HOUSING INFORMATION
The information below has been provided to help you with your housing search. OCAD U does not guarantee the accuracy or availability of any information provided by third-party websites.
OCAD University (OCAD U) does not inspect any of the following listed homes or housing options. It is your responsibility to judge their suitability. OCAD U cannot and does not accept responsibility for housing arrangements made by persons using any of these services.
PLACES4STUDENTS.COM
Finding appropriate housing often takes dedication and time. To help make the process as easy as possible, OCAD University is pleased to introduce a new partnership with Places4Students.com!
Places4Students provides an abundance of information about available housing, a real-time database of vacancies in close proximity to OCAD U, and detailed property features, photos, and contact information.
Find the place that is right for you; post a profile and find potential OCAD U roommates, or peruse listings posted by your fellow students.
If you are an OCAD U student...
- POST a free roommate or sublet advertisement: CLICK HERE!
- SEARCH (free) for listings and roommates: CLICK HERE!
If you are a landlord...
- POST a student rental listing by calling 1-866-766-0767
Monday to Thursday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or post online: CLICK HERE!
UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO STUDENT HOUSING SERVICE
You can also access the U of T Student Housing Service's extensive rental registry by showing a valid OCAD U student card or letter of offer from OCAD U. An eight-week guest membership ($24) must also be purchased.
Location:
Koffler Student Services Centre
214 College Street, Toronto
416-978-8045
www.housing.utoronto.ca
Housing events:
U of T Student Housing hosts various workshops and information sessions throughout the year to educate students about their housing rights, assist in the search for roommates, housing search preparation and discrimination, to name a few.
Check out the U of T Housing Events page.
Hours of operation:
September to June:
8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m.
July and August:
8:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
OTHER HOUSING RESOURCES:
Note: if you have found ocadhousing.com in your search, please know that it has no formal relationship with OCAD University. It is independently operated and does not have approval to use OCAD U's name or imagery. The University does not guarantee the quality of its listings or the accuracy of its information.
Tenant rights
Federation of Metro Tenants' Associations
The FMTA is a non-profit organization which advocates for better rights for tenants. Find a wealth of housing information and a housing hotline phone number which offers free housing information and referrals in 150 different languages.
Ontario Tenants Rights
A web guide to Ontario's Landlord and Tenant Act, the Residential Tenancies Act, tenants' rights, social justice, and rental housing issues such: as finding apartments for rent, high-rise safety and security, mice, cockroaches, pigeons, and "toxic mold".
Home stay
A popular choice of accommodation if you are from outside Toronto — or Canada — Home Stay users enjoy the hospitality of a host family and often get help adjusting to a new lifestyle, a new neighbourhood, transit system and more.
- Friends International Services
- Homestay Connection
- Homestay Toronto (for females and married couples)
- Student Homestay Services
- Toronto Homestay
YWCA Elm Centre
In the heart of downtown Toronto at 87 Elm Street, YWCA Elm Centre offers affordable, new one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments for single women and women with children in a safe and beautiful environment.
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on-site playground
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green roof and gardens
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community spaces including Yoga Room
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close to shopping, schools, hospitals
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walking distance to subway and regional buses
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geothermal heating and cooling system
Information: intakecoordinator@ywcatoronto.org
or 416-961-8100, Ext. 508
Housing assistance and emergency shelters
The City of Toronto's Shelter, Support and Housing Administration division ensures that people have shelter and affordable housing options, and assists with emergency shelter during critical incidents.
Single adults, youth and couples can call the Assessment and Referral Centre: 416-338-4766 or 1-877-338-3398 (toll free from a payphone).
Families with children can call Central Family Intake: 416-397-5637.
The Shelter, Support and Housing Administration division also helps people avoid homelessness through a number of eviction prevention programs and by providing support to tenants in Toronto.
www.toronto.ca/housing/about-tenant-landlord.htm
RESIDENCE-STYLE ACCOMMODATIONS
If you are interested in residence or dorm-style accommodations, contact the following places directly at your earliest convenience. Some may offer a waiting list up to a year in advance which will limit immediate availability. This is beyond OCAD U's control:
Campus Common
50 Gerrard St. East
Toronto, ON M5B 1J6
Tel: 416-593-1800
Fax: 416-593-1850
Campus Co-op
395 Huron Street
Toronto, ON M5S 2G5
Tel: 416-979-2161
Fax: 416-979-5561
Neill-Wycik Co-op
96 Gerrard Street East
Toronto, ON M5B 1G7
Tel: 416-977-2320
Toll Free (North America): 1-800-268-4358
Fax: 416-977-2809
Downtown hotels
This downtown Toronto hotel offers residence-style student accommodation:
Primrose Student Residence Program
Primrose Hotel
111 Carlton Street
Toronto, ON M5B 2G3
Tel: 647-259-5436
E-mail for information
Note:
OCAD University (OCAD U) does not inspect any of the above listed homes or housing options. It is your responsibility to judge their suitability. OCAD U cannot and does not accept responsibility for housing arrangements made by persons using any of the above services.
HOUSING TIPS
When to start looking:
- Are you planning on moving in August/September?
- If you are looking to rent a house or apartment or to share accommodation with other students, you can likely start your search safely in late June/early July
- Landlords normally advertise accommodation four to
six weeks prior to the intended move-in date - Tenants are required to give 60 days notice of move-out
- If you are looking for residence-style accommodation, please note that some of them may offer a waiting list up to a year in advance which will limit immediate availability
How to start your search:
- Determine your price range
- Decide where you want to live
- Map it out. Consider transportation, amenities, shopping, etc.
- Decide how you want to live
(shared, residence-style experience, room and board) - Set aside two or three days to come to Toronto to look
What to do next:
- Make a list of questions to ask (about rent, amenities, etc.),
either on the phone or in person - Make appointments with landlords to view the space
- If the space meets your needs, submit rental/lease application
and first and last month's rent
Shared accommodation:
Sharing can make your costs more affordable, offers security and can lead to opportunities for socializing and making new friends. If you don't know anyone, or don't have a roommate in mind, some places (such as U of T Housing Services) offer free matching services. Things to keep in mind:
- What are the house rules?
- Who will take care of collecting money from all roommates for rent, bills, utilities, phone, cable, etc.?
- Communicate/ask about living arrangements and expectations
- How do your roommates/landlord view additional roommates, overnight guests, smoking, food, sharing internet?
- Whose name(s) is/are on the lease?
Know your rights:
Familiarize yourself with the Tenant Protection Act. Visit the Federation of Metro Tenants' Associations.
Important information about bed bugs:
Bed bugs have become a growing epidemic. Toronto is #3 on the North American list of the worst infested cities, after Columbus and New York.
When looking for housing, it is important to understand what is happening with the return of bed bugs to communities around the world. While bed bugs do not have a history of transmitting infectious diseases, they are a pest that that both landlords and residents should know about, treat, and ideally eliminate.
Be aware. Know what to look for. Learn how to inspect and prevent transport and/or infestation.
Information and fact sheets (available in many languages) can be found on the City of Toronto's website. For additional assistance, contact Toronto Health Connection, 416-338-7600.
Last Modified:12/3/2012 4:42:00 PM
