Renting in Victoria

Camosun College does not have student residences, on-campus housing or dormitories. Most students live in a rented apartment, condo, basement suite or room in a shared house.

Long-term housing

Students who live off-campus are generally renting an apartment, condo, basement suite or room in a shared house. Shared accommodations (with roommates) will usually have lower costs as expenses are shared. Rental accommodation prices range from $900 to over $2,000 per month.

Types of Rentals

When renting it is important to view the accommodation or ask someone you know to view the accommodation before agreeing to rent making any payments to the landlord. There are many renting options in Victoria including:

A single-family house is a building with a kitchen, bathroom, living room, and bedroom(s). There may be more rooms for eating, watching TV, or doing laundry. There is usually a yard and a place to park a car.
A duplex is a building divided into 2 houses.
A townhouse is a group of small houses joined together.
An apartment building has many apartments and an owner. The owner is the landlord for every apartment in the building.
A condominium (condo or strata) building has many apartments. People can own an apartment in the building.
Apartments and suites can be in an apartment or condo building, or in a single family house.
- Most apartments and suites have 1 or 2 bedrooms.
- Most apartments and suites have a kitchen, a bathroom, and a living room.
- Studios or bachelor suites have 1 room with a kitchen area and a bathroom and no bedrooms
A "room for rent" is usually a bedroom in a shared house or apartment. Sometimes you have a private bathroom. Everyone shares the kitchen.
Room and board means a room, furniture, and meals are included in the rent. Every rental home has a person in charge. This person is the landlord, the owner, or a manager. You need to talk to this person about rent, repairs, and other needs.

Resources:
Find a place to live - WelcomeBC (Newcomers Guides available in multiple languages)
Common abbreviations used in rental ads

Neighbourhoods

Greater Victoria is made up of multiple towns, cities, and district municipalities, but the municipality names are oftentimes used interchangeably with "Victoria." Camosun's Interurban campus is located in Saanich, and the Lansdowne campus is located in Saanich and Oak Bay. Being familiar with the general location of each municipality can help you avoid confusion when searching for a place to live.

Factors you may want to consider are:

Commute to/from your campus: Refer to BC Transit Schedule and Maps or Google Maps to determine how long it may take you to bus/bike/drive to campus.
Rental price: Communities that are farther away from Saanich and Victoria generally have lower-priced accommodations. Don't forget to plan your transportation accordingly.
Location: Don't forget to look into recreation, nature, amenities, supports, and services in your chosen neighbourhood.

Note: The above map displays general municipal regions and does not represent official boundaries. Enlarge the map.

Current Market

The following websites provide general data about the current rental market:

Estimated cost of living
Average vacancy rate and rental market rates of the purpose-built rental market

Online Listings

There are a variety of public housing websites.

Note: These are public websites and Camosun College does not inspect the accommodation or interview the landlords.

Short-term or Temporary Accommodation

You may need temporary accommodation while searching for a long-term place to live. Searching for long-term housing in-person can help you avoid scams. Additionally, finding accommodation that is the right fit for you may take time.

Hotels: Hotels generally offer private rooms.
Hostels: Hostels generally offer beds in shared rooms.
AirBnB
Vacation Rentals by Owner (VRBO)

Note: Some Victoria hotels may offer special rates for long-stays of one week, one month, one semester or longer. You can ask hotels if they have special rates for "long-stay" or "extended stay."

Applying for housing

The rental market can be very competitive and includes an application to rent. Here are some tips to help you stand out from other renters/applicants.

Submit a cover letter
Gather references
Take the Renting it Right course and submit a copy of your certification of completion as part of your application.

Note: It is illegal for landlords to charge you application fees.

Rent, deposits, and fees

Expenses you are expected to pay:

Refer to Cost of Renting and deposits.

Rent and rent increases
Security deposit: sometimes referred to as a "damage deposit" -- money that a landlord collects at the start of the tenancy and holds until the end of the tenancy. The maximum amount a landlord can charge for a security deposit is half the monthly rent.
Pet damage deposit: If you are allowed to have a pet, your landlord can require a pet damage deposit of up to half the monthly rent.
Utilities: hydro, internet, etc. (if applicable)
Tenant insurance (if applicable)
Parking/parking pass (if applicable)
TV, cable, and WIFI (if applicable)

Illegal fees and deposits you should not pay:

Refer to legal and illegal fees for more information.

Application fees
Guest fees: A landlord cannot unreasonably restrict a tenant’s guests, or charge a fee for guests – even if they stay overnight.
Locks: At the start of your tenancy, your landlord cannot charge you a fee for re-keying the locks.

Avoiding Scams

The competitive nature of BC’s rental housing market has led to an increase in rental scams. Please visit the following pages for more information on housing scams and how to avoid them:

3 culturally diverse friends pose for the camera

Living with a roommate

Many students like shared housing because they don’t want to live alone or they can’t afford to live alone. This can be a great living arrangement for students, but it can also have some challenges. Please consider the following points before making a shared housing commitment:

Make certain that you meet everyone who lives in the accommodation. Only move in with someone you trust.
Read your tenancy agreement carefully before signing it.
Don’t sign the lease unless all your roommates do too. Make sure you are only responsible for your half of the rent. Who is responsible for the rented place, you or your roommates? It should be combined.
Expenses: Who is responsible for paying the bills such as electricity and Internet?
Food: Will you go out together and buy food as a group or will you all shop separately? Who eats more? Does everyone have money for a group food shopping trip?
Chores: Who cleans the bathroom? The kitchen? Who does the vacuuming? Who buys the cleaning supplies?
Visitors: Do you like to have parties or do you like a quiet home? Do you or your roommate have a boyfriend or girlfriend? What are the rules about guests sleeping over?
Remember “Best friends don’t always make best roommates”. It’s better to talk about these things before you decide to live with someone.

Note: Visit the Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre page on roommates for additional tips.

Additional Resources

Finding a Place to Live chapter from the BC Newcomer's Guide. This information is also available in multiple languages.
Your Tenancy: Information you need to know about Starting a Tenancy, During a Tenancy, Ending a Tenancy, and Dispute Resolution.
Finding Rental Housing guide by the Tenant Resource and Advisory Centre
Finding a Home: Renting it Right free online course
Friends of Camosun International Facebook group

This website may include links to third-party sites for convenience and informational purposes. Camosun College does not control, endorse, or guarantee the accuracy, legality, privacy, or security of these sites. The inclusion of links does not imply affiliation or approval. Accessing third-party sites is at your own risk, and any questions should be directed to their owners.