If you are moving to (or within) the Waterloo Region for your postdoctoral appointment, there are resources that can help make this transition as smooth as possible.
University of Waterloo campuses
The University of Waterloo operates four campuses, all of which host postdoctoral scholars. As you are exploring housing options, it's important to be aware of which campus(s) you will be expected to work from, in order to find a housing location that is convenient for you.
| Campus | Location | Departments/schools |
|---|---|---|
| Main campus | 200 University Ave. West, Waterloo, Ontario | Home to most of our departments, schools and facilities |
| Health Sciences campus | 10 Victoria Street South, Kitchener, Ontario (approximately 6 km from main campus) | Home to the School of Pharmacy and the McMaster/Waterloo DeGroote School of Medicine |
| School of Architecture | 7 Melville Street South, Cambridge, Ontario (approximately 30 km from main campus) | Home to the School of Architecture |
| Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business | 125 St. Patrick Street, Stratford, Ontario (approximately 45 km from main campus) | Home to the Stratford School of International Design and Business |
About Waterloo Region
Waterloo Region is a diverse and lively area located roughly one hour west of Toronto, made up of three cities (Waterloo, Kitchener, and Cambridge) and rural townships. The University of Waterloo’s main campus is located within the City of Waterloo. There are many opportunities and activities in Waterloo Region, from festivals and museums to canoeing on the Grand River.
Public transit in Waterloo Region
Common local transit options include Grand River Transit (GRT) (local buses and the ION light rail) and GO Transit (inter-city transit). The University of Waterloo is a member of TravelWise, which allows all employees to receive access to the GRT Corporate Fare Rate, a 15% discount on both monthly passes and stored value. If you plan to utilize GRT during your time as a postdoc, you may wish to consider access to transit routes when looking for housing. Waterloo’s main campus is served by 10 bus routes and the ION light rail, making it highly accessible by transit.
Learn to use the local transit system like a pro with tips from the International Experience Centre.
Housing in the Waterloo Region
- United College: The Graduate Building at United College offers a variety of accommodations for graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and visiting professors, and is located on main campus.
- St. Jerome's University: The Louis Hall Graduate Student Residence offers private suites for rent to graduate students and postdoctoral scholars, and is located on main campus.
- Off-campus housing: Off-campus housing provides step-by-step guidelines and resources to help with your housing search, from starting to look for a place, to what you need to know before renting, to signing a lease.
- Note: Some information is tailored to students, but most information is applicable to anyone searching for housing.
Should you hire a Real Estate Agent?
Some people opt to hire a Real Estate Agent (or Realtor) to help them find housing. Realtors are professionals who find real estate for clients and negotiate the terms of sale or rent on your behalf.
- Some benefits of hiring a realtor can include:
- Saving time (as the realtor will often be the one to create a short list of properties that meet your requirements)
- Someone to support the negotiation of your rental agreement (e.g., cost, parking, utilities, lease length)
- Some drawbacks of hiring a realtor can include:
- Realtors usually rely on Multiple Listing Services (MLS) or platforms such as realtor.ca where more independent, budget, and private listings are sometimes not found (e.g., landlords posting on Facebook Marketplace)
- Realtors are being paid for their services, either by their clients (the renter) or the landlord. It’s important to understand what fees you may be responsible for.
- Not all Realtors take on rental clients, as the commission and fees are lower compared to supporting clients who are buying and/or selling property
You can find additional important information (e.g., how to know if a Real Estate Agent is registered) can be found on the Real Estate Council of Ontario website.
Common legal practices vs scams or illegal practices
Rental practices can vary significantly between countries, and even between Canadian provinces, which can create uncertainty about what is normal and/or legal. We have provided some things to look out for below. Some of these processes are common and legally allowed. Others may be scams.
In general, before signing agreements and becoming a tenant, it is important to learn about your rights. You can find more information on your tenant rights on the Government of Ontario’s website and through the Residential Tenancies Act (specific to Ontario). You can also find information on rental scams online. If you are experiencing an issue with a landlord, you may contact the Landlord and Tenant Board of Ontario.
Moving to Canada
If you are moving from another country, you may find it helpful to review the immigration considerations from Immigration Waterloo Region. There you will find valuable information on preparing for your arrival, life in Canada, immigration partnerships, settlement support, and more. You can also view valuable information and fun facts about Canada on our coming to Canada webpage.
Bringing a pet with you to Canada? Make sure you review the Government of Canada information on bringing animals to Canada
Additional housing and moving tips
- You may find yourself needing to purchase furniture/housing supplies or getting rid of it. You can buy and/or get rid these items inexpensively through local thrift/second hand stores, online marketplaces or groups (e.g., Facebook, Kijiji), or right on campus through the Free Store run by the Sustainability Office.
- If some or all your utilities are not included in your rental agreement, you may have to directly contact the utility provider. Waterloo region utility providers include:
- Hydro/electricity: Enova Power Corp (Waterloo and Kitchener), GrandBridge Energy (Cambridge), or Hydro One (some surrounding areas)
- Water: City of Waterloo, Kitchener Utilities, or City of Cambridge (other surrounding townships will be different)
- Gas: Enbridge Gas (Waterloo and Cambridge) or Kitchener Utilities (Kitchener)
- Some common internet providers in Waterloo Region include: