Looking for some rental help from Toronto gay bros

Hey everyone,

I'm on the hunt for a new apartment and hitting a wall with the current application process. I'm hoping the collective wisdom of the gays or r/TorontoRenting can point me in the right direction.

Here's my situation:

Credit Score: 831 (Excellent)

Income: $4,000/month (stable)

Budget: Ideally ~$1800-$2000, but flexible for the right place.

Looking For: A large bachelor or a small 1-bedroom.

Location Priority:

The Village (Church-Wellesley) is my top choice.

If not there, anywhere with quick access (within 20 mins) to the DVP, 404, or 401. Areas like North York (Yonge/Sheppard), East York, or Davisville are great.

The Problem: Every place I've liked so far requires a certified cheque for last month's rent with the application, along with providing my SIN number. I'm not comfortable handing over either until a lease is signed.

I understand landlords want to mitigate risk, but with my credit score and stable income, I feel I'm a very strong applicant. Requiring a certified cheque before even approving me feels like I'm just locking myself into one place without any guarantee.

My Question:

Are there specific property management companies or rental websites that are known for a more reasonable application process?

Has anyone with a similar profile had success negotiating this? What did you say?

Any leads on private landlords (vs. big corps) in the Village area who might be more flexible?

Am I being unreasonable here, or is this the new normal I just have to accept?

Any advice, leads, or shared experiences would be hugely appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Also i am 100% willing to pay a finders fee or lend out my modular fuck area to people who wanna fuck and cant host. I dont even need to be a participant. Help me find a place, I'll let you fuck in it that's how desperate I am lol