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HousingWhich Type of Accommodation is Right for You? There are many housing options available to international students including home stay, room and board, sharing a house or an apartment and residence.
 Home Stay
Home stay offers the best opportunity to truly experience Canadian culture. As a home stay student, you live with a Canadian family and are treated as a family member. You receive all of your meals, and laundry service is usually included. You will have a private room, often with a shared bath. Room and Board
Students who do not wish to prepare their own meals often prefer room and board accommodations. Students are expected to comply with "house rules" and should have a clear understanding as to what these rules are before joining into a rental agreement. They should also discuss details pertaining to the frequency of meal provision with the landlord. It is also important to determine how rent will be paid ahead of time. This is entirely up to the landlord, but should be decided beforehand. The Tenant Protection Act now applies to room and board accommodation where the tenant does not share kitchen or washroom facilities with the landlord. Therefore, if there any doubts about the rental agreement, get it in writing and have it signed by both parties in order to provide legal protection for you and the landlord. Room in a Private Home
A room in a private home is the most economical way to live. The accommodation may consist of separate facilities or use of the landlord's cooking facilities. Landlords expect tenants to comply with "house rules". It is important to to ask about these before making any decisions. Do not take anything for granted. Have a clear understanding with the homeowner about break periods. In some cases there is no charge during a break; however, this is entirely up to the landlord. A room in a private home, where the tenant has use of the landlord's kitchen facilities, is not covered under the Tenant Protection Act. Sharing a House or an Apartment
To assist students in finding suitable roommates, most colleges offer assistance in finding roommates. For more information, please contact the International Office or the Off-Campus Housing Office at the college you plan to attend. It is the student's responsibility to secure a suitable match. For students that decide to live in a shared house, apartment or cottage, there are some important things to consider. The following points should be agreed upon by all roommates: Lease: A group lease means that all members are responsible to the landlord for full payment of the rent. This does not mean that each person is only responsible for his/her share. If one person leaves, the remaining members of the group must make up the deficit until a replacement is found. Utilities: Some lease agreements include utilities (heat and hydro costs). Others do not. Clarify this before moving into the accommodation as it may mean hundreds of dollars in extra costs over the course of the year. Have a fund available for prompt payment of utility bills, telephone bills, cable T.V. and so on. Sharing of Duties: Have an agreement for sharing of cooking, cleaning, shopping and outdoor chores. Studying: As a student, many hours will be spent studying. An apartment or room should provide both adequate facilities and a good environment for studying. Students living in shared accomodations should try to find out the personal study habits of their roommates. Residence
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Many colleges offer on-campus residence accommodation. There are a wide variety of residence styles, from apartment complexes to shared townhouses. Residence rooms may be shared or single, and usually involve sharing bathroom, recreation and kitchen facilities. You usually have the option of choosing a meal plan from the cafeteria services at the college. Residences are usually conveniently located on-campus. It is typically the more expensive accommodation arrangement and does not provide students with the home environment found in a home stay situation. Residence rooms are usually taken quickly, so international students who want to stay in residence should apply early in the school year. You should check with the International Office at the college about the residence accommodations available.
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