vacation or bleisure (business + leisure) travel. For people who can work remotely, choosing a furnished corporate rental in a picturesque location can help them combine the best of working and vacationing.
We can help you find the right accommodation for you, your family, and your needs. Just get in touch.