Home office and internet for remote workers

Last reviewed October 30, 2026

If you're living in London and working for a GTA employer, your home office is where most of your working life happens. It deserves as much attention as the kitchen when you're house hunting.

Internet: check the address, not the city

Most of London has good wired internet from several providers. Options include the national carriers' fibre and cable networks, plus London-based Start.ca and other independent providers that sell service over the major networks. But availability and speeds vary street by street:

• Established neighbourhoods usually have cable and often fibre.
• Brand-new subdivisions may have service still being built out when you move in.
• The rural fringe just outside city limits can have limited wired options.

Have a backup

• A mobile hotspot plan with enough data for a day of video calls.
• A second provider on a different network for people whose work can't tolerate outages.
• A coworking day pass or a café you know has reliable Wi-Fi.
• A small UPS (battery backup) for your modem and router during brief power interruptions.

What makes a good home office

Space

A dedicated room with a door is ideal, especially if you share the home with a partner who also works remotely, or with children. Spare bedrooms, dens and finished basements are common choices. A basement office works well if it has a window, good lighting and dry, comfortable air.

Light and sound

• Natural light, but not directly behind your screen, and not behind you on video calls.
• Distance from the kitchen, laundry and kids' play areas.
• Soft surfaces to reduce echo: rugs, curtains, bookshelves.
• A quiet street. Busy roads, bus routes and some student-heavy streets can be loud.

Power and connectivity

• Enough outlets, ideally on a circuit that isn't shared with high-draw appliances.
• A wired ethernet connection, or a good spot for a mesh Wi-Fi node.
• Good heating and cooling. Some rooms over garages or in older homes get very hot or cold.

Two remote workers, one home

If both partners work from home, look for two separate spaces with doors, ideally not sharing a wall. Many London homes with finished basements or a den plus spare bedrooms can manage it. Condos are more challenging, so look at layouts carefully.

Home office in a new build

If you're buying new construction, the design centre is the time to add extra outlets, ethernet runs, a ceiling box for a light, and soundproofing between the office and bedrooms. Our sister site New Build London has more on which upgrades are worth it.

Tax considerations

If your employer requires you to work from home and signs the CRA's Form T2200, you may be able to deduct a portion of eligible home-office expenses. The rules are specific and have changed in recent years, so check with an accountant.

A home office checklist for viewings

• Is there a room that could be a dedicated office with a door?
• Where's the router, and how far is it from the office?
• Is the room bright, quiet and comfortable in summer and winter?
• What internet providers and speeds are available at this address?
• Is the street quiet during the day?
• Is there space for a second office if needed?

Condo vs house for remote work

Condos can make great home offices if the layout has a true second bedroom or den with a door and good soundproofing. Houses usually offer more flexibility: a basement office, a spare room, or a garage conversion. If you're comparing the two, imagine a full day of video calls in each space.