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Housing

Whether you’re planning to live on campus or outside of campus, understand your rights and responsibilities.

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Living on Campus

Because demand to live on campus is high, we recommend applying as soon as you’ve accepted and paid your admission deposit. Information about the application process and timelines can be found here:

Apply for Student Housing

You are also eligible for SFU student housing (please keep in mind the commute to CDM).

CDM Student Apartments are NOT covered under the Residential Tenancy Act. However, there are policies in place to support the well-being of the community. Please note CDM Student Services is not involved in Student Housing. Dorset Realty manages all housing inquiries. Response may take a few business days as they manage multiple buildings across Vancouver.

Mutual consideration and agreed upon standards of living are essential to residence life. The well being of the residence community rests on balancing the needs of individual students and the needs of the larger residence population. CDM is committed to providing a residence environment that is:

  • Safe and secure.
  • Supports academic pursuits.
  • Supports personal growth.

Residence Standards need support from everyone. This means cooperating with staff who investigate violations, participate in standards investigations when necessary, and zero tolerance for behaviour that is violent or dangerous.

Your Residence Contract

Your Residence Contract is the agreement you sign before accepting your room in residence. It contains important information about the rights and responsibilities of living in the residence community.

If at any time you believe a member of the residence community has acted inappropriately, or in violation of your Residence Contract, please bring your concerns to the attention to Dorset Realty.

Residence Standards — Guiding Principles

  • Every person can expect consideration and respect for their feelings and needs and in return has the responsibility to show respect for others.
  • Every person can expect to live in an environment where possessions and space are shown respect.

Standards Violations

Residents who violate Residence Standards can expect disciplinary action, most often assigned by Dorset Realty.

Standards Investigations

  • Dorset Realty completes an initial incident report and meets with the student (s) to discuss the report.
  • If the facts are disputed or not reasonably clear, the student (s) must provide their own written account of the incident to Dorset Realty. within 24 hours.
  • Dorset Realty reviews the documentation, discusses the incident with those involved, and renders a written decision.

The wellbeing of the residence community rests on the balance of the community’s ability to respect the needs of the individual, and the individual’s ability to respect the needs of the community. Our staff work with residents to create communities that support academic success and are based on mutual respect and personal development.

The guiding principles below describe your rights, privileges, and accompanying responsibilities as a resident within the residence community.

Safety

Right: Every person has the right to be safe.
Responsibility: Act in a way that does not endanger yourself or others, utilize the security mechanisms provided in your residence, and report any unsafe behaviour or conditions.

Respect

Right: To a community based on mutual respect and acceptance; free from intimidation, harassment or discrimination.
Responsibility: Treat all members of your community with respect, acceptance and understanding. This also means speaking up when you are aware of acts of harassment, intimidation or see others being treated with a lack of respect and dignity.

Fairness and Support

Right: To expect fair and consistent service from Residence Staff to address your questions or concerns.
Responsibility: Be responsive and cooperative in all dealings with Residence Staff, follow applicable processes, and respond to their requests (including email correspondence and meeting requests) in a timely manner.

Cleanliness

Right: To a living space that is clean and kept in good condition.
Responsibility: Assist in the upkeep of common areas by promptly cleaning up after yourself, participating in making and maintaining a cleaning schedule with your room/unit-mates, using appropriate composting, recycling and waste receptacles, and by reporting facilities or equipment that are broken or dirty.

Reasonable Quiet

Right: To live in an environment conducive to sleep and study.
Responsibility: Always be considerate of your noise and speak with the relevant community member and/or staff member when noise levels are unacceptable.

Managing Personal Health

Right: To access the services available from CDM and SFU designed to support your physical and/or mental health and wellness.
Responsibility: Manage your health and wellness.

Consideration

Right: To enjoy your living space with consideration for and from your roommate(s), and others living around you.
Responsibility: Treat others with respect and consideration, and engage in the outlining of reasonable expectations in your shared living space.

Reasonable Privacy

Right: To reasonable privacy and safety of your possessions.
Responsibility: Take necessary means to maintain the security of your community including upholding the integrity of access points to your residence, securing your valuables, and reporting suspicious activity promptly to the appropriate authorities.

Living in student residence is a privilege extended to students at CDM. By choosing to live in residence you:

  • acknowledge your commitment to the above principles, rights and responsibilities
  • are provided with secured, maintained, convenient student housing
  • benefit from living in a community that values academic success, personal learning, development and growth
  • are afforded opportunities to get involved (student involvement in extra-curricular activities has been shown to be a strong contributor to academic success)
  • are able to talk with residence staff and be referred to other CDM, SFU and community resources and support services that can support your health and wellbeing
  • have the privilege of enjoying social activities provided they do not conflict with other residents’ rights to pursue academic success or personal well-being

For additional information please review your Rental Agreement.

Stay safe. Take care of yourself. And be prepared.

CDM is a safe place to live where students have convenient access to safety services and resources that support physical and mental wellbeing. Student Housing, along with CDM at large, has committed significant resources to providing a safe living and learning environment. But we can’t do it alone—your partnership and vigilance is critical. Being prepared and educated is the best strategy.

Safety and Security

Find out about residence safety strategies, staying safe on campus, emergency contacts, additional safety services and lots more—including substance use information and access to naloxone. Learn more

Health and wellness

Discover health and wellness services, resources and tips. Learn more

Emergency preparedness

Are you ready for an emergency? Find out how to prepare for and respond to an emergency, such as an earthquake, fire, severe weather, leak or flood, and more.

Refer to our Student Apartment FAQ for more common questions answered.

Will anyone but me have access to my room?

Access to your room may be required by Residence Advisors or Property Management and Security personnel.

  • Resident Advisor(s) will not enter your unit without your approval except for move-out inspections, which will be conducted on or after the resident’s official move-out date.
  • Access to resident units is restricted to Property Management and Security personnel. For maintenance purposes, a seven-day notice of entry will be provided, or approval obtained from the current resident.
  • In emergency situations, including but not limited to smoke alarms, fire, or flooding, Property Management and Security are authorized to access resident units. This also applies to situations deemed prospective emergencies.

An example of an emergency necessitating immediate access would be a ceiling leak affecting a downstairs unit. In such an instance, Residence Advisors or Property Management and Security personnel would be authorized to enter the upstairs resident unit to investigate the source, as flooding constitutes an emergency.

Can I end my lease or move-out early?

If you are planning on leaving residence before the official move out day, you MUST advise Dorset Realty as soon as possible. They will be able to advise if you should sub lease or end your agreement early.

Can I ship packages to residence ahead of Move In Day?

Please don’t ship anything to residence ahead of your move in.

Am I allowed to arrive outside of my designated move-in time or on another day?

If you need to move in later than your designated move in time or date, no problem! Please advise our Campus and Security Coordinator.

What happens during inspection and what should I do beforehand?

Inspections will occur twice (once you move-in and once you move-out). Student Housing performs inspections of each residence unit. We want to make sure that we’re doing our part and you’re doing yours to make sure your unit is in good condition—for you and any future residents.

You will be notified about the inspection beforehand.

What you should do before:

  • Tidy it up. Make sure your place is clean and tidy. We recognize it probably won’t be spotless, but put stuff away and clean up any surfaces like tables, countertops and carpets. We understand if there are a few dishes in the sink or if school work or projects are left out, of course.
  • Put it back. Make sure all common area furnishings are put back where they’re supposed to be. You don’t want to be on the hook for a missing chair, do you?

It’s worth mentioning: most units pass inspection, so don’t be nervous!

The inspection

During the inspection, we’ll inspect and inventory the following:

  • Kitchen and bathroom
  • Furnishings—Is furniture missing or damaged?
  • Housekeeping—Is there substantial dirt accumulation and poor housekeeping conditions?
  • Smoke alarms—to make sure they’re working
  • Sprinkler heads (and surrounding ceiling area)—to make sure they’re clear of items that could set them off accidentally
  • Unit exits—to make sure they’re not blocked

How long does the inspection take?

Typically less than 10 minutes.

Do I need to be home?

Yes. You need to be home during the inspection. You will be notified of the date/time of the inspection, and if you cannot attend, you will need to arrange another time with Dorset Realty. Before entering, Student Housing staff will announce themselves and give you ample opportunity to answer the door.

What happens if my unit doesn’t pass inspection?

Dorset Realty will keep your security deposit (50% months’ rent) to clean and fix the item(s) in your unit.

Living off Campus

If you choose to live off campus, there are apartments for rent close to the school, but it can often be difficult to secure a rental unless you are in the city.  It is advisable to arrive in Vancouver a few weeks before the start of classes to give yourself time to look for housing. For an idea of what the area surrounding the campus is like (and the rest of Vancouver), check out the City of Vancouver’s website .  The campus is located very close to Mount Pleasant and Main Street areas.

Unfortunately, housing scams are common. Be aware of common scams.

Below are some common sites to find housing. CDM does not endorse them or their rental listings. 

Rents vary greatly depending on apartment location, age and condition. For example, it is generally more expensive to rent in a condominium (condo) building than an apartment building.

Rent reports

Although the current average asking price for rental housing is challenging to determine, several rental listing websites offer rent reports for the Vancouver market based on active listings on their websites.

Additional costs

Additional costs of renting an apartment can include:

Rentals off campus are covered under the residential tenancy law. Understand what that entails:

Inspection

Make sure that you’re getting all you were promised. Before signing a tenancy agreement, inspect the unit (or have someone you trust inspect it for you).

  • Do the appliances work? Check inside the fridge and turn on the stove.
  • How loud is traffic noise when the windows are open?
  • Are there locks on all doors?
  • Do the shower and taps work? Turn each one on.
  • Do the walls require new paint? If so, ask the landlord to paint before you move in.
  • Is the carpet clean? Ask the landlord if the carpet will be cleaned before you move in.
  • What does the rent include?
  • Will you have to pay extra for heat, electricity, cable, laundry facilities, storage, or parking?
  • Is smoking allowed?
  • Is the place pet-friendly?
  • Can you paint the walls?
  • Are you allowed to hang things on the walls?

Water damage (yellow stains on the walls and ceiling), mouse droppings, bed bugs and cockroaches are very bad signs. Avoid renting suites that have these problems. Be sure to alert your landlord to these issues if they come up after you move in.

Deposit and documentation

  • Get details of your tenancy agreement—also known as a lease or rental agreement—in writing.
  • Take photos to document any existing damage or repairs needed before you move in. If the landlord says something will be repaired or cleaned before you move in, write this down in the agreement.
  • Make sure both you and your landlord have a copy of all the agreements you have signed. If you make any changes to the documents, both you and your landlord should initial next to each change.
  • Prove that you paid. Pay by cheque or money order, or get a receipt if you pay in cash.
  • A tenancy agreement should always outline the terms, conditions and duration of the rental agreement. It is important to review all 3 before signing.
  • Tenancy agreements are typically one year or two years. Some short-term tenancy agreements are usually three-month or six-month terms. Typically, when a fixed-term tenancy agreement in BC ends, it gets automatically turned into a month-to-month tenancy agreement that has no end date.

Get renter’s insurance

It’s strongly advised that you carry renter’s insurance to cover your liability for loss or damage to your belongings against theft, fire and other damage.

How do I get renter’s insurance?

You may choose to insure your belongings with any private insurance company. Here are several local insurance providers you might consider:

Plus, visit the Insurance Brokers Association of British Columbia for more information and resources regarding renter’s and general insurance and to find additional insurance brokers.

Please note that CDM does not endorse or verify the qualifications of any insurance providers or their products. Renter’s insurance is a personal matter for students, and CDM does not involve itself in these decisions.

Set up utilities

Most tenants need to contact BC Hydro to set up electricity and a communications company for TV, phone, and Internet service.

Furnishings

Most apartments are unfurnished, so you’ll need a bed, desk, sofa, kitchen table, and chairs. Try the following places for good deals:

Useful Links