Best Housing Off-Campus For University Of Toronto Students

The University of Toronto, or “U of T” for short, has three campuses — St. George, Mississauga, and Scarborough. Like most universities, there isn’t room on every U of T campus for all upper-year undergraduate and graduate students, so unless you plan on living in the library, you’re going to need a place to stay in the city during the course of your studies. We’re liv.rent, an all-in-one Canadian rental platform with the solutions you need to make renting in Toronto easier, and we created this guide to help U of T students navigate the rental market and find off-campus housing that works for them.

U of T off-campus housing overview

If you have decided not to live on campus or were unable to obtain student housing, then you’ll have to look at off-campus housing. This can be especially challenging for the many second-year students who do not get a spot on campus and need to transition to off-campus housing. Even if you do apply and get offered a spot, that offer can come pretty late. According to University of Toronto Student Life, depending on availability, offers for a spot campus residence might not come until after the school year begins, putting second-year students in a difficult situation.

However, getting your own off-campus place to live is possible, especially using liv.rent. If you need to get an apartment in Toronto on your own as a student, then here’s what you need to know:

Types of accommodation

In Toronto, you can generally find these kinds of accommodation for rent:

Many students opt to split a larger rental with roommates to cut down on costs as well.

Average rent in Toronto

Toronto is one of the most expensive cities in Canada. According to our latest Rent Report, the average cost of rent across the Greater Toronto Area was $1,979 for an unfurnished, one-bedroom unit, and $2,091 for a furnished unit as of August 2022.

Of course, rent differs from neighbourhood to neighbourhood. The difference between a one-bedroom downtown and one in Brampton can be significant. That’s why liv.rent has broken down Toronto’s municipalities to provide a more accurate look at rent in each area. See below for average rent prices as of August 2022 – U of T students should pay particular attention to Downtown Toronto, Scarborough, and Mississauga since these areas are where campuses are located.

Transit in Toronto

Getting a place as close to campus as possible is important because being a student is hard enough — tacking on a difficult commute can really wear you down.

When you’re looking for a place, be sure to keep public transportation options at the top of your wish list. Here are some transit tips for students looking for off-campus housing:

• Use liv.rent listings to see how far each unit is from which public transit options
• Look for apartments along the subway lines
• Ask a landlord what the neighbourhood’s public transportation options are like

Neighbourhoods for U of T students

These are the most popular GTA neighbourhoods for students including an estimated commute time to the main St. George campus calculated with Google Maps:

• Downtown — ideal for those looking for student housing in St. George
  • The Annex commute: less than 10 minutes (walking)
  • Yorkville commute: less than 10 minutes (walking)
  • Cabbagetown commute: 20 minutes by transit
  • Kensington Market/Chinatown commute: 15 minutes by transit
  • Financial District commute: 10 minutes by transit
  • Harbourfront commute: 20 minutes
  • West Queen West commute: 30 minutes
  • Parkdale/Roncesvalles commute: 40 minutes
  • Liberty Village commute: 40 minutes
• North York — close to Downtown Toronto, commute: 40 minutes
• Etobicoke — close to Downtown Toronto, commute: 1 hour
• Scarborough — ideal for students at Scarborough campus, commute: 1 hour
• Mississauga — ideal for students at Mississauga campus, commute: 45 minutes
• Brampton — the GTA’s cheapest neighbourhood, commute: 1 hour

Tips for saving on rent in Toronto

Students who need affordable housing in Toronto, Canada’s second-most expensive city, are going to have to be creative. Here are some ways to make living off-campus in Toronto more affordable:

• Look for smaller units like bachelor suites and studios
• Look at renting further from the city centre but still close to rapid transit
• Consider finding a roommate (or two) to bring the cost of rent down
• Negotiate the cost of rent with a landlord

Renting near U of T St. George campus

Location

The U of T main campus is St. George in Downtown Toronto. This is the biggest and most central campus, where the majority of students do their studies. The official address for the campus is 27 King’s College Circle, Toronto. It’s so close to the heart of the city that you can see the iconic CN tower from campus.

Transportation

The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) runs buses, streetcars, and subways that all connect the campus to the entire city:

• There are four subway stops that surround the campus: Spadina, St. George, Museum, and Queen’s Park.
• Buses and streetcars go along Bloor Street, Spadina Avenue, Harbord Street, College Street, Queen’s Park Crescent, Wellesley Street, and Bay Street.

Apartments for rent near U of T St. George campus

Those looking for off-campus housing in or near St. George can find a variety of housing types available.

• Apartments for rent: U of T St. George
• Rooms for rent: U of T St. George
• Houses for rent: U of T St. George

Renting near U of T Scarborough campus

Location

The University of Toronto’s Scarborough campus, also known as UTSC, is about 22 kilometres east of the St. George campus. Its official address is 1265 Military Trail, Scarborough. Scarborough is still in the City of Toronto, although it’s a different neighbourhood than Downtown where the St. George campus is.

Transportation

The campus is accessible by public transit thanks to buses run by the TTC. For example, the 198 U of T Scarborough Rocket route has a direct connection between campus and Kennedy Station where you can get the subway.

Apartments for rent near U of T Scarborough campus

• Apartments for rent: U of T Scarborough
• Rooms for rent: U of T Scarborough
• Houses for rent: U of T Scarborough

Renting near U of T Mississauga campus

Location

The Mississauga campus, also known as UTM, is about 27 kilometres west of the St. George campus. The official address for the campus is 3359 Mississauga Road, Mississauga. Though it’s still within the Greater Toronto Area, Mississauga is a separate city from Toronto – although they are right next to each other just a 35 to 45-minute drive apart.

Transportation

Public transportation is provided by MiWay and their bus routes take you around the city and connect to campus. They also link up to the TTC and other neighbouring city transit systems. Plus, shuttle buses run from UTM to the St. George campus.

Apartments for rent near U of T Mississauga campus

• Apartments for rent: U of T Mississauga
• Rooms for rent: U of T Mississauga
• Houses for rent: U of T Mississauga

Renting tips: how to find & secure off-campus housing

How to avoid rental scams in Toronto

Rental scams are always out there. The best way to protect yourself is by knowing your rights and choosing trusted rental platforms. Here are a few of the most common scams to look out for:

• Scam #1 Rent is too low
  If the rental rate seems shockingly below the rental average for the city, it could be a fake listing.
• Scam #2 Urgent cash demand
  Renters don’t have to pay for anything until a lease is signed. So, if someone’s pressuring you to send cash now, don’t do it.
• Scam #3 Too much info
  Until you’re 100% ready to move forward with a lease, you’re not obligated to share your bank account or SIN number.
• Scam #4 Not enough details
  While some smaller landlords may withhold unit numbers for privacy, you should know the exact address of the unit you’re looking at. without that info, it could be a scam.

Pro tip: rent from ID-verified landlords on liv.rent to avoid scams.

Be smart with your rental search

• Tip #1 Know your needs
  Make a list of your priorities – pricing, location, amenities, lease duration, pet policy, etc. Then, use liv.rent filters to narrow your search. 
• Tip #2 Do your research
  Find out the average rent in your target area. It’ll arm you with the necessary info to negotiate terms & rates.
• Tip #3 Google the property
  See if there are any complaints online regarding building management, maintenance, noise, neighbourhood, etc.
• Tip #4 Video tours first
  If possible, view video tours first. Then, narrow down your selection and book viewings only for places you’re seriously considering. 

Tips to improve your search

• Tip #1 Don’t be afraid to check
  Have the landlord to demonstrate that all appliances are working – run faucets, check thermostats, flush toilets, turn on stoves, etc. Also, check that cellphone reception is adequate & verify connectivity.
• Tip #2 View in daylight
  Viewing a home in daylight will give you a better sense of the living space.
• Tip #3 Prepare questions
  And ask the hard questions (e.g. how much interest have you had for this unit) to uncover info not in the listing.

Stand out when you apply for your rental

Completing your liv.rent profile, or renter’s resume, is the easiest way to stand out. You can also go the extra mile and pre-submit your application before your viewing if you’re pretty sure you want to rent the unit. By introducing yourself upfront, it shows that you’re serious about the unit – leaving a strong impression on your landlord.

Pro tip: on liv.rent, we use Trust Score to rate renters trustworthiness and credibility — it’s free for students to get theirs with their profile!

Another way to stand out is by using your renter’s story in your renter’s resume to give landlords more information about your credit score. As students may not have strong credit histories yet, use this space to provide more context to a landlord to help them trust you.

How to secure a rental before arriving in Canada

International students can rent their off-campus Toronto home from abroad. When you sign up, as part of your profile you can select:

• “I don’t live in Canada.”
• and, “I’m a first-time renter.”

These profile options give landlords the full picture of you as a renter. It streamlines the rental process and makes it easy to understand why references or a previous Canadian address may appear to be “missing” from your application.

Watch now: How To Rent In Canada

U of T off-campus housing resources

Here are some resources that can help you navigate off-campus housing at U of T:

• Learn how to protect yourself from rental scams
• See our top ten tips for renting an apartment in Toronto
• Everything you need to know about the Ontario Standard Lease
• Find out what a landlord is allowed to ask you as a renter
• See what $1800 can get you in Toronto’s different neighbourhoods
• Learn about credit scores and renting apartments
• Everything you need to know about evictions in Ontario

Use liv.rent to find your off-campus apartment for U of T — helping you save time, stay organized, and stay safe. Our trusted rental platform is perfect for students, no matter which campus you’re studying at.

Additional off-campus resources for students

• University of Toronto Off-Campus Housing Service
• University of Toronto Roommate Finder Tool
• University of Toronto Student Life – Housing
• University of Toronto Off-Campus Housing (St. George) Facebook Group

FAQ: U of T off-campus housing

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Cover Image Source: Flickr | City of Toronto