Student Family Housing | Campus Housing

Columbia Lake Village is a safe, quiet, and conscientious community that offers an affordable two-bedroom townhouse option for students with families. Why make the Columbia Lake Village community your home?

Renewable contracts
Live in a safe, quiet, clean community
Surrounded by other student families
Reliable and trustworthy maintenance services (with a great landlord!)
Onsite support from Campus Housing and Residence Life Dons
All-inclusive living (utilities, high-speed internet, community events)
Great support and programming for spouses and international families
Community Centre and recreational programming for children

Learn more about Columbia Lake Village-North’s building and amenities, and explore online layouts/pictures.

Details and how to apply

Application Process

Follow these steps to apply for family housing:

Ensure you meet the eligibility criteria of family housing; outlined below, and in our Family Terms and Conditions.
Add your name to the student family housing waitlist. Please note: Family housing offers are made from this waitlist on a first come, first-served basis and are based on available vacancies. Adding your name to the waitlist does not guarantee a residence offer.
Gather the necessary documentation (outlined below in step 6). If/when you receive an offer from Campus Housing, it will be conditional based on the timely submission of these documents.
Wait for an update on vacancies and keep your waitlist position active. Campus Housing will reach out to you once a term inviting you to keep your waitlist application active. NOTE: If you allow your waitlist application to expire (i.e., do not take action when you are invited to keep your application active), then you will be removed from the waitlist, and will need to reapply again to be considered for a future space.

When you reach the front of the waitlist, Campus Housing will notify you via email to let you know when the next available vacancy is for you.
If a space becomes available and we reach your spot on the waitlist, you will be asked to confirm your interest within one week. If you are contacted but no longer require housing or are no longer eligible to live in Student Family Housing, then we ask that you decline the offer as soon as possible, so that it can be offered to the next interested student family. Please note: declining an offer will also effectively remove you from the family housing waitlist for future spaces.
Once you have confirmed your interest, you then have one week to submit all eligibility documents in order to hold your place.
Once eligibility documents have been vetted and approved, you will be referred to the Family Terms and Conditions  and will be required to agree to those Terms and Conditions. You will also be required to submit your non-refundable deposit by the deadline date to Campus Housing (usually within 1 week).
You will receive final confirmation that your family housing unit has been reserved for you once you have completed all steps described above.

Please Note: Our Family housing is extremely popular. Our waitlist receives a high number of new applicants each month; and with many student families choosing to stay for multiple terms, there may only be a few vacancies available to new student families each term.

Offers are made from the waitlist on a first come, first-served basis (based on timestamp of when your waitlist submission was received). We cannot provide an estimate of when you will be offered housing based on your waitlist number.

We have 82 townhouse units for Family housing.

Family housing waitlist

To apply for family housing, please submit an application to the family housing waitlist through the link below. As an applicant to family housing, you must be enrolled full-time at the University of Waterloo and must meet family housing eligibility criteria. Should we reach your spot on the waitlist, a Campus Housing staff member will reach out to you as soon as possible with a residence offer. Please note: Offers are not guaranteed and depend on when/if current student family residents decide to leave Campus Housing. As well, units may become available at any time throughout the academic year and a contract start date may not coincide with term start dates.
Contracts end on April 29, August 29, and December 29, depending on contract's associated academic term.

Applied to the waitlist and have questions? Check out the commonly asked questions befow about being on the waitlist.

Please note: You need to have your WatIAM activated to log in to the system.

Waitlist commonly asked questions

Why am I on a waitlist?

There are currently 82 family housing townhouses in Campus Housing residences. However, each year, we receive more student family housing applications than we have room for in our student family housing community.

The waitlist is a way for you to express interest, so that we can inform you when you reach the front of the line, and a student family unit becomes available.

How long will it take to receive a housing offer?

Availability of spaces depends on when/if current student family residents decide to leave Campus Housing, which is not something we can predict.

Based on your waitlist position, we will try our best to give you an honest response as to what your chances are of receiving a family housing offer.

Please note that units may become available at any time throughout the academic year and a contract start date may not coincide with term start dates.

I can’t wait any longer, and I need a family housing unit right now. What can Campus Housing do for me?

We understand how hard and frustrating it might be to be on a waitlist. Although every effort is made to provide students on the waitlist with a family housing unit, we cannot make any guarantees.

When a family unit becomes available, offers are only made according to waitlist position. Out of fairness to others on the waitlist that are also waiting for and need Family Housing, we do not evaluate or consider individual personal circumstances, as each student’s situation is unique.

As it may take a while to reach your spot on the waitlist, please feel free to explore any of the following resources while you wait:

Visit the Off-Campus Housing website
Visit the Short-term Accommodations website
Reach out to a Housing Advisor to request additional off-campus housing resources specifically for students with children/dependents

How do I check my waitlist position?

You can view your waitlist position by logging into your Welcome Home login page. Click the “Family Housing” button and then the “View Your Spot on the Family Housing Waitlist” button.

How do I keep my position on the waitlist active?

Once a term, we will send an email to the UWaterloo email accounts of students on the waitlist asking to confirm their interest in remaining on the family housing waitlist. If you wish to keep your waitlist position active, it is your responsibility to confirm your waitlist interest by the stated deadline. If you do not have a UWaterloo email address, you will receive this communication at the permanent address associated with your UWaterloo admission application.

If you fail to confirm your interest in remaining on the waitlist by the specified deadline, then your family housing application will be removed from the waitlist. To be re-added to the waitlist, you must contact housing@uwaterloo.ca. In this case, you will be re-added to the end of the waitlist.

You can remain on the family housing waitlist as long as you keep confirming your waitlist position each term. When a spot in family housing becomes available and you are next on the list, we will send your UWaterloo email account a family housing offer (pending continued eligibility). This offer will include details and deadlines on how to accept. Therefore, please ensure you are checking your UWaterloo email on a daily basis.

How do I edit my waitlist application?

If your family information changes, you can update your waitlist application by visiting the Welcome Home login page. Click the “Family Housing” button and then the “Edit Your Family Housing Application” button.

Please note that student families live in 2-bedroom townhouses that are designed to safely and comfortably accommodate up to a maximum of four (4) occupants. If your family size has changed and is now larger than four individuals, you are no longer eligible for family housing. In this case, we suggest that you look for off-campus housing instead (resources above).

I have received a waitlist offer! What if I do not/cannot accept it?

Congratulations on receiving an offer!

If you do not accept this offer before the offer expiry date, please note that your application to student family housing will be removed from the waitlist.

We cannot postpone or delay a family housing offer. If the move-in date of the offer does not work for your family then you can choose to decline your offer.

We understand that sometimes students are interested in receiving another offer again in the future. In these cases, you are invited to contact housing@uwaterloo.ca to be re-added to the waitlist. In this case, you will be re-added to the end of the waitlist.

*please note, reasons that make you ineligible to accept your offer may include (but are not limited to): no longer enrolled in full-time studies, inability to provide required documentation for family housing (e.g., marriage certificate, birth certificates, travel confirmation, etc.), family size is now more than 4 people, or other.

I have received a waitlist offer! Can I move in earlier OR defer accepting it to a later month?

Congratulations on receiving an offer!

Please note, Family Housing contract start dates cannot be changed to start earlier or deferred to start later. When you receive a family housing offer, it is only valid for a housing contract that starts on the date listed in the offer.

If the housing contract start date listed on your family housing offer does not work for you, then you can choose to decline your offer and your application to student family housing will be removed from the waitlist.

We aim to give applicants more than 2 months' notice prior to the move-in date to allow them to give adequate notice to their current landlord if needed (the standard requirement in Ontario for notice is 60 days).

My spouse will be travelling from another country to join me in family housing; can I still accept an offer if they do not arrive on the move-in day?

You are encouraged to apply for student family housing even if your spouse is currently living abroad. When you receive an offer for student family housing it will include a move-in date (it will be aligned with the first day of the month). If your spouse will not be present on move-in day you must provide us with documentation that your spouse intends to travel to join you in your unit within the first month of your tenancy. This documentation may include VISA approval and/or proof of confirmed travel.

FAMILY HOUSING ELIGIBILITY

Columbia Lake Village-North (CLV-North) is designed for graduate students, student couples, and students with families.

CLV-North Family Eligibility

Our “family” definition follows the current definition of Census Family under Statistic Canada from Nov. 16, 2015. This includes:

A married couple and the children, if any, of either and/or both spouses;
A couple living common law and the children, if any, of either and/or both partners; or
A lone parent of any marital status with at least one child who is living in the same dwelling of that child or those children
Any other combination of nuclear relatives that are financially dependent on the primary contract holder (student).

Additional Terms of Occupancy

Continued residence in family housing is dependent on continued full-time student status; if your student status changes, please contact your Residence Life Coordinator.
Continued residence in family housing is also dependent on having no more than 4 individuals in the unit. See the FAQs below for more information.
Once you are living in student family housing, you will receive an email once a term to renew your contract pending eligibility. Renewal emails are typically sent 3-4 months before the start of each contract term.

More information about our family eligibility criteria can be found in our Family Terms and Conditions.

Frequently asked questions

Incoming Student Families

WHAT DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED TO receive an offer FOR FAMILY HOUSING?

In order to offer you a family unit, we need to confirm that your family will be with you at time of move in. If your family members (spouse/partner and/or children) will not be with you when you arrive, you are required to email housing@uwaterloo.ca to notify Campus Housing, and will be required to provide their immigration and flight information (if applicable).

In order to prove that you fulfil the eligibility requirements of the residence, you will be required to provide us with the following:

If you are a couple:

marriage certificate, or
a document signed before a commissioner for taking affidavits/notary public in which both parties swear/affirm that they have been living in a common-law relationship for at least one year AND a notarized copy of a document dated at least 11 months ago proving the existence of a shared lease, bank account, credit card or utility bill.

If you are a single parent:

adoption documents, or birth registration paperwork, or school registration paperwork AND
proof of custody of the child/children such as separation/divorce/custody documents.

If you are a couple with child/children:

marriage certificate, or
a document signed before a commissioner for taking affidavits/notary public in which both parties swear/affirm that they have been living in a common-law relationship for at least one year AND a notarized copy of a document dated at least 11 months ago proving the existence of a shared lease, bank account, credit card or utility bill AND

adoption documents, or birth registration paperwork, or school registration paperwork
For any other family combination, contact housing@uwaterloo.ca.

WHERE CAN I GET THESE DOCUMENTS AND WHAT IS THE COST?

The University of Waterloo has Commissioners for taking Affidavits available to Waterloo students through the Registrar's Office. They are located in Needles Hall. These Commissioners can help you with the documents we require, including notarization. Their services are free of charge to Waterloo students involved in University of Waterloo business.

Alternatively, there are numerous Notaries Public throughout the Kitchener/ Waterloo community, and other areas, which could perform this service for you. Their fees will vary depending on the organization.

For translations, please visit the Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre. 

WHEN DO I HAVE TO GET THESE DOCUMENTS?

You do not need to include these documents when you place your name on the student family housing wait list; however, it is a good idea to have them ready and uploaded already as we cannot send you an offer until the files are uploaded to your application You will need to submit and send us these documents within one week of receiving a  conditional residence offer. 

HOW MUCH IS THE NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT?

The non-refundable deposit is equivalent to one month's rent and will be applied to your first month's rent.

HOW MANY FAMILY MEMBERS CAN LIVE WITH ME IN MY FAMILY UNIT?

Student families live in 2-bedroom townhouses that are designed to safely and comfortably accommodate up to a maximum of four (4) occupants.  This occupancy limit is set based on a code/zone review that included information from the Ontario Building Code, Ontario Fire Code, and Waterloo Zoning-By-Law.  

If your family is larger than four individuals, we suggest looking for off-campus housing (resources below).

If the number of individuals living in your unit changes while living with us, you are required to notify Campus Housing by completing all the following steps:

Reach out to your Residence Life Coordinator.
Email housing@uwaterloo.ca, and
Update your profile in our system.

Please be aware that changes to the number of occupants in a unit may result in families becoming ineligible to receive future tenancy offers and remain in their units. Refer to the family terms and conditions for specific occupancy limits and other relevant information.

WHAT ARE SOME ALTERNATE STUDENT FAMILY HOUSING OPTIONS IN THE REGION OF WATERLOO?

Some students at UWaterloo choose to live off campus in the Kitchener-Waterloo community.

Helpful hints in searching for off-campus housing:

Start your search early! Whether you’re looking for housing on or off-campus, spaces are limited, especially during the fall term (September to December).
Note that most self-contained apartments aren’t furnished, except for stove and refrigerator. Be aware that rental and lease periods will vary, but 12-month leases are standard.
Look for places that are located on a bus route - Grand River Transit makes stops on campus.
Here are some additional resources to help you with your search.

Campus Housing can also offer support in helping you find the resources you need by directing to others such as the RTA, the Region, WUSA, GSA, etc. Send us an email to find out more.

WHAT IS THE LENGTH OF THE CONTRACT?

Student families are offered a 4-month contract running from September 1 - December 29, January 1 - April 29, and May 1 - August 29.

If you need to cancel partway through your termly contract, you will submit a cancellation form through your Welcome Home page. Please visit our withdrawals and cancellations website for more information on financial obligations and financial relief for cancellations that occur during the contract period.

ARE CLV-NORTH FAMILY UNITS FURNISHED?

CLV-North student family units are unfurnished. Find out more about the amenities and layouts in CLV-North.

CAN I CLAIM MY CLV NORTH RENT ON MY INCOME TAX RETURN?

Students in residence, including student family housing, do not pay taxes on their residence fees as the University residences are on tax-exempt land. On Line 6114 (Student Residences) on your income tax form, you can claim $25 as your occupancy cost for the part of the year you lived in residence. You do not need to have proof of residence or tax receipts for residence fee payment.

I’M MOVING IN TODAY – WHERE/HOW DO I PICK UP MY KEYS?

Your townhouse keys will be available for pick-up at noon on move-in day from the CLV Front Desk, in the CLV Community Center. Keys will not be available prior to noon.

Please note, the registered student (primary contract holder) must be present, and will be required to provide a physical copy of government issued photo ID (e.g., a passport, or driver’s license, etc.). The primary contract holder will receive the unit's set of keys - which includes any keys for a spouse.

Can another person (e.g., a family member) receive emails that Campus Housing sends to me?

We will send all emails to your UWaterloo email account once it is active. The most efficient way to have another person also receive emails sent to you from Campus Housing is to set up email forwarding within your UWaterloo email account. Follow the instructions on how to set up email forwarding

Note: If you want only certain emails forwarded to another person (instead of every email), you can use the rules function to only have emails from specific accounts forwarded.

These are Campus Housing accounts that will be regularly emailing you if you want to create forwarding rules for different types of emails:

Main Campus Housing account: housing@uwaterloo.ca
- This account will send you messages about move-in/move-out, processes and applications, and important community-wide updates.
Campus Housing maintenance: the maintenance account for your residence building
- This account will send you updates on repairs and other facility updates (e.g., fire alarm testing) happening in your community.
Campus Housing front desk: housdsmt@uwaterloo.ca
- This account will send you messages about packages and borrowed items.
Campus Housing Finance: housingfinance@uwaterloo.ca
- This account will send you messages about finance-related issues or inquiries.

Current Student Families

WHO ARE THE GRAD DONS? WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM MY GRAD DON WHILE I LIVE IN CLV?

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 or to contact your Grad Don, please visit our Jobs & Leadership page or reach out to reslife@uwaterloo.ca

CAN THE CLV COMMUNITY CENTER BE BOOKED FOR PRIVATE FUNCTIONS?

The back seating-area of the CLV Community Center can be booked in certain circumstances by student-family residents only. Student families wishing to book the community center space for a private function can learn more about booking guidelines by reaching out to the CLV Residence Life Coordinator.

HOW DO I PAY MY RESIDENCE FEES?

Students living in a family unit pay residence fees monthly. Payments may be made online or at the Columbia Lake Village Community Centre front desk.

Monthly fee payments are to be made no later than 4:30 p.m. on the first business day of the month, in one (1) single transaction by the main resident (pay by either certified cheque, OR online). If you go to pay your rent online and are unable to, please email Campus Housing for assistance.

To make your payment by certified cheque or money order/bank draft, please ensure your payment:

is dated before the deadline listed
is made payable to University of Waterloo - Campus Housing
has your full name and your 8-digit Waterloo ID number written on the back
is signed in the appropriate area
is in Canadian dollars

Please send your payment via delivery to the address below:

Campus Housing - Attention CLV Finance
Columbia Lake Village Community Centre
University of Waterloo
350 Columbia St. West
Waterloo, Ontario
N2L 6G8

WHAT IF I'M LATE PAYING MY FEES?

Normally residence fees are due on the first day of the month between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. If the fee deadline falls on a weekend or a statutory holiday, then payment is due the next business day.
If fee payment is not received, Campus Housing issues a courtesy reminder by e-mail. The resident is notified of the dollar amount of fees owed and when final payment is required. Normally, residents are required to pay fees before 4:30 p.m. on the following business day.
If fee payment is still not received, a second fee reminder (final notice) is e-mailed. The resident is reminded of dollar amount of fees owed and the payment deadline. The resident is required to pay outstanding fees before 4:30 p.m. on the following business day.
If fee payment is still not received at the end of the business day following the second/final reminder, an e-mail communication to the resident is prepared by the Manager, Graduate & Student Family Housing reminding the resident of the amount of fees owed, that 2 previous reminders have been sent. The email will include a termination date. The resident will be offered the opportunity to meet with Campus Housing staff before the termination date.
If fees are still not received before the termination date, or if the resident fails to contact or meet with Campus Housing staff before the termination date, the resident will be required to move out.

Additionally, please note that additional actions (such as Quest hold on marks/transcripts) may be required in certain cases, such as when a unit is vacated with pending overdue fee payment charges still active.

AM I PERMITTED TO HAVE A BOARDER?

As of August 1, 2025, boarders are not permitted in any Campus Housing units.

If you have questions about boarders, please contact housing@uwaterloo.ca.

THE SIZE OF MY FAMILY IS CHANGING – WHAT DO I DO?

Please be aware that CLV-North units are designed to safely and comfortably accommodate up to a maximum of four (4) occupants.

If the number of individuals living in your unit changes while living with us, you are required to notify Campus Housing by completing all the following steps:

 Reach out to your Residence Life Coordinator,

Email housing@uwaterloo.ca, and

Update your profile in our system.

Changes to the number of occupants in a unit may result in families becoming ineligible to receive future tenancy offers and/or remain in their units. Refer to the family terms and conditions for specific occupancy limits and other relevant information.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I'M INACTIVE OR PART-TIME FOR A TERM?

You must be registered as a full-time student to apply for family housing in Columbia Lake Village, and to remain in the family housing 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. parental leave, 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 Residence Life Coordinator (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

I do not want to renew my contract. What do I do?

When you receive your contract renewal, you can decline your offer. By declining your offer, your move-out day will be April 29, August 29, or December 29, depending on your last accepted contract term.

If you need to cancel partway through your termly contract, you will submit a cancellation form through your Welcome Home page. Please visit our withdrawals and cancellations website for more information on financial obligations and financial relief for cancellations that occur during the contract period.

I've completed my degree requirements; can I continue living in residence?

You must be a full-time student to continue living in student housing.You are expected to move out of residence by the end of the term you've become degree complete.  The termination date is typically April 29, August 29, or December 29.

Example: if you completed your degree requirements on January 17 you would be permitted to stay in residence until April 29.  You are required to contact your Residence Life Coordinator and develop a plan as soon as you know you are approaching degree completion. If you have any questions about contract termination, contact us.

*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 (i.e. Convocation). 

HOW DO I TERMINATE MY RESIDENCE CONTRACT?

Unless you renew your contract for the next term, you will need to vacate your unit by 12 p.m. (noon) on the last date of your contract. 

WHEN DO I VACATE MY UNIT?

You are required to vacate the unit and return your assigned keys no later than 12 noon on the last day on your contract (April 29, August 29, or December 29).

A move-out inspection will take place to assess standards of cleanliness.

Any damage beyond normal wear and tear or any excess cleaning required by Housing Staff will be billed to the primary resident.

HOW DO I PROCESS MY CHANGE OF ADDRESS?

Address changes must be done through Canada Post prior to your moving date. Columbia Lake Village will not forward or hold onto any mail for students not in residence.

Any mail received will be returned to sender.

WHERE/HOW CAN I ENROLL MY CHILDREN IN SCHOOL?

If you have school-aged children, you are strongly advised to contact the Waterloo Region District School Board or the Waterloo District Catholic School Board, at your earliest convenience, for information regarding school tuition. The school board may require that you pay a fee for your child (children) to attend school.

All permanent residents between the ages of 6 and 18 must attend school, as stipulated in the Ontario Education Act, which can be accessed through the Government of Ontario's website. CLV is on tax-exempt land and does not pay school taxes. As such, families must coordinate directly with school boards to pay the monthly or annual costs associated with enrolling children.

There are also several private schools and daycare facilities nearby, for your convenience.

WHERE/HOW CAN I ACCESS CHILD SAFETY RESOURCES?

There are many children living in CLV and it is important to keep their safety in mind at all times. Visit Child and Family Canada for some helpful resources on home and family safety concerns.

AM I ALLOWED TO INSTALL AIR CONDITIONING IN MY CLV TOWNHOUSE?

Air-conditioning units are 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-North Maintenance (clvmaint@uwaterloo.ca) if you have any questions about your CLV unit.

DO I NEED PERSONAL (OR RENTER’S) INSURANCE FOR MY BELONGINGS?

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.

WHAT DO I DO IF I COME ACROSS ANY PESTS IN MY UNIT? E.G. A SPIDER, BEDBUGS, ETC

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-North Maintenance (clvmaint@uwaterloo.ca) if you have any questions about your CLV unit.

HOW DOES MY FURNACE WORK, AND HOW DO I MAKE SURE IT IS HEATING MY HOUSE?

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-North Maintenance (clvmaint@uwaterloo.ca) if you have any questions about your CLV unit.

AM I ALLOWED TO MAKE MODIFICATIONS OR RENOVATIONS TO MY 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.

CLV-NORTH TOWNHOUSES ONLY: CAN THE BASEMENT OF MY CLV-NORTH UNIT BE USED AS A BEDROOM?

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).

Community Centre Booking Information

Columbia Lake Village Graduate Student & Family Community Community Centre Booking Information

Thank you for expressing interest in booking the Community Centre for your private function. Please take a moment to review the guidelines below.

Booking Guidelines:

Students wishing to book the Community Centre for a private function must submit their written request to the CLV Residence Life Coordinator at clvgrad@uwaterloo.ca at least 5 business days prior to the requested booking date.
The Community Center’s bookable space is restricted to the back seating area of the community center (i.e., the wood paneled area where the couches and TV are located).
Due to fire regulation, gatherings must not exceed 40 guests. If you plan to add furniture to the space (e.g. additional tables or chairs), we recommend having fewer guests.
Any supplies required must be supplied by the student who is requesting the booking (e.g. tape, scissors, third party rental furniture).
Recreational equipment can be signed out by any resident during the event. As residence equipment is covered under residence fees, it is not available for sign out under non-residents. However, residents are responsible for rentals from the desk and supplies are subject to availability.
Stacked room dividers can be provided by Campus Housing should you wish to have more privacy during your event. The CLV Residence Life Coordinator can demonstrate how to access and use these during a scheduled meeting at least 48 hours prior to the event. You can reach out to clvgrad@uwaterloo.ca for support.
Furniture cannot be removed from the bookable space; however, it can be rearranged within the bookable space to meet the event’s needs.
The CLV Community Centre is a communal space and as such students booking a private function must respect that other CLV residents will still be permitted to use all the other areas of the Community Centre including the Pool/Ping Pong/Foosball tables, the CLV Front Desk, the kitchenette and the walkway to the laundry room during the event. The event must not infringe on other residents’ use of the Community Centre Space.

Event Rules:

Must be held during the CLV Community Centre hours for a maximum of 4.5 hours (additional 30 mins included is provided to clean and prepare the bookable space to its original condition after the event).
The bookable space must be returned to its original configuration at the completion of the event. This includes disposing of all garbage, sweeping the floor, wiping tables and chairs, putting away the stacked room dividers and returning all furniture to its original location (please see image below for the proper configuration of furniture). Residents can access a broom from the CLV Front Desk.
Please note, in the case of room damage of lack of cleaning, the student who booked the space will be financially responsible for any costs associated with repair/cleaning.
The CLV Community Centre is not bookable for events during the exam period as this space is used for studying during exams. Other unavailable booking periods will be during St. Patrick’s Day weekend, Halloween or Campus Housing move-in and move-out periods.)
Guest parking is available next to the CLV Community Centre for a flat daily rate. Please note that beginning January 20, 2025, Sustainable Transportation transitioned to using the AMP mobile pay app in all visitor lots and remove all pay-and-display machines. Please visit Sustainable Transportation website for more details.

Additionally, as the CLV Community Centre is a part of residence, all parts of the residence Terms & Conditions and all relevant university policies will apply to functions taking place in this space – e.g., noise, guest policy, communicable disease safety measures, food policies, smoking limitations, alcohol restrictions, animal restrictions, etc. Please refer to your terms and conditions for more information.

Columbia Lake Village Community Center bookable space layout. It includes the back area only of the CLV Community Center.