International Student Guide
Ontario rental basics for students arriving from abroad or searching remotely.
Deposits & Payment
- •Landlords cannot legally require a deposit before you sign a lease in Ontario.
- •Standard payment: Interac e-transfer or cheque after signing — not wire transfer, Western Union, or Bitcoin.
- •"First and last month's rent" is common but must follow the lease terms.
- •Never send money to "hold" a unit you haven't viewed in person or via live video.
Leases & Documents
- •Ontario requires the Standard Form of Lease for landlord–tenant agreements.
- •If subletting, the original tenant needs the landlord's written consent.
- •Sublet rent cannot exceed what the original tenant pays the landlord.
- •Keep copies of everything you sign. Verbal agreements are hard to enforce.
What's Normal in Waterloo
- •4-month co-op terms (Jan–Apr, May–Aug, Sep–Dec) are standard for UW students.
- •Summer sublets (May–Aug) are often discounted 10–20% — moderate discounts can be legitimate.
- •Shared rooms on Lester/Columbia: ~$500–800/mo. Single units in towers: ~$900–1,500/mo.
- •Places4Students is UW's official vetted listing platform.
Red Flags
- •Price far below market for the building or street.
- •Landlord "out of the country" and can't show the unit.
- •Pressure to pay immediately or lose the unit.
- •Asked for your SIN, passport, or bank password before signing.
- •Asked to wire money or pay via gift cards / crypto.
If Something Goes Wrong
- •WUSA Student Legal Protection — free legal advice for UW students.
- •Waterloo Regional Police (non-emergency) — file a report if you paid a scammer.
- •Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre — antifraudcentre.ca
- •Contact your bank immediately if you sent an e-transfer to a scammer.
Helpful links
Paste any listing or chat into Analyze for a risk snapshot before you pay.