Housing

Durham College residences are located on the Oshawa and Whitby campuses, and are open to all students.

All rooms include:

• Internet access;
• On-site laundry;
• Housekeeping services;
• Twenty-four-hour security;
• Common lounges and games rooms; and
• Evening events for you and your new friends.

These residences are run by private companies, are available only to students and are located near the Oshawa campus.

Foundry 1805 – Located on Simcoe Street, just a short walk from the Oshawa campus. These are un-furnished or furnished units, with laundry located on every floor, and group or quiet study spaces. (Requires a 12-month lease.)

Foundry Simcoe – Directly across the street from the Oshawa campus. There are three-bedroom and five-bedroom suites available. Each room has its own bathroom. Kitchen and living space is shared. Bi-monthly cleaning service. Utilities are extra – automatically split between tenants and bill sent directly by Varsity. Apply online or visit a model unit at their showroom. (Requires a lease term of September to August.)

17Hundred – Five-minute walk from the Oshawa campus on Simcoe Street. There are two- to five-bedroom apartments available (Depending on the move-in date, the lease term varies). These are furnished or unfurnished units that include:

• Wi-Fi/Internet;
• Group and private study spaces;
• Yoga room;
• Theatre room; and
• Recreation room with billiards, foosball and ping pong.

If you are looking to find an apartment within the Durham Region then the following websites cater to a wide range of budgets:

• Walk Score
• Rent Seeker
• Gottarent
• ViewIt
• Kijiji
• Padmapper
• Places 4 Students – Oshawa campus
• Places 4 Students – Whitby campus
• Airbnb (short-term stay) 

If you are thinking about renting an apartment, here are some questions you should ask:

• How much is the rent per month?
• Does the rent include utilities like electricity, water, cable or Internet?
• Is the heat centrally controlled?
• Is smoking allowed?
• Do you require first- and last-month’s rent or security deposit?
• When is the move-in date?
• What furnishings and appliances are included?
• What day is rent due and how do you pay? (Cheque, email, money transfer, etc.)
• Is there laundry on site? Does it cost extra? How to pay for it?
• Where does the mail go?
• Who maintains the driveway/path when it snows?
• Are garbage and recycle bins provided? Where do they go?

TIP! Try to make several appointments on one day, so that you can compare your options.

STARTING THE SEARCH FOR ACCOMMODATIONS

When looking for a place to live, you should ask yourself the following questions.

• Should I live by myself or with roommates?
• What things can I live without and what things do I absolutely need? (For example, can I live without laundry on site?)
• What is the maximum amount per month I can afford to pay in rent, including utilities (heat, electricity, water)?

By answering these questions, you can create your search parameters and set initial expectations for your future home.

During your search you can expect:

• To look at more than one place;
• To have to make an appointment to view an accommodation;
• To go on a tour with other potential tenants; and
• To receive an application to take home with you.

When you find an accommodation you like, you will likely have to fill out an application. Applications will often ask for:

• Your previous addresses;
• The contact information of your current landlord and your current address;
• The contact information of your current employer and your employment history; and
• Your Social Insurance Number, which is needed to perform a credit check.
  • Your Social Insurance Number is personal information that should be protected. If you do not feel comfortable sharing this information or are not sure if you should provide it, you can speak to someone in the International Education office for advice.

Once you have applied and it has been approved, you will likely have to sign a lease. Leases are important for many reasons:

• They protect you legally under the Landlord Tenant Act;
• They establish the responsibilities of the landlord as well as the tenant; and
• They act as a contract guaranteeing the cost of rent per month and how long you may live in that accommodation.

Some things to note about leases:

• You should not expect to be able to negotiate the cost of the rent; and
• In most instances, once you have lived somewhere for 12 months on a lease, you are able to go month-to-month under the same conditions as you were on the lease. Speak to the International Education office or Service Oshawa for more information.

TIME TO MOVE IN: SETTING EXPECTATIONS FOR YOUR NEW HOME

Once you have signed your lease and agreed to the terms with your landlord, you will be able to move in to your new home. There will be some adjustments to the new living situation. When settling in, here are some points to keep in mind:

• Your landlord is expected to maintain the property so that it is safe and functional, but it is not their responsibility to make aesthetic changes for you that were not previously agreed to. For example, paint the walls a different colour;
• Your landlord may need to enter the unit or send in maintenance staff. Once you have officially moved in, the landlord is required to give you 24 hours’ notice before entering the apartment; and
• Your landlord must ensure the apartment has working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Your landlord is not allowed to take any of your personal belongings, including luggage or personal documents, like passports.

Students often choose to live with roommates or housemates. If this is your situation, remember:

• You may be sharing living spaces, like the kitchen or bathrooms;
• You are entitled to respect and privacy, as are any other people living in the same unit. This includes from the landlord; and
• You do not have to share a bedroom or bed without your consent or prior knowledge.

PAYMENTS

It is important to have a record of your rent payments. Common ways to pay are:

• E-transfer (email money transfer, EMT) – you can send monthly payments using a banking website or app. Most banks do not charge a fee for EMTs and you will have an electronic record of the payment;
• Cheque – you are able to pre-date your cheques and they provide a paper record of paying rent; and
• Cash – cash is insecure and untraceable, and there is no guaranteed record of payment. If you pay cash, you must get a receipt.

SCAM ALERT

We always encourage students to view every potential accommodation before agreeing to pay money or sign a lease. Paying rent with gift cards is never a good idea.