Ottawa Student Housing Inc. Ottawa Student Housing Inc.
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常见问题解答

  • All
  • Applying
  • Choosing a Residence
  • Features
  • Moving In
  • Rules & Policies
  • Suitemates

When and how do I collect my keys to move in?

A few days before your indicated move-in date, we will contact you to schedule a move-in appointment. During that move-in appointment, we will show you your residence, explain the rules and policies, fill out a move-in inspection sheet, and provide you your keys.

Am I allowed bringing a mini-fridge for my room?

We provide large fridges in every apartment/house, so there is really no need to bring a mini-fridge with you. Nevertheless, you are permitted to bring your own mini-fridge as long as the mini-fridge is brand new. We do not permit used (non-brand-new) fridges since they have a tendency to leak water causing damage, as well as not being Energy Star Efficient and bad for the environment.

What things should I bring with me to my residence?

For your Bedroom:

  • Mattress Cover
  • Bed Sheets
  • Blanket
  • Pillow
  • Broom/Vacuum

For the Kitchen:

  • Dishes & Cutlery
  • Glasses & Mugs
  • Pots & Pans
  • Cooking Utensils
  • Mixing Bowls
  • Oven Pans
  • Dish Soap
  • Dish Cloths

For the Bathroom:

  • Toilet Paper
  • Toiletries
  • Towels

Can I switch my lease term after signing up?

With our Blake and Shefford Residence: Yes! We realize that things change and sometimes it’s difficult to predict the future. That’s why we’re proud to be one of the only leasing companies in Ottawa that give you total flexibility to switch your lease term to any of our 2 lease options at any time (8 months or 12 months).

Our policy is as follows:

(1) If you switch to a shorter length lease, you simply pay the difference in price between the two lease lengths for the lease term, in addition to a $300 remarketing and administrative fee.

(2) If you switch to a longer length lease, your rental payments drop to the lower monthly rent on that day going forward.

However, at our Somerset and Wilbrod Residences, the leases terms cannot be changed. For a September lease start date (the start of the school year), the minimum lease period is 12 months.

Will I get my deposit back if all rooms get full and I don’t get a spot?

Yes, you will receive a 100% refund of any deposit paid if your selected residences get full before we can reserve you a spot.

What are the differences between the Blake and Shefford residences?

Both our Blake and Shefford residences have essentially the same features, the same room sizes, the same prices, etc.

The main difference between the Blake and Shefford residences is the style of layout. The Blake residence is an apartment style, while the Shefford residence is a house style.

Therefore, when deciding which residence you’d like to live in, the main consideration you should take into account is the style you prefer, because all other factors are essentially equal.

Which residence is closest to University of Ottawa?

We have 4 residences. Both our Blake and Shefford residences take approximately the same amount of time on the bus or by car to get to University of Ottawa. Both residences have essentially the same features, the same room sizes, the same prices, etc. The main difference between the Blake and Shefford residences is the style of layout. The Blake residence is an apartment style, while the Shefford residence is a house style. When deciding between the Blake and Shefford residences, the main consideration you should take into account is the style you prefer, because all other factors are essentially equal. Our other two residences (the Wilbrod and Somerset residences) are within a 2 minute walk of the University of Ottawa.

Do the bedrooms have closets and storage space?

Yes, there’s lots! We’ve designed these residences especially for university students. Every bedroom has a closet/wardrobe for hanging and storing clothes in addition to ample additional storage in the form of drawers under the bed, shelves, etc.

Are overnight guests permitted?

Yes, overnight guests are permitted on an occasional basis, meaning a few nights each month.

However, long-term overnight guests are not permitted since they will inevitably reduce the quality and enjoyment of the residence for other tenants in your unit. Nevertheless, if you have a family member or friend who would like to visit you for an extended period of time, let us know and we may be able to provide them their own unit on a temporary basis for $20/day. They’ll be more comfortable, you’ll be more comfortable, and your suitemates will be more comfortable.

Do the bedrooms have their own lock?

Yes, each bedroom comes with a unique lock and key. The Blake and Shefford residences have electronic lock which do not require a physical key.

Is cleaning service provided in rooms with a private bathroom?

We provide weekly house-cleaning service in all the common areas (shared areas) in your suite at no additional cost. That means our cleaning staff will come clean your entire suite, except your bedroom (which only you have a key to). Private bathroom rooms have a bathroom in the room itself.  Since the cleaning staff will not enter your bedroom, they will not have access to clean your private bathroom.

How quickly do your residences fill up?

Residences are reserved on a first-come-first-served basis. The rate at which our residences fill up each year varies, so it’s a good idea to apply well in advance to ensure you are able to get a spot. Applying early also gives you the best chances of getting your first choice room size and options.

If our residences get full after you’ve already paid your deposit, your deposit will be refunded 100%.

Am I able to move into the residence earlier than my lease start date?

General Policy

At Ottawa Student Housing Inc, we allow students to schedule their desired move-in date instead of dictating a mandatory move-in date. A few weeks before the start of your lease, we will send you an email and text message containing a link you can use to schedule your move-in. The move-in date you select must be on or after the start of your lease.

In some cases, students may request an early move-in. We will do our best to accommodate such requests, but we cannot 100% guarantee it ahead of time since it depends on when the previous student in your room vacates. Nevertheless, we will do our best. Please note that early move-ins are subject to additional fees charged on a per-day basis.

[1/2]: Move-Ins During August & September

Option 1: Move-In On or After September 3rd (Recommended)

As you can imagine, there are going to be 100s of students moving out between August 31st and September 1st, and their rooms will need to be repaired, cleaned, and prepared before you’re able to move in. Therefore, to reduce move-in congestion and wait times, we request that you aim to move in on or after September 3rd. Your cooperation will be much appreciated by our staff and students since it will speed up the move-in process for everyone and reduce congestion.

Option 2: Move-In on September 1st or 2nd (NOT Recommended – Heavy Delays Possible)

If it is not possible for you to move-in on or after September 3rd, we can arrange to have you move-in on September 1st or 2nd. However, you may experience heavy move-in congestion and significant wait times while our staff rushes to get your unit cleaned and prepared for you. Therefore, we don’t recommend this option if possible.

Option 3: Move-In Before September 1st (NOT Recommended – May Not be Possible)

If you are flying in from out of the province/country and have no choice but to arrive in Ottawa before September 1st, you may request to move in earlier than September 1st. Please note that we may not be able to accommodate your request due to a current student living in your room. We will let you know if we’re able to accommodate your request once we know for sure. If we’re not able to accomodate the early move-in, you will need to make alternative arrangements at a hotel or Airbnb for the nights before September 1st. If making this request, please include your flight number. If an early move-in is possible in August, it will be charged at a rate of $125/day.

[2/2]: Move-Ins Outside August & September

If you’d like to move-in during months other than August or September, we can typically accommodate early move-in requests without issues. For these requests, early move-ins are charged at a rate of $25/day,

Do you accept international students?

Yes, we accept lots of international students from countries all over the world. We’ve had tenants from USA, England, Ireland, Australia, Mexico, China, India, and more.

Do I need to have a Guarantor co-sign my lease?

Yes, you will need to have a guarantor (typically a parent) co-sign your lease, even if you are over 18 years. This is because students typically do not have a source of income to cover their rental payments during their full-time studies, and even if they do, they typically do not have enough credit history to enable them to sign a lease on their own.

The situation is very similar to getting a co-signer for a mortgage. It ensures the landlord will get paid if you are not able to pay your rent. In the majority of cases, a student’s parents act as the guarantor. Therefore, if you do not pay your rent, expect your landlord to call your parents. Nobody wants that to happen, and the in the vast majority of cases, there’s no need to contact the guarantor because rent is paid on time.

How do I schedule a tour?

To schedule a tour, please click the “Book a Tour” button at the bottom of our website. If possible, please try to provide us at least 24 hours notice before you’d like to come in for a tour.

Is telephone service included?

Yes, local telephone service is included at no additional cost. Each resident gets their own separate telephone line which isn’t shared with other occupants. Therefore, they can be on the phone at the same time as others, and if someone calls them, only their phone will ring.

The following add-on services are also included at no additional cost:

  • Caller ID
  • Voicemail
  • Call Waiting
  • Call Forwarding
  • Conference Calling
  • Three-Way Calling

Are the suites furnished?

Yes, the suites are fully furnished.

The following is included in the common areas:

  • Stoves
  • Fridges
  • Microwaves
  • Toasters
  • Sofas
  • Dining Tables & Chairs
  • Window Curtains
  • Shower Curtains

The following is included in each bedroom:

  • Bed
  • Mattress
  • Computer Desk
  • Bookshelf
  • Chair
  • Full-Length Mirror

Do you have Female-Only & Male-Only residences?

Yes, female residents are automatically placed into female-only residences, and male residents into male-only residences.

If a group of mixed male and female residents come together and wish to share a suit, we can accommodate them and designate them a special mixed suite.

I just found out that someone I know is moving into your residence. Can I request to be in the same suite as them?

Yes, that shouldn’t be a problem provided you make a request before residents start to move in, and both of you send us an email with this request in writing.

Can I bring a group of friends to share a suite?

Yes, that’s no problem at all. We encourage groups of friends at our residences and are happy to accommodate these requests. Our individual suites can accommodate up to 6 students, but if you need more, we can place groups of students in adjacent suites. We have had groups of over 50 students come together and taken up an entire building in the past. Depending on availability, we can typically accommodate groups ranging from 2 to 15 easily.

How do you match suitemates?

When you sign up to live at the residence, we ask you to complete a comprehensive questionnaire that asks all about you from your age, gender, degree type, program of study, habits, etc. This information helps management in arranging the most compatible suitemates possible.

If you have any other special requests, you can most certainly specify those in your application. Most of our students find that living in our residences provides them a great opportunity to meet and make friends with other students in their same university and program that they normally would never have met.

What do I do if something needs to be repaired?

If you need something repaired, please fill out and submit a repair request in writing using email, text message, or written letter. Depending on the problem, repairs are typically completed within 24 business hours. If you have an emergency repair that needs to be fixed urgently (such as a water leak, electrical problem, etc), please call us immediately and we will have someone take care of it immediately.

Is parking available?

Yes, on-site parking is available at some of our residences for an additional fee. Please see the Prices page for a full breakdown of availability and pricing.

Do I still have to pay my rent if I move out early?

Yes, you will have to pay rent until the end of your lease term, or until a new person is found to move into your room. If you need to move out early, please inform Management as soon as possible so we can do our best to help you find a replacement tenant.

What forms of payment do you accept?

For your convenience, we accept virtually every form of payment:

  • Pre-Authorized Bank Transfers from Canadian Banks
  • Interac e-Transfers
  • Cheques
  • Visa/Mastercard/Amex Credit Cards (+1-2% Surcharge charged by the credit card companies)
  • International Wire Transfers (International Students Only, +$14 surcharge charged by the bank)

What happens if I change my mind before I move in?

A lease is a legal contract, and once your application has been accepted, you are obligated for all rental payments until the lease term ends or another student is found for your room, whichever happens first. Management should be notified as quickly as possible so that we can help you find a replacement. We’ll do our best to help you.

Will I get my deposit back if my application is refused or all places get full?

Yes, you will receive a 100% refund of any deposit paid if your application is refused or if all our residences get full before we can reserve you a spot.

How long after I apply will I know whether I got accepted?

We process applications very efficiently and are proud to be able to provide you an acceptance response within 60 seconds of submitting your application during business hours. This assumes that all information is fully and correctly filled out. If there is missing or incorrect information, there may be delays in processing your application.

How do I apply?

Applying is easy, takes less than 5 mins, and can be done from anywhere in the world. Simply click the “How to Apply” section and follow the instructions on the screen. Once we receive your completed online application, we are able to provide you an acceptance response within 60 seconds during business hours. This assumes that all information is fully and correctly filled out. If there is missing or incorrect information, there may be delays in processing your application.

When should I apply?

Residences are reserved on a first-come-first-served basis. Therefore, it’s a good idea to apply well in advance to ensure you are able to get a spot. Applying early also gives you the best chances of getting your first choice room size and options.

Are there laundry facilities?

Yes, all our residences have on-site laundry. At our Blake, Shefford, and Wilbrod residences, laundry is $2.00 per use. At our Somerset Residence, laundry is $1.75 per use. Laundry is located in the basement of the building for our Blake, Somerset, and Wilbrod Residences. At the Shefford residence, laundry is in-suite so you don’t need to step outside your apartment to do laundry.

Is cleaning service provided?

Yes, we provide weekly house-cleaning service of all the common areas in your suite at no additional cost (common areas include: kitchens, hallways, bathrooms, toilets, bathtubs, sinks, and more). The cleaning staff will not enter or clean your bedroom (since only you have a key to your bedroom).

Is Internet included? How fast is it? Are there limits?

We realize that internet is a very important necessity for university students. We are proud to provide our residents unlimited fiber-optic ultra-high-speed WiFi up to 1Gbps with no bandwidth limits/restrictions over 802.11ac Gigabit WiFi. The connection we provide you is valued at over $150/month if purchased alone, but we were able to get it significantly cheaper since we purchased 500+ connections in bulk and passed along the savings to you.  The internet we provide tenants is amazing, period.

Do you have residences for graduate students?

Yes, we get lots of graduate students. We typically place all graduate students together in a residence to provide them a more quiet atmosphere to study in, as well as give them an opportunity to be around other more mature students. We often get Masters, Ph.D, M.D., J.D., MBA, and Teacher’s College graduate students at our residences, who we place together in one of our graduate suites.

Am I allowed to burn candles or incense in the residences?

The burning of candles and incense in the residence is not permitted for fire safety reasons.

Is smoking permitted in the residences?

Smoking is not permitted inside the residence (neither inside your room nor the common areas). If you smoke, please do so outside the residence and at least 10 feet away from the entrance.

Are pets allowed at the residence?

No pets (with the exception of guide dogs for visually impaired tenants) are allowed at the residence. The average personal space afforded to each tenant is not sufficient for the safe and humane keeping of any animals (whether they are small or big). For the prevention of harm to animals (due to confinement or neglect by the tenant) and for the safety of tenants who may have allergies, animals cannot be kept in personal bedrooms or the common areas of the residence.

Step 1: Apply Online

1 Name
2 University Email
3 Personal Email
4 Mobile Phone
5 Source
  • This is the name you would like us to call you when we communicate with you.
  • Universities/Colleges typically provide their students their own personal university email address. If available, please specify your personal university email address.

  • Ex: [email protected], [email protected], etc.
  • Please specify your personal email address. Do NOT re-enter your university email address. Specify an email address you check often since we will be contacting you regarding important tenancy matters here.

  • Ex: [email protected], [email protected], etc.
  • Ex: (613) 580-5400
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Step 2: Pay Deposit

Once your application has been approved, you will receive a secure email link to submit your deposit right from our website using a variety of different payment methods. Receipts are provided for all payments made.

Deposit Amounts:
Canadian Students: $600
International Students: $1200

Payment-Plans

This is a secure SSL encrypted website with 128-Bit bank-level encryption.

Call Us

Local Number
Local Number
1-613-699-6990

Local Number
Toll-Free Number
1-855-699-9122

Hours of Operation:
Mon-Fri: 9am to 9pm
Sat-Sun: 10am to 9pm

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  • Ex: (613) 580-5400
  • Tours will be unavailable between April 1st to 10th, 2024. Please select a date on or after April 11th, 2024. Thank you for your cooperation!
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