Someone in Ontario is renting out a sketchy tent in a basement for $650 per month

Although rent prices across Ontario have cooled off quite a bit over the last year, scrolling through community rental groups, Facebook Marketplace, and Kijiji in search of a home can still be discouraging, especially if you're aiming to find an apartment that's budget-friendly while still offering some privacy.

Prospective renters have virtually seen it all over the past few years of real estate turbulence in the province, from terrifying basement units to closet and kitchen-turned bedrooms, and it seems like suspiciously-priced listings continue to infiltrate the province's real estate market in an effort to lure in tenants who may be operating under a tight budget. 

Just take a look at this basement listing in Peterborough, recently listed for only $650 per month. While it might seem like an enticing deal if you're sorting listings by price, you might want to take a closer look at the photos before getting too excited. 

While you do get a couch and a TV, you'll also have to sleep inside a tent, as the listing clearly states that the space comes "without a bed." Oh, did we also mention that you won't have access to a washroom or a kitchen? 

We're not exactly sure how that works, but thankfully, pets are allowed, and as the listing mentions, a "table can be assembled if needed." As with most horror rentals, the listing was quickly posted online, including a thread on Reddit, with the title, "This has to be a joke right?" 

This has to be a joke right?
byu/Ordinary-Bug7143 inSlumlordsCanada

Dozens of users quickly slammed the listing's landlord and urged others to report similar ads that seemingly come without basic necessities, like access to a bathroom and windows. 

"Well without a kitchen you're not eating so no washroom need right?" one user joked, while another commented, "Tell me this is so illegal. What the actual fu-." 

Still, as some noted, those strapped for cash might not have many options when it comes to Ontario's pricey real estate market. According to Rentals.ca's most recent rent report, the national average rent in Canada in September 2025 was $2,123, representing a two-year low. 

Despite this, Toronto's average one-bedroom apartment rent remained above the $2,000 mark at $2,295, representing a 5.1 per cent decline year-over-year. In Peterborough, where this listing is located, the average rent was $1,668 in September for a one-bedroom, representing a 2.9 per cent decrease year-over-year, while the average two-bedroom apartment was $1,979, representing a 3.5 per cent decrease year-over-year. 

Asking rents for shared accommodations were unchanged in Toronto from last year at $1,233.