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Off-Campus Housing
If you decide to live off-campus, whether you're a first- or senior-year student, we have some resources to help you in your search.
Remember, just because you live off-campus, that doesn't mean that you need to miss out on events. Connect with LOCUS and find events on the Student Events Calendar.
Check out the following workshops for more information and support when finding off-campus housing.
Off-Campus Housing Workshops Fall 2022
- Starting from Scratch: Dec. 5 from 10:30-11:30 a.m.
- Starting from Scratch should be the first step in your search for off-campus housing. This workshop will walk through how students can evaluate their needs and wants when starting to think about off-campus housing. Discussing topics such as rent budgets, locations to campus, utilities included number of roommates and many more. Helping students learn how to prioritize what’s important to their safety, and comfort when finding housing.
- Waterloo Campus: BA209
- Brantford Campus: OM207-47 (Boardroom)
- Starting from Scratch should be the first step in your search for off-campus housing. This workshop will walk through how students can evaluate their needs and wants when starting to think about off-campus housing. Discussing topics such as rent budgets, locations to campus, utilities included number of roommates and many more. Helping students learn how to prioritize what’s important to their safety, and comfort when finding housing.
- Think Before You Sign: Dec. 5 from 4:00-5:00 p.m.
- Think Before You Sign will include a live in-person walk through of an Ontario Standard Lease Agreement. Including a template of these rental leases and highlighting the important sections to double check. Additionally, we will be walking through the roles and responsibilities of you as a tenant, and that of your landlord to ensure the property is being taken care of as it should be.
- Waterloo: BA210
- Brantford: OM-207-47 (Boardroom)
- Think Before You Sign will include a live in-person walk through of an Ontario Standard Lease Agreement. Including a template of these rental leases and highlighting the important sections to double check. Additionally, we will be walking through the roles and responsibilities of you as a tenant, and that of your landlord to ensure the property is being taken care of as it should be.
- House Hunting 101: Dec. 6 from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
- The last step to finding off-campus housing .. Looking for housing! This workshop will walk through multiple online resources that students can use and take advantage of when looking for housing. This workshop will also walk through how to contact landlords, and popular spots in Waterloo and Brantford where students typically reside.
- Waterloo Campus: Arts 1C17
- Brantford Campus: OM-207-47 (Boardroom)
- The last step to finding off-campus housing .. Looking for housing! This workshop will walk through multiple online resources that students can use and take advantage of when looking for housing. This workshop will also walk through how to contact landlords, and popular spots in Waterloo and Brantford where students typically reside.
- Roommate Match-Up: Dec. 6 from 6 to 7 p.m.
- Roommate Match Up’s are great events for students to attend if they are looking for potential roommates for the following year, or if they are simply looking to meet new people. Whether you have a rental unit you are looking to fill or are an individual looking to rent a room, we’ll have icebreakers, conversation starters, and snacks ready for you to meet other students looking for housing.
- Multi-Campus: Virtual - Join Here
- Roommate Match Up’s are great events for students to attend if they are looking for potential roommates for the following year, or if they are simply looking to meet new people. Whether you have a rental unit you are looking to fill or are an individual looking to rent a room, we’ll have icebreakers, conversation starters, and snacks ready for you to meet other students looking for housing.
Check out our partnerships for rental listings and helpful tips for you to consider when renting.
Find Your Home
Make sure you do your own inquiries for suitability because Laurier does not inspect, other otherwise check the homes or rental properties listed on Places4Students.com.
Places4Students.com
To help you in your search for off-campus housing, Laurier has partnered with Places4Students.com, an off-campus housing website that specializes in providing students, schools and landlords with a quality rental property listing service.
Browse the property listings:
To help your search, you can:
- Use the roommate finder to look at profiles of fellow students who are looking for a place to live.
- Browse the student sublets listing for rooms or apartments for rent by students.
Ezra-Bricker Student Apartments
Another resource for finding off-campus housing is Ezra-Bricker Student Apartments. This resource includes a number of properties close to the Waterloo campus and are owned by Laurier, but managed by Campus Living Centres.
With Ezra-Bricker student apartments, you'll find:
- Off-campus housing that is a one to five minue walk to the Waterloo campus.
- Large bedrooms and common rooms, full-kitchen and two bathrooms in each suite.
- Housing that is cost-effective.
Be Prepared
Check out Off-Campus Housing's pages on:
- Top things to consider when student house hunting.
- Questions to ask during a viewing.
- A move-in checklist to help protect you from potential damages.
- Dealing with roommate conflict or use our template to draft a roommate agreement.
Other Resources
You can also look at listings with the following resources:
- Kijiji in Waterloo or Brantford
- Student Housing in Waterloo Facebook page
- Rentboard (Brantford)
Things to Consider
Quite often, you are required to sign a 12-month lease, even if you are only going to be in the city for less than this time. However, it is possible to find four- and eight-month lease agreements, especially if you're on an exchange.
Generally, when you rent a room, you 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.
If you are unsure of your rights as a tenant, consult the Student Rights Advisory Council (SRAC). You can contact them by emailing studentrights@wlu.ca in Waterloo or lbstudentrights@wlu.ca in Brantford.
When you find a place to live, you typically pay the first and last month's rent to your landlord or property owner. Your monthly rent is paid on the first day of each month.
The cost of rent for off-campus housing can vary from $600 to $1,200 per month. 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.
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.
Living away from home can be overwhelming as you're navigating academic life and managing your own finances.
Dollars and Sense is Laurier’s money management program designed to help decrease your financial stress and increase your financial wellness. Find resources and tools to help you make the financial decisions that are right for you such as:
- living life on a budget
- credit and debit management
- financial life after graduation
- financial coaching