I Bought a C$25,000 Canadian Cottage — Can They Stop Me Living There All Year?

A Canadian cottage for C$25,000, complete with a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and a quiet porch. It looks like an affordable way to escape rent — until the owner discovers that buying the building doesn’t necessarily include permission to live there all year. Follow one buyer’s journey through seasonal cottage ownership in Ontario, from separate land agreements and occupancy conditions to winter services, insurance and renovation costs. Does better insulation make a seasonal cottage a permanent home? What exactly comes with the purchase? And which questions should you ask before giving up your current address? Would you choose a small Canadian cottage over a conventional home? Tell us in the comments. Subscribe for more unusual Canadian properties, affordable housing alternatives and the questions buyers often overlook. The buyer, purchase price and events are illustrative storytelling, not a verified property listing. Requirements depend on the property, location and agreement. General information only, not legal advice.