While KPU does not have on-campus student residences, there are many great housing options in Metro Vancouver, including home sharing, homestay, student accommodations, and more.
Housing Resources
Basic Housing Needs
- Information and referral to a broad range of community, government, and social services: bc211.ca or Surrey Libraries - Housing Supports and Outreach
- For adults (19+ years old) in need of emergency shelter: Options BC - Finding Housing
Home Sharing
KPU has partnered with SpacesShared, an innovative online home-sharing platform, to help solve the growing challenge of affordable student housing.
SpacesShared uses an online platform and a team of people to match students looking for safe and affordable home sharing with hosts evaluated by SpacesShared.
Sign up for a free account and get matched with a host that’s right for you.
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Homestay
Homestay programs allow students to live in a Canadian home as a part of a host family. Students share meals with their hosts, participate in family activities and conversations, and establish friendships with people who can help them adjust to new surroundings. Homestay programs often provide custodianship services for minor students as well.
Canada Homestay Network
Canada Homestay Network (CHN) is a not-for-profit society dedicated to intercultural exchange through homestay. CHN offers the highest standards for homestay accommodations with carefully screened host families and unlimited student support, custodianship, optional airport transfers, and 24/7 assistance.
Contact Email: help@canadahomestaynetwork.ca
Website: www.canadahomestaynetwork.ca/for-students
Cypress Homestay
Cypress Homestay offers students the opportunity to experience Canadian lifestyle and culture. Students' preferences are accounted for when matching students with host families to ensure a great fit. Cypress is committed to ensuring student comfort with local and personalized support.
Contact Email: adm@cypressaccommodations.com
Website: www.cypressaccommodations.com
First Choice International Placement Inc
First Choice International Placement Inc. provides monitored custodial guardianship, homestay placement, and airport transportation services for minor-aged post-secondary students throughout Metro Vancouver and surrounding areas.
Contact Email: info@myfci.ca
Website: www.myfci.ca
Harmony Homestay
Harmony Homestay has a diverse database of homestay families to ensure options when choosing a homestay family.
Contact Email: info@harmonyhomestay.com
Website: www.harmonyhomestay.com
Homadorma
Homadorma operates the largest online homestay network in Canada. Students can compare and choose the most suitable homestay for their needs in Vancouver.
Contact Email: service@homadorma.com
Website: www.homadorma.com
Student Accommodations
Many companies in Metro Vancouver offer off-campus student accommodations. This is a great option for you if you’d like to meet students from other schools, experience living in a community with other students, and expand your network in Canada beyond your KPU connections.
4Stay
4Stay is an online marketplace connecting students and interns with local hosts, room providers, and roommates near their destinations.
Website: www.4stay.com
CASA Toronto/Vancouver
CASA Toronto/Vancouver fills international students' demand for better accommodation services. CASA offers three distinct, high-quality, well-priced student living experiences: homestay, shared accommodation, and suites.
Contact Email: marketing@casa-toronto.com
Website: www.casa-toronto.com/vancouver
Cypress Accommodations
Cypress Accommodations operates numerous student residences in Vancouver and the surrounding areas.
Contact Email: adm@cypressaccommodations.com
Website: www.cypressaccommodations.com
GEC Living
GEC is Vancouver's largest off-campus student community, providing fully furnished suites, all-inclusive amenities, and flexible leasing at convenient locations. Accommodations at GEC include utilities, laundry, Wi-Fi, on-site management, social events, and so much more.
Contact Email: reservations@gecliving.com
Website: www.gecliving.com
Rentals
Many students choose to rent privately for flexibility and independence. As it can be difficult to secure a good rental from abroad, we recommend a homestay, student residence, or short-term accommodation (such as a hotel or Airbnb) for your first month in Canada. This way, you can take your time to see potential rentals in person before making any decisions. Before renting a property, you as a tenant should be familiar with the rules and regulations that govern how residential properties or units are rented in B.C. Please visit Starting a Tenancy - Province of British Columbia (gov.bc.ca) to learn more.
Where to Find Rentals
In Metro Vancouver, most people find rentals by searching online. The most popular websites for rentals are:
- Craigslist
- Kijiji
- Facebook Marketplace (accessible through your Facebook account)
Before starting your search, be sure to watch out for scams.
Questions to Consider When Renting
Many different rental options are available in Metro Vancouver. What you choose will depend on your budget and needs. Some important things to consider are:
- Will you be close to your main KPU campus? If not, will it be easy to get to campus by public transportation? Some individuals are OK with a long commute for cheaper rent. Others may prefer to pay more for convenience or to live closer to a city centre. You can estimate the distance using a tool like Google Maps.
- Is your rental furnished? If it is unfurnished, you will need furnishings (e.g. bed, drawers, desks, chairs).
- What amenities are close to your rental? Are there grocery stores, restaurants, community centres, and parks near your rental? You’ll have to decide what’s important to you—for example, if you don’t have a car, you may find it more convenient to live within walking distance of a grocery store.
- Would you live with roommates? It can be a great way to save money and make friends, but it can be challenging to share space with people. It will be up to you to decide if a shared housing situation is for you.
Average Cost of Renting in Metro Vancouver
Housing in Metro Vancouver is generally expensive, but rates will vary depending on where your rental is located, how big the rental is, and what amenities are nearby. For example, rent will typically cost more in Vancouver than in Surrey.
Here are some rental averages from 2022 to give you an idea of what to expect:
| Housing Type | Rental Average (Monthly) |
| Apartment (bachelor/studio) | $1,378 |
| Apartment (one bedroom) | $1,543 |
| Apartment (two bedroom) | $2,504 |
Rental averages from CMHC Urban Rental Market Report, January 2023
Note that the costs listed above are general guidelines for rent only. Costs like utilities (heat, water, electricity) are not included here but may be included in your rental. Rental listings will generally specify whether the rental price includes utilities or not.
Watch Out for Scams
Unfortunately, not all rental listings are real—some are scams posing as rental listings to trick you into sending money or identity documents. Stay alert to warning signs while you secure housing to avoid a scam:
- The rental price is extremely cheap. Scammers use low prices to attract people—if the price looks “too good to be true,” it could be a scam.
- The landlord asks for a large deposit before meeting you or showing you the rental. In most cases, if you haven’t been able to visit the rental or have someone you trust visit the rental on your behalf, you should be cautious when proceeding with any payments. We recommend that you arrive in Metro Vancouver before paying.
- The landlord is asking for too much personal information. If the landlord asks for sensitive information (e.g. bank account details, social insurance number, or credit card information), they may be trying to scam you.
For more information, check out the following links:
- Tips on avoiding a rental scam
- Online Rental Scams: How to avoid being conned out of your cash
- How to avoid a rental scam
Know Your Rights
Before entering a rental agreement, know your rights as a renter (i.e. tenant) in British Columbia. The following resources can help you understand what to expect when renting in Metro Vancouver, and what to do if something is wrong:
Disclaimer
The information on this page is provided as a courtesy to students. KPU does not verify the information in these listings and websites, nor are the listed properties subject to inspection by KPU. KPU does not take responsibility for off-campus rental accommodation.
For more information on travelling to Canada, please visit KPU’s Information for International Students Travelling to Canada webpage.