Someone in Toronto has created a Tinder-like page for renting apartments

Cool People Houses is an Instagram account that can connect you with the perfect match, but for housing.

How does this work. If you're offering a place to rent, sublease, or rent, send a square photo collage with pictures of the unit and text with important details like availability or price.

Looking for a home instead? You may need to improvise the photo you use, but be sure to include text describing things like your budget and desired location.

Confused? Do not worry. Attached to the Cool People Houses (CPH) profile is a carousel of posts with frequently asked questions and instructions on how to properly submit to CPH.

If you do it right, CPH will tag your submission. They expand your listing and connect you with people who may have exactly what you're looking for or need.

“When I opened (the account) a year ago, I had about 300 people following me. Now I have more than 2,500 people. I get 7-20 new followers a day,” said 26-year-old Sophia Smith. in Parkdale.

Smith got the idea for the CPH account from his experience trying to relocate while traveling from Toronto to Los Angeles and New York. He posted his search on his personal Instagram story, where he hopes to get some leads.

People reposted her story to speed up her search. Smith returns the favor by resharing posts about room requests or additional offers for other people.

“It took over my entire personal Instagram. People joked that I was a 'volunteer real estate agent,'” says Smith. He decided to create another account for the Cool People Houses housing he runs. It's now more than a year old, and Smith receives anywhere from two to eight messages a day.

“It's like a part-time job,” Smith says. “I'll be messaging people to help them find a home. Sometimes it's really frustrating to see these messages because a lot of people who message me are in dire straits.”

Unless you've been hiding under a rock or have a fat salary, you know that Toronto's rental market isn't great. According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the average price of a one-bedroom apartment in October 2023 was $1,691, but you can easily find a one-bedroom apartment for $2,000 or more.

In 1999, before some of us were born, the average price of a one-bedroom apartment was $770. Now you can rent a bunk bed for the same price. Plus, don't forget about weird landlords and legal rabbit holes when renting with roommates.

“Living in the city seems impossible,” says Smith. “It's really hard to find anything these days.”

That's part of the reason he created Cool People Houses. While that's great, people often include thank-you notes in Smith's posts.

Running a page to help people seeking asylum is not as easy as you might think. It can be overwhelming. There were times when Smith wanted to take a break from Instagram. But it seems impossible. There are hundreds of people who rely on it to navigate housing.

“I don't know what will happen when I decide I have to stop. This is not a solution. It's a limited resource.”