This Toronto apartment was once a carriage house. Now it’s up for rent for $4,600 a month

Neighbourhood: Cabbagetown

X factor: Built in the 1800s, this two-storey apartment at 368 Sumach St. is a bright one-bedroom, two-bathroom home right beside Riverdale Park.

The space holds a lot of history and rustic charm as it was once used to house Clydesdale horses and carriages. According to the listing, by the 1960s it also served as a toffee-apple factory before it was converted into a residence.

The detached home has a parking space, private entrance, outdoor terrace and two recently-updated bathrooms.

“There’s no doubt there’s so much history attached. Someone who’s a bit of a history buff would go nuts over something like this,” said Toronto realtor Kylie Walters.

Here’s a closer look at the property.

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• Dec 31, 1969
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• Dec 31, 1969
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Who would this home best suit?

For a one-bedroom apartment, $4,600 is certainly high, Walters said, but considering the size and uniqueness of the home, it does warrant an “above-average price tag.”

“But for the same amount of rent, you could get an entire three-plus-one townhouse, just up the street,” she said. “I think they’re targeting a very specific market for this one.”

Given the layout of the home, Walters said she can see a potential tenant being a single professional who runs a creative business and could optimize the space.

The main floor, with one washroom, could be used as an office space to service clients, while the second floor with the second washroom and additional rooms, could be turned into an individual’s living space.

Alternatively, Walters said it could also be great for a young couple.

“I don’t think the stairs and the ladders would be so easy on the older generation. They might not appreciate having to climb all those,” she said.

What are the pros and cons of living in an older, historical home?

For Torontonians who are keen on finding historical homes like this, the pros are certainly the “wow factor” of living in an exclusive space rather than a regular condo in the city, said Walters.

“There’s a lot of really cool loft buildings in Toronto that actually fall within this category … It’s just that there’s a lot of rules and limitations around what you can do if you’re renovating this type of home,” she said, adding it would be the responsibility of the homeowner or renter to figure out what permissions they would need to seek and what renovations are allowed.

As 368 Sumach St. was built over 200 years ago, Walters also noted there will likely be maintenance issues to watch out for, due to the age of the home.

“I also think it might be harder to clean just because of all the exposed wood, and (because of the) the age it may be harder to keep pests out … The house has been settling for over a hundred years, there’s gotta be openings and cracks that little critters can probably get through,” she said.

Tips to finding unique homes

For unique homes like this, Walters notes there is often a lot of pride in ownership and therefore, owners will take extra care in ensuring they find the perfect tenant to take care of the space.

If you are keen on finding these kinds of hidden gem properties, she advises working with a local realtor who has a good network as these spaces are not often publicly listed.

“Find a local realtor that’s in tune and has a good network and can help you seek out those really unique listings,” she said.