Housing resources

Visit Conestoga housing for details on Conestoga-operated housing options, rates, locations, and how to apply. For other housing options, please see the information and resources on this page.

Another way to search for housing is through rental listing websites or networking with family, friends, and other Conestoga College students.

Viva Engage (formerly Yammer) is a great way to connect with other Conestoga College students about available housing. Log into Viva Engage using your Condor ID and join the International Students Housing and Rideshare group for your campus community.

Please note: do not post housing or carpool inquiries in the Conestoga All Companies group. Only post in the designated international students housing and carpooling connections groups.

Register for one of our upcoming Housing Wednesday sessions to learn about effective strategies for your housing search in Canada.

Rental listing websites

• conestoga.4stay.com
• liv.rent
• rentals.ca
• www.zolo.ca
• www.places4students.com
• www.kijiji.ca
• www.facebook.com/marketplace
• www.padmapper.com
• www.gottarent.com
• www.walkscore.com

Resources for understanding your Canadian housing search

• Your Canadian Housing Search - YouTube
• Conestoga's off-campus housing guide for international students (pdf)
• Accommodation search checklist (pdf)
• Things to consider in your search for off-campus housing (pdf)
• Settling in Ontario
• What kind of questions can a landlord ask?
• Understanding "for rent" ads
• How to avoid rental housing scams
• Guide to Ontario's standard lease

Resources for understanding landlord and tenant rights and responsibilities

• Steps to Justice - Housing law
• Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO) - Housing law resources
• Landlord and tenant board
• What are my rights as a tenant?

Please note: the websites listed above are not affiliated with or monitored by Conestoga College. Please be cautious when using social media to connect with other students or landlords. 

Homestay is a program that matches international students with local host families to live with while studying at Conestoga. 

Conestoga College partners with Canada Homestay Network Inc. (CHN) to administer our Homestay program.

Includes:

• a private bedroom
• meals
• laundry facilities and Internet connectivity and
• the opportunity to live with a Canadian family

Cost:

September 1, 2023 - August 31, 2024: Kitchener-Waterloo area

Homestay fees are $975 (half board: breakfast and dinner) or $1,050 (full board: three meals per day) with a minimum two-month placement required, plus $325 for registration, placement and administration fees.

September 1, 2023 - August 31, 2024: Milton - Mississauga area

Homestay fees are $1,285 (half board: breakfast and dinner) or $1,352 (full board: three meals per day) with a minimum two-month placement required, plus $375 for registration, placement, and administration fees.

To apply:

Canada Homestay Network

Contact Homestay by email: help@canadahomestaynetwork.ca

Need a place to stay short-term?

If you have not made living arrangements prior to your arrival in Canada, your option is to book a short-term rental until you can secure long-term housing.

Below is a list of hotels within proximity to our campus locations. Several hotels on this list provide discounted rates to Conestoga College students. You will need to contact the hotel directly to ask if they provide a student discount and be prepared to show proof of student status when you arrive at the hotel to receive the special rate. Book in advance by phone or online through the hotel website using a valid credit card.

If booking on a third-party website, such as booking.com, expedia.ca, hotels.com, or Airbnb, be sure to read the conditions carefully for cancellation policy or potential additional charges, and choose a rental option nearby to your campus.  

For Kitchener - Doon and Cambridge campus students

Best Western Plus Cambridge Hotel
730 Old Hespeler Road, Cambridge, ON N3H 5L8
Phone: 519-623-4600
Distance to Kitchener - Doon campus: 7 min by taxi, 50 min by bus
Distance to Cambridge campus: 7 min by taxi, 50 min by bus

Hilton Garden Inn Kitchener/Cambridge
746 Hespeler Road, Cambridge ON N3H 5L8
Phone: 519-620-8936
Distance to Kitchener - Doon campus: 10 min by taxi, 50 min by bus
Distance to Cambridge campus: 10 min by taxi, 50 min by bus

Homewood Suites by Hilton
800 Jamieson Parkway, Cambridge ON N3C 4N6
Phone: 519-651-2888
Distance to Kitchener - Doon campus: 10 min by taxi, 1 hr 10 min by bus
Distance to Cambridge campus: 11 min by taxi, 57 min by bus

Kitchener Inn and Suites
4355 King Street East, Kitchener ON N2P 2E9
Phone: 519-650-6090 / 1-877-600-6090
Distance to Kitchener - Doon campus: 9 min by taxi, 50 min by bus
Distance to Cambridge campus: 10 min by taxi, 50 min by bus

For Kitchener - Downtown campus students

Crowne Plaza Kitchener - Waterloo
105 King Street East, Kitchener, ON N2G 2K8
Phone: 519-744-4141
Distance to Kitchener - Downtown campus: 2 min walk

Quality Inn Kitchener
2899 King Street East, Kitchener, ON N2A 1A6
Phone: 519-894-3500

The Courtyard Marriott
2960 King Street East, Kitchener, ON N2A 1A9
Phone: 519-894-9500
Distance to Kitchener - Downtown campus: 9 min by taxi, 17 min by bus

For Waterloo campus students

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Waterloo
14 Benjamin Road, Waterloo, ON N2V 2J9
Phone: 519-772-9800
Distance to Waterloo campus: 9 min by taxi, 45 min by bus

Staybridge Suites
10 Benjamin Road, Waterloo, ON N2V 2J9
Phone: 519-514-5500
Distance to Waterloo campus: 9 min by taxi, 45 min by bus

For Guelph campus students

Comfort Inn Guelph
480 Silvercreek Parkway, Guelph, ON N1H 7R5
Phone: 519-763-1900
Distance to Guelph campus: 3 min by taxi, 7 min by bus

Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Guelph
725 Imperial Road North, Guelph, ON N1K 1X4
Phone: 519-821-2144
Distance to Guelph campus: 4 min by taxi, 12 min by bus

Staybridge Suites Guelph
11 Corporate Court, Guelph, ON  N1G 5G5
Phone: 519-767-3300
Distance to Guelph campus: 10 min by taxi, 1 hr 17 min by bus

For Brantford campus students

Best Western Brantford Hotel & Conference Centre
19 Holiday Drive, Brantford, ON N3R 7J4
Phone: 519-753-8651 or 877-341-1234 (toll free)
Distance to Brantford campus: 8 min by taxi, 30 min by bus

Comfort Inn Brantford
58 King George Road, Brantford, ON N3R 5K4
Phone: 519-753-3100

Days Inn by Wyndham Brantford
460 Fairview Drive, Brantford, ON N3R 7A9
Phone: 519-759-2700

Hampton Inn & Suites by Hilton Brantford Conference Centre
20 Fen Ridge Court, Brantford, ON N3V 1G2
Phone: 519-720-0084
Distance to Brantford campus: 9 km, 13 min by taxi, 25 - 38 min by bus

TownePlace Suites Brantford and Conference Centre
30 Fen Ridge Court, Brantford, ON N3V 1G2
Phone: 519-720-2777
Distance to Brantford campus: 9 km, 13 min by taxi, 25 - 38 min by bus

For Milton campus students

Best Western Milton
161 Chisholm Dr., Milton, ON L9T 4A6
Phone: 905-875-3818

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Milton
2750 High Point Dr., Milton, ON L9T 5G5
Phone: 905-876-4955
Distance to Milton campus: 2 min by taxi; 11 min walk

Home2 Suites by Hilton Milton Ontario
8490 Parkhill Dr., Milton, ON L9T 9B3
Phone: 289-878-3800
Distance to Milton campus: 2 min by taxi; 9 min walk

• No, the college does not arrange housing for students. It is the student's responsibility to make arrangements for themselves.
• Visit Conestoga housing for details on Conestoga-operated housing options, rates, locations, and how to apply. For other housing options, please see the information and resources on this page.

There are a variety of options available to international students, including Conestoga housing (Residence and Student apartments & suites), Canada Homestay, and alternatives such as a private room in shared accommodations, apartments, and house rentals. Options vary depending on individual needs, budget, and campus location. Please review the information and resources on this page for more details.

Note: If you have not secured long-term housing prior to arriving in Canada, be sure to have a plan in place for short-term accommodations upon arrival, such as a hotel or Airbnb rental.

Visit Cost of living for information on average rental rates in your campus community. Rates can vary considerably depending on your campus city and your individual needs as a renter.     

The rental market in our campus region is highly competitive. It is recommended that you start your housing search approximately 60 days or more prior to your arrival in Canada.   

If you are coming to Canada with family members, housing options include either a 1,2, or 3-bedroom private apartment or house, depending on your budget and family size. Renting a single room in a shared house or apartment is strongly discouraged for students with children and usually not permitted by landlords. Conestoga housing (Residence and Student apartments & suites) and Canada Homestay options are currently only suitable for individual students.

• Room sharing is not common practice in Canada, and we do not recommend it.
• Most landlords who own student rental houses will only allow one person per room, and you would need permission from the landlord to share a room.
• If you do choose to share a room, we do not recommend sharing a room with more than one other individual as it carries several additional risks (see below).

• Typically, only one of the individuals in a room share is considered a "legal tenant" on a written lease with the landlord and others are considered "occupants" with no legal rights in place to protect their rental security.
• If your name is on the lease and you are sharing a room with other individuals who are not named on the lease agreement, you can be held responsible for any damages to property, missed rental payments, or unacceptable behaviours of other occupants.
• As a "legal tenant" on a lease, you are protected by the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) and both landlords and tenants must abide by the rights and responsibilities listed within this law.
• As an "occupant" you have no legal protection from being evicted without notice and without repayment of unused portion of rent. You are also not eligible for tenant insurance.

• In some cases, room sharing may be overcrowded, unhygienic, or non-compliant with housing bylaws. These sorts of conditions could jeopardize your physical safety and mental well-being.
• If you have concerns about overcrowding, speak to your landlord or contact the City Bylaw department for an inspection.

• The RTA is the housing law which details the rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords in most rental units in the province of Ontario.
• Rules are enforced by the Landlord and Tenant Board.
• It is important to know if your rental is covered by the RTA as this determines whether you have legal rights and responsibilities while you are living in the unit.
• You can use this online tool to determine if the Residential Tenancies Act applies to you and your rental unit.
• Typically, if you are sharing a kitchen and/or bathroom with your landlord, landlord's family member, or the individual who collects your rent, the rental unit would NOT be covered by the Residential Tenancies Act. This means that you would not have the protection or rights extended to tenants according to this Act.

• Tenant insurance protects you from unexpected damage to your rental unit and your belongings.
• It protects you from personal liability in case of an emergency or accident (fire damage, etc.).
• You must be considered a legal tenant to qualify for tenant insurance.
• Many insurance companies offer tenant insurance. Prices and coverage vary. It is important to research and select the plan that best suits your situation.
• The college strongly recommends that all student renters purchase tenant insurance to protect their belongings in case of unforeseen loss due to theft, fire, or water damage, etc.