Off-campus Housing

The Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) is the law that governs most rental agreements in Alberta. It defines the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants and includes rules about leases, rent increases, evictions, security deposits and dispute resolution.

However, the RTA does not apply if you are renting a room in a landlord’s home and sharing living space (such as a kitchen or bathroom). In this case, you are not protected by the Act’s rules around notice or eviction. Instead, it’s recommended that both parties sign a Living with Your Landlord Agreement, which outlines expectations and provides some clarity for the living arrangement.

Here are some useful definitions to help you understand housing listings and rental agreements:

• Landlord: The person, group, or company that owns or manages the rental property. This could include the property owner or a representative such as a property manager.
• Tenant: A person who pays rent to live in a property. Most student renters fall under this category and are protected by the RTA.
• Roommate: A person who shares a rental unit with you. In Canada, this typically means sharing a kitchen or bathroom, but not a bedroom
• Lease / Rental Agreement: A contract between the tenant and landlord. It outlines the terms of tenancy and may be either:
  • Fixed-term: Begins and ends on specific dates
  • Periodic: Automatically renews (usually month-to-month) until notice is given
• Inspection Report: A written record of the unit’s condition at move-in and move-out. Required by law and used to determine if any deductions will be made from the damage deposit.
• Shared Housing: Living in a space where common areas (like the kitchen or bathroom) are shared with a landlord or other tenants
• Condo vs. Apartment: Condos are individually owned units in a larger building. Apartments are usually owned and managed by one landlord or company. Both may be available for rent.
• Utilities: Services like electricity, heat, water, gas, and internet. These may or may not be included in rent and may require setup fees.
• Credit Score: A number that reflects your financial trustworthiness. Some landlords may ask for it as part of the rental application process.
• RTDRS: The Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS) helps resolve disputes between landlords and tenants under the jurisdiction of the Residential Tenancies Act and the Mobile Home Sites Tenancies Act, without going to court.

You can rent a variety of accommodations, including:

• Apartments and condos
• Basement suites
• Shared homes (with roommates or landlords)
• Homestays (with a host family, often arranged through an agency)

Each has pros and cons depending on your budget, lifestyle, and need for privacy. See this graphic for a visual summary of the differences between these accommodation types.

As you begin your housing search, consider the following:

• Location: Choose a place that’s close to campus or easily accessible by transit—think about how close you'd be to grocery stores, shopping, services or other important locations to you
• Safety: Look for units in well-lit, secure buildings and safe neighbourhoods
• Budget: Be realistic about how much you can afford—factor in rent, utilities, internet, groceries and transit costs
• Lease Terms: Ensure the lease duration aligns with your academic plans. Read the agreement carefully before signing
• Furnishing: Some rentals are fully furnished; others are not. Ask what’s included
• Amenities: Check for laundry, parking, internet and whether utilities are included in rent

Calgary is divided into four quadrants: NW, NE, SW, and SE. For example,  UCalgary is located in the Northwest (NW), so living in the NW or nearby areas may offer shorter commute times.

Popular neighbourhoods that are close to the University of Calgary include:

• Brentwood
• Banff Trail
• Capitol Hill
• Varsity
• University Heights

Keep in mind that housing in these areas can be competitive. 

Considering your location

When looking for housing, it's important to consider distance to main campus, amenities and transit accessibility. Walkability, snow-clearing and grocery store access are also important considerations—especially in winter. While a 20-minute walk to main campus is great in the summer, it's a little less enjoyable in the middle of winter. 

It's also important to consider the proximity of essential businesses or services like grocery stores, libraries, restaurants, etc. to your home. 

Calgary Transit provides a public transit network across the city, composed of:

• Buses
• CTrain (light rail transit, or LRT)
• MAX Bus (express bus service)

UCalgary is on the Red Line CTrain and MAX Orange route, making many parts of the city accessible. Transit is often faster and more reliable than driving in winter. The Red and Blue CTrain lines intersect downtown, offering easy transfers.

Get organized and make sure you understand your rights, what you’ll need, and how to prepare for your accommodation search.

• Budget planning: Consider not only rent, but utilities, internet, groceries, transportation, and one-time setup costs (e.g., deposits, furniture)
• Documents to prepare:
  • Government-issued ID
  • Proof of funds (bank statement, scholarship letter, job contract, etc.)
  • Contact information
  • Rental or personal references
  • Credit score (if available)
• Landlord screening: Landlords may ask for certain personal information (see section 4), but they cannot discriminate based on protected grounds under the Alberta Human Rights Act

There are several places you can explore when looking for off-campus housing:

Listing sites and aggregators

These websites are commonly used by UCalgary students to search for rental properties:

• Places4Students
• Rentfaster
• Roomies
• Rentals.ca
• Kijiji
• Facebook Marketplace or Groups

Safety tip: Be wary of listings with very low prices, vague details, or landlords who avoid phone/video contact. Read our article, Protect yourself from rental scams, for more information.

Homestay Options

If you’re looking for a more supported living arrangement, you might consider staying with a local Calgary family through a homestay program. This is a paid service where meals and utilities may be included.

• Canada Homestay Network
• Homestay Calgary
• Homestay.com
• Yes Canada Homestay

Other tools

• Access Housing Newcomers – Matches newcomers with verified landlords. You only pay if a match is made.
• Verified Rentals – Confirms listings by visiting properties on your behalf and providing a detailed report.

Sharing a place with roommates is often more affordable, and can make settling into a new city easier. Roommates in Canada typically share common areas such as kitchens, bathrooms and/or living rooms, not bedrooms.

Many rental sites offer roommate search tools:

• Places4Students
• Roomies
• Facebook Groups
• Rentfaster (paid feature)

Once you find a potential roommate:

• Try a roommate compatibility quiz to make sure you’re a good match
• Use a Roommate Agreement to set expectations

What Landlords Can Ask For

Landlords are allowed to request only the personal information they need to evaluate your rental application, such as:

• Full name, contact info
• Proof of income or funding
• Credit score (but not necessarily SIN)
• Rental or personal references
• Employment or education status
• ID for verification
• Pet information (if applicable)

❌ Landlords cannot ask for your SIN unless legally required, and they cannot discriminate based on factors such as race, age, gender, religion, or family status.

Learn more about rental discrimination protections

Rental scams can happen—especially when you’re under pressure to find housing quickly. Common scams include:

• Fake listings: The property exists, but the poster isn’t authorized to rent it.
• Nonexistent properties: You’re asked to pay before seeing anything real.
• Personal information theft: Scammers pose as landlords to collect private data.
• Trust your instincts. If something feels off, pause.

• Don’t be pressured into rushing—scammers prey on urgency.
• Avoid landlords who won’t meet in person or speak on the phone.
• Never send money before seeing the place (in person or via live video).
• Compare rent prices in the area. Too low? Be skeptical.
• Scan attachments before opening, and never share your SIN, bank account, or credit card info.

We strongly recommend you physically visit a property before agreeing to sign a lease/rental agreement. 

Many students will attempt to find a place to rent while they are not in Calgary, and may not be able to complete an in-person viewing. If this is the case, we recommend you arrange a video call with the landlord and have them show you the property as best they can. You may wish to use a service like Verified Rentals that will conduct a viewing on your behalf and provide you with a report.

If you do not find a place to rent before arriving in Calgary, you can book temporary or short-term accommodations ahead of time so you have a place to stay while you conduct your search for a more permanent accommodation.

A security deposit is also sometimes referred to as a damage deposit. It is money paid by a tenant in addition to the rent that is due. 

A landlord can ask a tenant to pay a security deposit. The landlord holds this deposit as security for damage, cleaning costs, unpaid rent or other obligations the tenant may have to the landlord. Landlords cannot charge more than one month’s rent as a security deposit.

Things to keep in mind:

• Always take photos at move-in and move-out to protect your deposit
• It must be kept in an interest-bearing bank account
• It must be returned with interest if no damage or rent is owed—use this interest calculator to see what you can expect
• Tenants should receive a written receipt for any deposit paid

A lease is a legal agreement — make sure you understand it!

• Your lease is only protected under the Residential Tenancies Act if you do not share living space with your landlord
• If you’re living in a shared situation, use a written agreement to define expectations
• Don’t pay anything until you’ve received a signed lease copy

What to Look For in a Lease

• Lease type (fixed or periodic) and term dates
• Rent amount, payment method, due dates
• What’s included (utilities, parking, internet)
• Rules for pets, guests, subletting
• Responsibilities for maintenance and repairs
• Security deposit amount and refund terms
• Landlord and tenant contact info
• Signatures from both parties

Before your move-in day, take time to plan ahead:

• Confirm your move-in date with your landlord.
• Ask how and when you’ll get the keys.
• Check if utilities (internet, power, heat, water) are already set up or if you need to activate them.
• Arrange for furniture or essentials (see Section 2 of this page for buying options).

Your landlord is legally required to conduct a written inspection report with you:

• Must happen within 1 week before or after move-in.
• You and your landlord should walk through the space together and record its condition.
• Take photos as a backup in case of disputes.
• The landlord must give you a copy of the completed report.
• The report protects both parties and is required by the Residential Tenancies Act.

If the report is not completed, your landlord cannot deduct money from your security deposit for cleaning or damage (except for normal wear and tear).

Landlord Responsibilities

Landlords must keep the unit safe and livable. They’re usually responsible for:

• Structural repairs (walls, ceilings, windows, etc.)
• Plumbing and electricity
• Heating and appliances (if included in your lease)
• General upkeep of included items

If something breaks:

• Contact your landlord in writing
• Allow reasonable time for them to respond
• If not addressed, contact Alberta Health Services or apply to the RTDRS

Tenant Responsibilities

You are responsible for:

• Keeping the unit clean and undamaged
• Notifying the landlord of issues promptly
• Respecting neighbours and shared spaces
• Avoiding illegal activity in or around the rental

Note: Even if the landlord has not addressed repairs, you must still pay your rent. You can, however, apply for a rent reduction through RTDRS in some situations.

Tenants should not be disturbed or inconvenienced by the landlord or anyone working for the landlord without a valid reason unless the tenant gives consent or is served with the required notice at least 24 hours before the time of entry. You can refuse entry without proper notice.

However, the landlord may enter the residential premises without permission and without giving the tenant any notice for two reasons:

• If the landlord believes there is an emergency;
• If the landlord believes the tenant has abandoned the residential premises

You can find more information about the Landlord’s Right of Entry from Service Alberta.

In Alberta, landlords cannot include a clause in a lease agreement banning any overnight guests. If the landlord believes that a guest is now living on the property without being on the tenancy agreement, they can remove them by taking the appropriate legal steps.

• Landlords cannot ban overnight guests or charge extra fees for having guests
• If a guest is staying long-term, your landlord can request that they be added to the lease
• You are responsible for your guests’ behaviour, including any damage they cause

Note: If you live in your landlord’s home (e.g., you’re renting a basement or room and sharing space), different rules may apply. Your landlord can set some guest-related boundaries if the RTA does not apply.

Your landlord can only increase rent under specific conditions:

• At least 365 days must have passed since the start of the lease or the last rent increase
• Rent cannot increase during a fixed-term lease (see section below for more about fixed-term leases)
• You must be given proper written notice in advance
• If you stay after receiving a valid notice, you are assumed to have accepted the new rent

Fixed-term lease

• Ends automatically on the stated end date
• There is no legal requirement to provide notice—however, when approaching the end of a fixed term lease, it is a best practice for landlords and tenants to advise one another of their intent to renew or not renew the lease in advance of the lease’s expiration date

Periodic lease (e.g., month-to-month)

• You must give one full month’s written notice before moving out, OR;
• Your landlord must give three full months’ notice if they want to end the lease

Before you leave:

• Clean the unit and return it to its original condition (excluding normal wear and tear)
• Do a move-out inspection with your landlord
• Return your keys and get a written record of your security deposit refund (including interest)

More on ending a tenancy