Housing & Transportation Options | KPU.ca - Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Reminder!

The information on this page is provided as a courtesy to students. KPU does not verify the information in these listings and web sites, nor are the listed properties subject to any form of University inspection. KPU does not take responsibility for off-campus rental accommodation.

Please visit the Information for International Students Travelling to Canada webpage for more information on travelling to Canada.

Homestay

Homestay programs allow students to live in a Canadian home as a member of the family. Students share meals with their hosts, participate in family activities and conversations, and establish friendships with people who can help make the adjustment to new surroundings much easier. Homestay programs often provide custodianship services for minor students as well. If this housing option appeals to you, below are some homestay agencies that can help you find a host family.

Please Note: The information on this page is provided as a courtesy to students. KPU does not verify the information in these listings and web sites, nor are the listed properties subject to any form of University inspection. KPU does not take responsibility for off-campus rental accommodation.

Canada Homestay Network (CHN)
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. CHN also offers 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 taken into account when matching students with host families in order to ensure a great fit. Cypress is committed to ensuring student comfort, and provides local and personalized support.
Contact Email: adm@cypressaccommodations.com
Website: www.cypressaccommodations.com

First Choice International Placement Inc
First Choice International Placement Inc. is pleased to be the preferred provider of monitored custodial guardianship, homestay placement, and airport transportation services for minor-aged post-secondary students throughout Metro Vancouver and surrounding areas.
Contact Email: i nfo@myfci.ca
Website: www.myfci.ca

Harmony Homestay
Harmony Homestay has a diverse database of homestay families to be able to provide a variety of options when choosing a homestay family. We work to provide the best possible match for each placement. The more information we have at the outset, the faster and more accurate the matching will be.
Contact Email: i nfo@harmonyhomestay.com
Website: w ww.harmonyhomestay.com

Homadorma
Homadorma operates the largest online homestay network in Canada. Students have the flexibility to compare and choose the most suitable homestay for their needs in Vancouver.
Contact Email: service@homadorma.com
Website: www.homadorma.com

Student Accommodations

While KPU does not have student housing, 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. Some popular student accommodations are listed below:

CASA Toronto/Vancouver
CASA Toronto/Vancouver fills the international student's demand for better accommodation services. CASA offers three distinct, high quality, and well-priced student living experiences (homestay, shared accommodation, and suites).
Contact Email: marketing@casa-toronto.com
Website: www.casa-toronto.com/vancouver/

4Stay
An online marketplace connecting students and interns with local hosts, room providers, and roommates near their destinations.
Website: www.4stay.com

Cypress Accommodations
Cypress Accommodations operates numerous studetnt residences in Vancouver and the surrounding areas.
Contact Email: adm@cypressaccommodations.com
Website: www.cypressaccommodations.com

GEC Living
GEC is the largest off-campus student community in Vancouver, providing fully furnished suites, all-inclusive amenities, and flexible leasing at convenient locations. Accommodations at GEC include utilities, laundry, WiFi, on-site management, social events, and so much more. GEC connects you with your classes, your friends, and everything Vancouver has to offer.
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 while abroad, we recommend that you stay at 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 go see any 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 conducting your search, be sure to check out the section 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 city centre. You can estimate the distance using Google Maps.
Is your rental furnished? If it is unfurnished, you will need to procure your own furnishings (bed, drawers, desks, chairs, etc.)
What amenities are close to your rental? Are there things like 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 also be a challenge to share space with other people. It will be up to you to decide if a shared housing situation is right 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 may be nearby. For example, it will typically cost more to rent in Vancouver than in Surrey.
Here are some rental averages from 2022 to give you an idea of what to expect. Keep in mind, these are averages only.

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. Additional costs for things 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 in order to trick you into sending money or identity documents. It’s important to stay alert to warning signs while you secure housing so that you do not fall prey to a scam.

Common warning signs:

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 is asking 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 very cautious when proceeding with any payments. We recommend that you arrive in Metro Vancouver before providing payment.
The landlord is asking for too much personal information. If the landlord is asking for sensitive information (such as your 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:

Know Your Rights

Before entering into a rental agreement, it’s important to know the rights you have 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.

Living in Metro Vancouver