Graduate, Optometry, & Student Families

Once the renewal deadline has passed, you will need to reapply as a new applicant. In this case, you will be re-added to the end of the waitlist. 

Please immediately notify us at housing@uwaterloo.ca to let us know you missed the renewal but wish to stay in your current room for the next term. We will make every effort to place you within the same unit and room you are currently in.  

Due to the demand and interest of applicants we cannot guarantee the same residence placement or that you will receive an offer of housing.

The renewal process into the next academic term for single graduate residents begins 2-6 weeks into the current term. The reason renewals occur earlier in the semester is so that we can give our current residents the first opportunity to book their spot into the next term, while balancing consideration for future students who want a spot in graduate Campus Housing as well.  

Early renewals allow for certainty for both us and you, while allowing us to better serve future residents by being able to send new offers earlier on as well. Please note there are financial consequences to signing a residence contract, read more here.

No, Renewal offers for future terms are to renew your contract in the same room; your renewal cannot include a room change.  

See additional FAQs below for ways to request room changes for upcoming term contracts.

Preference-based room change requests are not permitted.  

Room change processes are resource and time intensive for operations and for staff. As well, while we may not have control over which units meet personal preference thresholds (e.g., personal preferences for views, location in CLV, etc.), we do ensure that all townhouse units and bedrooms consistently offer the same housing amenities. Thus, preference-based room change requests are not considered at this time.

A Residence Life Grad Don is a graduate student who lives and works in CLV. Your Grad Don can help with questions or concerns, provide general support, and help you build connections with others also living in the Graduate & Student Family Community  

Grad Dons also help organize fun and engaging events that can help you connect with your peers and build useful skills. They provide residents in the community with opportunities to learn about valuable campus resources and how to access them.   

To learn more about CLV Grad Dons, please visit the Jobs & Leadership page . To contact your grad don, visit the community center and ask the CLV Front Desk or your Residence Life Coordinator.

No problem. When you receive your contract renewal offer, please decline the offer.  

Please note: until you decline your offer, you will continue receiving reminders of your renewal offer throughout the renewal window.

Air-conditioning units are only permitted in CLV-North townhouses. Air-conditioning units are not permitted in CLV-South townhouses. 

Within CLV-North townhouses, air-conditioning restrictions are:   

• One (1) air conditioner is permitted per townhouse.   

• Must be CSA approved and operate on 115 volts.   

• Portable, free-standing units only; window mounted air conditioner units are not permitted.   

Refer to your Terms & Conditions for more information on air conditioners, or reach out to CLV maintenance if you have any questions about your CLV unit.

Accidents can happen. The University of Waterloo is not liable, directly or indirectly, for any loss or theft of personal property, or for the damage or destruction of such property by fire, water, or other use. We strongly recommend that you obtain adequate personal insurance to cover your personal property while living in residence.

Residents should note that CLV is surrounded by greenspace as well a protected wet area.  This makes the community beautiful. However with greenspace there are also common household bugs for which we do not provide pest control. Examples include: flies, spiders, earwigs, silverfish, etc.   

Pest control is provided for bedbugs and cockroaches. For more information please refer to your residence contract, or reach out to CLV maintenance if you have any questions about your CLV unit.

CLV North townhouses are equipped with forced air gas furnaces.  The furnace heats the air and then uses a fan to blow it into duct systems and distribute it throughout the house. The air flows through the ducts and is expelled out of the ducts through vents located in different rooms around the building.  

You can feel a flow of air coming out of these vents when the furnace fan is going. You will note that the air coming out of the vent will feel cool regardless of the heat setting – this is normal.  Once the set temperature in the unit is reached the furnace will turn off until the temperature drops below the setting at which time the furnace will turn back on.  

Reach out to CLV Maintenance if you have any questions about your CLV unit.

No. CLV townhouse unit modifications and/or renovations by tenants are not permitted under any circumstances. Examples of modifications that are not permitted include (but are not limited to): changes to walls, floors, ceilings, furniture, plumbing, electrical, appliances, equipment, unit exterior, unit interior, or more. 

If a resident does modify or renovate any elements of their CLV unit, they will be found in breach of contract and may be required to move out of residence. Additionally, they will be responsible for any financial costs associated with the maintenance team restoring the unit back to its original condition.  

For more information, please refer to your residence contract.

No. Residents are not permitted to sleep in the basement for fire safety purposes.  

In order to sleep or live in a basement, there needs to be 2 exits out of the building. This condition is not met by the CLV-North unit townhouse layout.  

Thus, basements are intended to provide residents with additional study and/or living space only (not sleeping space).

If you become degree complete* while in residence, you will be allowed to remain in residence for the remainder of the current term that you become degree complete*in. NOTE: Any contracts for future terms will be cancelled. Please note, you will be held financially responsible for your $500 non-refundable deposit if you need to cancel a future contract due to degree completion. Visit the cancellation page for more details and information.  

Example 1: If you completed your degree requirements on January 17 you would be permitted to remain in residence until the last day of your Winter term contract (end of April). You would not be eligible to receive a renewal offer. 

Example 2: If you completed your degree requirements on April 2 you would be permitted to remain in residence until the last day of your Winter term contract (end of April); Any future term contracts (e.g. your Spring term contract, if you have one), would be cancelled. 

Please reach out to your Residence Life Coordinator to communicate your intention to become degree complete. 

*Degree completion is not the same as degree conferral.  Eligibility will be determined based on the date that is reflected on Quest confirming that all degree requirements were completed. This date can often be well in advance of the conferral of your degree (ie. Convocation).  

You must be registered as a full-time student to apply for residence in Columbia Lake Village, and to remain in the community. 

If you become inactive once you are already living in the community; you may be permitted to remain in residence for as long as your inactive status is approved by the Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs office or your Faculty (e.g. medical leave, etc.). You are required to inform us of your situation and submit documentation to verify your circumstances. If you are not able to submit appropriate documentation to verify your inactive status is approved by the Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs office or your Faculty, then you will not be permitted to remain in residence. Contact your RLC immediately to discuss next steps and what verification needs to look like. 

If you become enrolled part-time once you are already living in the community; you will be required to submit documentation from your faculty confirming an intent to become full-time enrolled again the following term. If you continue to be enrolled part-time for more than one consecutive term, you will not be permitted to remain in residence. Contact your RLC immediately to discuss next steps 

Please note, you will be held financially responsible for your $500 non-refundable deposit if you need to cancel a future contract due to ineligibility. Visit the cancellation page for more details and information.