Student Housing: Living in Pembroke

Pembroke has five privately run student residences within walking distance of campus. Algonquin College does not own or operate these residences and is in no way affiliated with them. This information is provided as guidance for students. Algonquin College provides this information as a service to its students but takes no responsibility for the student or landlord’s decision to enter into a rental/boarding arrangement. The College does not pre-screen the landlords’ or students’ suitability as a landlord/tenant.

• Christie Street Residence – 164 Christie Street
  Contact Christie Street Residence at (613) 602-7164 or email one64christie@sleepwellmanagement.com for an information package and an application form.
• Lake Street Residence – 320 Lake Street
  Contact 320 Lake Street management directly at (613) 687-0013 with your questions or email s.waitorentals@gmail.com for a full information package and an application form.
• AMNA Student Living – 227 Lake Street
  Contact AMNA management directly at (613) 860-3500 x260 or email admin.pembroke@synercapital.ca with your questions to complete an application form, or to arrange a personal tour of the facility. Follow AMNA on Instagram.
• Algonquin House – 150 Peter Street
  Contact Algonquin House at (613) 219-3493 or email ka@algonquin-house.ca with your questions or to arrange a personal tour of the facility.
• Canoe Lofts – 478 & 484 Pembroke Street W
  Contact Canoe Lofts directly at (613) 602-7164 for information or questions about rooms and facilities.

Canadian Accommodation Services operates a homestay program for international students that allows students at our Pembroke campus to rent rooms from a Canadian family while learning Canadian culture.

If you have questions, please contact Lyne Vezina at 613-325-0822.

Students
Complete the Student Homestay Request Form then email it to Lyne Vezina, lyne@caservices.ca.

Host Families
Complete the Family Application Form then email it to Lyne Vezina, lyne@caservices.ca.

SpacesShared is a virtual platform that allows Students looking for safe and affordable home-sharing arrangements to match with Older Adult Hosts. SpacesShared’s priority is safety and simplicity in finding a match that feels comfortable for you. SpacesShared will support the host and student over the duration of the agreement.

Please note that by clicking on the above link you are leaving the Algonquin College website. By using the SpacesShared site, the user accepts that Algonquin College is not liable to the student for any issues caused by a host.

If you have an immediate need for housing, you may contact the motels listed below. Please email the following address to make the college aware you are looking for housing while studying at the Pembroke Campus: Yourfuture@algonquincollege.com

Hillside Inn
638 Pembroke St. East, Pembroke, ON, K8A3L9
(613)-732-3616

Super 8 by Wyndham
1218 Pembroke St E, Pembroke, ON K8A 7R9
(613) 775-0170

Travellers Inn
1044 Pembroke St E, Pembroke, ON K8A 8K6
(613) 732-9901

Need a bit more help?
Contact our Student Housing Coordinator: studenthousing@algonquincollege.com

Places4Students offers domestic and international students a convenient platform for finding and booking student-friendly housing. Places4Students allows you to browse listings, connect with potential roommates, and connect with landlords. 

Please note that by clicking on the above links, you are leaving the Algonquin College website. By using the Places4Students site, the user accepts that Algonquin College is not liable to student for any issues caused by a host.

Customer Service: Monday-Thursday: 9am-7pm EST & Friday: 9am-5pm EST

• Email: admin@p4s.com
• Phone number: 1-866-766-0767

Keep in mind that the average market rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Pembroke is $1,400 when creating your housing budget. Students are encouraged to make a realistic budget based on their situation. Keep in mind the cost of the following:

• Utilities: What is included in the rent? (Keep in mind that if utilities are not included in your rent you should budget to spend an additional $200 on things like heat, water, and internet.)
• Furnishings: Is the unit furnished, or do you need to purchase items?
• Amenities: Is parking extra? Is laundry in the unit or shared? What is the cost of laundry?
• Transportation: How far is the unit from the Pembroke campus? Is it within walking distance?

Consider that Pembroke does not have public transit. Students will be required to walk, bike, or drive to campus. It is important to keep this in mind when you are securing off-campus housing.

Roommates can be a great option for those looking for a more affordable rental option. It is important when you are selecting a roommate you ensure your priorities and lifestyle align. If you go to bed early, you might not want to live with someone who likes to stay up late. It is also important to ensure you choose someone whom you are comfortable having difficult conversations with. Often living with friends sounds great, but problems can go unsolved if we are unable to talk to them about housing-related issues.

Important Questions to Ask Before Becoming Roommates:

• How are you going to ensure your portion of the rent gets paid on time?
• Are we going to split utility costs?
• How often are you comfortable/interested in having guests over and how late will they stay?
• Should we split household chores? How often should we complete chores?
• What is your current work/school schedule?
• What is your sleep schedule like?
• How often do you drink alcohol?
• Do you plan on having events/parties?
• If you have a partner, how often will they be sleeping over? Do you intend on them moving in?
• If we had a disagreement, how would we handle it?

It is always encouraged that you make a roommate agreement to hold each other accountable and ensure you and your roommate have the same understanding.

Rental scams are real! To protect yourself keep the following things in mind while searching for housing:

1. Look Up the Address Online.
   Often scammers will post apartment listings for units that don’t exist. Do your research! Look the address up on Google and look at it through Google Maps Street View. 

2. Do Not Give the Landlord Any Money Until Your Application is Approved.
   Your landlord cannot ask for any deposits until your application has been approved. Typically, this is provided during the lease signing. 

3. Always See the Apartment in Person.
   It is important that before signing a lease you look at the apartment in person. This will allow you to make sure the ad is real and see the status of the unit. In situations where you are unable to visit the unit in person, see if someone you trust can go and take photos or ask the landlord to video call a walk-through with you.

4. Beware of Duplicate Ads.
   Scammers will often post multiple fake ads with multiple different landlord names and contacts. If you see the same apartment being listed multiple times with different information, it is likely fake.

5. Know Your Rights as a Tenant.
   Before viewing a unit or connecting with landlords’ research what your rights are as a tenant. This will allow you to naturally notice red flags through conversations with the landlord.

6. Read Reviews.
   Keep in mind people are more often to post negative reviews than positive ones. Everyone has a different experience! But if you find a property with multiple reviews from different users, that can help you verify the listing.

7. Ask Questions About the Application Process.
   Keep in mind renting is a business to a landlord. Landlords will require basic information from you before allowing you to rent one of their units, such as photo identification and proof of income. Many landlords even ask for criminal record checks and credit checks. If you are meeting with a landlord and they aren’t requiring any of that information, it is likely a scam. 

8. Ask Questions!
   If you have any questions about the posting during the viewing or the application process, ask them! It is better to make a fully informed decision.

The Ontario Standard Lease (OSL) is a residential tenancy agreement between the landlord and tenant for private residential units. Since 2018, all landlords must use the Ontario Standard Lease when entering new lease agreements. The purpose of the Ontario Standard Lease is to make drafting tenancy agreements easier for both parties to use and understand. By signing the OSL, the landlord and tenant are entering a legal contract that both must follow. 

Tenancies that do not need to use the Ontario Standard Lease:

• Business rentals
• Public/subsidized housing
• Mobile homes and land lease homes
• Housing co-ops
• Sublets
• Care Homes

The Residential Tenancies Act, also known as the RTA, protects renters in Ontario. Its purpose is to set out landlords’ and tenants’ rights and responsibilities. If a landlord or tenant feels their rights are being violated, the RTA has steps to rectify the situation.  

Who is not protected under the RTA?

• People staying in emergency shelters
• People staying in hospitals or long-term care facilities
• People incarcerated
• Students living in residences
• People living in a unit that shares a kitchen or bathroom with the landlord and/or a member of their immediate family

Tenant responsibilities:

• Pay your rent on time and in full. This includes paying the way it is outlined in your lease.
• Maintain the cleanliness of your unit. This includes throwing out trash, sweeping, mopping, sanitizing, etc.
• Keep noise to an appropriate level. Keep your neighbours in mind when hosting events or when you stay up late!
• Don’t damage your unit, but if you do, fix it! If you happen to put a hole in the wall you are responsible for repairing these things.
• Obey local by-laws! This includes the number of pets, number of occupants, noise, and much more.
• Report maintenance needs to the landlord. This includes things like broken toilets, pest control, leaks, etc.
• Provide notice when you want to move out. It is your responsibility to provide 60 days’ notice before moving out.

Landlord responsibilities:

• Complete maintenance requests in a reasonable time.
• Maintain the cleanliness of all common areas such as elevators, parking lots, amenities, hallways, etc.
• Provide 24 hours’ notice to enter the unit for maintenance or inspections, unless it is an immediate safety concern like fire, flood, or life at risk.
• Ensure access to vital services is in good working order. This includes heat, water, and electricity.
• Keeping units in good repair and ready for new tenants.
• Provide all documents to the tenants. This includes leases, notices, and rent receipts.