Finding a place to live on your co-op work term

Students walking on Waterloo campus

Accepting a co-op job in a new location is an exciting opportunity for growth and adventure. However, it can be challenging when considering the complexity of housing for your work term. With the right resources and a positive mindset, finding your home away from home is within reach.

You may want to consider housing before you begin your job search. Waterloo co-op students work across Ontario, Canada and the world. Being open to relocating for your work term will mean more job opportunities are available to you. You can lean on your networks (e.g., peers, other co-op students, family, friends) and use the resources on this page to help you navigate the housing market. The following resources can help you with securing housing for your co-op term. 


When should I start looking for co-op housing?

While many housing resources will encourage renters to start looking 6-8 months in advance, as a co-op student, you may not have that much time.

In most cases, you’ll need to act more quickly. It’s a good idea to research housing throughout the co-op process. However, we strongly recommend that you only sign a lease after you’ve accepted a job offer.

Get a head start in understanding housing options for your upcoming work term including:

  • While searching for jobs
  • Before applying for a job
  • During a job interview
  • Before ranking a job or accepting a job offer

Questions to ask during your housing research: 

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Costs

  • What is the cost of living in the area?
  • What is the average monthly cost of accommodation in the area?
  • What is my budget?
  • What salary do I expect?
  • Will my salary cover the cost of living including accommodation?
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Location

  • Is housing accessible from my workplace?
  • If I’m required to work in-person or hybrid, how will I commute to work?
  • How long will the commute take?
  • Is there public transit to my work location? How much does it cost?
  • Can I carpool with other co-op students living in my area?
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Availability

  • What type of housing is available in the area?
  • Can I stay in my current rental?
  • Can I live at home?
  • Can I find a short-term lease?
  • Can I live with roommates?

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Supports

  • Who can help me find housing?
  • Do I have connections in the area?
  • Am I connected to other students on Co-op Connection Discord server?
  • Am I part of local housing Facebook pages?

Join our Co-op Connection Discord

The Co-op Connection Discord server connects co-op students with other students living and working in the same area during a work term. The channels are arranged by geographical region. Each region has a dedicated forum for students to post about housing. Students use the housing channels to advertise sublets or lease opportunities for other students, find roommates, organize carpools and ask questions to students currently living in other regions.


External housing resources

We’ve curated a variety of housing resources to help you as a co-op student looking for accommodations for your work term. You’ll find everything from rental listings to tips for finding roommates.

This page includes a list of commonly used third-party websites; this list is not exhaustive. The University of Waterloo does not endorse, inspect or vet these third-party websites, homes or rental properties. Please ensure you make inquiries about suitability. Please beware of rental fraud. During your search, keep track of your housing inquiries using this sheet.

Moving out of Waterloo

You may have a lease in Waterloo that extends into your co-op term. If you’re looking to avoid paying rent in two places at once, you can advertise your accommodation to others. For information on leases, sublets, and landlord and tenant rights, see the off-campus housing website and the WUSA housing playbook.

Here are some ideas for how to promote your accommodation:

  • Personal connections
    • Share availability through word-of-mouth
    • Post on your personal social channels
    • Talk to friends, family and classmates
  • Online forums
    • Post your accommodation in a community-driven space: Co-op Connection Discord server
    • Places4Students
    • Facebook Marketplace
    • Facebook student-driven housing groups
    • Kijiji
    • Housing-related Discord servers

Housing in Waterloo

As a co-op student staying in Waterloo Region, you may want to:

  • consider staying on campus
  • connecting with classmates who might be subletting their accommodation
  • applying for a continuance on your current lease

Check out the WUSA housing playbook for tools that can help you navigate local housing concerns.

Living on campus

Campus Housing provides the opportunity to learn where you live and live where you work. With over 350 housing staff and 50+ years of experience, the Campus Housing team is here to support you personally, academically and through your co-op experience.

Benefits of living on campus:

  • 4-month all-inclusive hassle-free contracts available*
  • 24/7 support including front desk services and maintenance
  • Access to events, people, and mentors (on campus and in the Waterloo community)
  • Unique chance to build lifelong connections by living near other co-op students
  • Available to upper-year students, as well!

*Winter and spring. Campus Housing offers 8-month (fall-winter or fall-spring) contracts.

Living off campus

Check out the following resources for off-campus accommodation in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and across the United States.

Housing - Canada and the United States

Once you have accepted a job and understand where you need to reside, it’s time to find a place to live. In addition to the resources listed here, we recommend checking out the housing pages of local post-secondary institutions.

Check out the following resources for housing across Canada and the United States:

Waterloo

Ontario

British Columbia

Quebec

East Coast

Canada

Canada and the United States

Housing - Outside North America


Rental fraud

If you are concerned that the housing you are considering may be a scam,the UWaterloo Special Constable Service resource has tips to help you identify if it is safe. Contact Special Constable Services for more information.


Share your housing tips

Did you find a great housing resource? Share your tips for finding work term housing with other students.