Information and Resources for Off-Campus Housing

April 2, 2020
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Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, all Laurier residences will be closed for the spring and summer terms. If you are currently living in residence and plan to stay in Canada during the spring and summer terms, you will need to find alternate accommodations.

Here are some resources to help you in your housing search. If you are still having trouble or need further support, please contact us at laurierinternational@wlu.ca.

Finding Off-Campus Housing

To find off-campus housing, you can look at listings on the following sites:

Please be aware that Laurier does not inspect, or otherwise check, the homes, rooms or rental properties listed here, so please make sure you do your own inquiries for suitability.

Quite often, students are required to sign a 12-month lease, even if they are not going to be in the city for that long; however, it is possible to find four-month and eight-month lease agreements. When you do find a place, you have to pay first and last month's rent, and then pay your monthly rent on the first day of every month. If you rent a room instead of a full apartment, you have likely have shared access to a kitchen and bathroom and sometimes to a common area. There may be laundry facilities in the house, which could be coin-operated or could be free for you to use.

Viewing Accommodations

Social distancing requirements make it challenging to view potential accommodations in person. In response to this, many landlords are providing video tours of their accommodations. However, this option may not be available for all rental properties; some landlords may only provide photos. When you are inquiring about a property, be sure to ask the landlord if video tours or photos are available.

How Much Will Rent Cost?

The cost of rent for off-campus housing can vary, and Factors that can affect the price include distance to the university, cleanliness, size, utilities, nearby amenities and if the unit is furnished or unfurnished. A furnished unit will typically be more expensive than an unfurnished unit.

If you do rent a furnished unit, it is unlikely bedding will be provided. You will have to arrange to purchase your own bedding and other linens.

The rent (accommodation fee) is listed as the price per day, week or month. Before you sign anything, make sure you understand the details of your lease or rental agreement.

Tenant Rights

If you are unsure of your rights as a tenant or need help understanding your lease, you can consult the Student Rights Advisory Council (SRAC). The SRAC is a peer support service for academic or landlord-tenant questions. You can contact them by emailing studentrights@mylaurier.ca in Waterloo or lbstudentrights@mylaurier.ca in Brantford.