Call our Rental Hotline at 519-572-0278 or 1-855-MYDOMUS and we can schedule
a viewing for next day and on. We try our best to give our current tenants 24 hours
notice for viewings, so be proactive and call ahead of the day you plan to make an
appointment!
Call 519-572-0278 to cancel your viewing, in as much advance as you can.
Please wait outside for the leasing agent if he or she is not already there for you. Do not
knock on the front door, even if you are early. Remember that we want to be respectful
of the current tenants.
Think about...
- how many people you want to share a living space
- who you want to be your housemates
- what your budget is
- how far you're willing to live away from campus
- how close the nearest bus stop is and what routes service that area
Apartments are rented to both single and group applicants.
Our houses are only open to groups.
You will need to put down the last month's rent as a non-refundable deposit.
The deposit secures the house for 7 days, in which time the lease documents need to be filled in, signed and handed in and rent payment arrangements made to complete the rental.
The last month's rent deposit is not refundable. See below for key deposit info.
A $200 refundable key deposit must be paid within ONE week of the initial deposit. It
can be paid by cash, debit, or post-dated cheque. You can post-date the cheque for the
1st day of your lease. The key deposit is refundable - you get your money back after
move-out if you have returned your keys. The key deposit is not a security deposit.
Key deposits are legal. Unreturned keys take time and money to replace locks and keys.
For more information, please follow this link to the
Landlord & Tenant Board site.
We offer one year leases with the option to renew for up to three years.
There is a sample copy of our lease located on our website on the Kitchener-Waterloo
main page to the right of the screen. You will be able to print out a personalized lease,
only after you (and your entire group) have made a deposit and started the online lease
process. When you make a deposit, we send you a link in your email to begin filling out a
personal information form. The lease is created using your information and from there,
the link outlines instructions to complete the rest of the lease documentation.
Short answer: it's easy! In more detail, follow these steps:
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When you make a deposit on a rental, we send a link to your email to kick-start the lease process.
If you do not receive this link in your email, check your junk mail to make sure it didn't end up there.
If it's not in your inbox or junk mail, call the office at 519-
342-0608 to see if we can resend it or correct a wrong email address.
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Once you have the email, click on the link and follow the step-by-step instructions.
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If you are part of a group of 2 or more, print only ONE lease for all of you to sign and submit.
All other documents require each individual to print, fill out, sign and submit (including a waiver, a guarantor form, and a payment method).
Lease documents can be sent in by mail, email or fax OR brought to the office in person.
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All lease documents are due within ONE week after making a deposit.
It is always best to complete everything in your package in this time to avoid admin fees and to ensure that you don't forget anything.
Admin fees are $50 for handing in documents/payments late.
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Once you have handed in everything, be sure to go back to the link and double check that you are completely finished.
Check off all boxes that apply to you to complete your lease.
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If you have questions after you have read through all instructions and the whole lease, let us help you by calling or emailing a leasing agent at Domus.
For initial deposits: cash, debit, certified cheque, email money transfers (EMT), and
direct deposits to our account (send in receipt to verify).
For key deposits: cash, debit, certified cheque, post-dated cheque, EMT, and direct
deposit.
For rent payments: post-dated cheques or a PAD (Pre-Authorized Debit) form.
NOTE: We do NOT accept credit card. Ask us to send you an instruction sheet for
more detailed information on making a direct deposit to our account by emailing
rent@domushousing.com.
Ease for all parties, and for you to avoid late fees is the short answer. By law, it is not
required that you submit post-dated cheques.
It's very similar to getting a co-signer for a mortgage. It ensures the landlord will get
paid if a tenant does not pay the rent. In the majority of cases, a student's parents act as
the guarantor. Therefore, if you do not pay your rent, expect your landlord to call your
parents. Nobody wants that to happen! The guarantor form requires:
- students to find a guarantor before the lease can be finalized
- the guarantor to agree to pay outstanding rent if the tenant does not pay
If you do not have anyone to sign as a guarantor, you can talk to the leasing co-coordinator about paying a Guarantor Money deposit (two additional last month's rent).
All tenants read and sign a waiver in the lease package that outlines our policy on
cleaning between rental terms. It requires each tenant to understand that the house or
apartment will be cleaned between move-ins and further cleaning by you and/or your
group may be required to achieve personal standards. We do not re-send cleaning
crews. Our cleaning crews empty all contents left behind by previous renters, clean
appliances, floors, and bathrooms. The cleaners leave behind a checklist that they must
check off to assure what jobs have been completed. The waiver also asks you to leave
the house in the condition you have found it upon move-out and states that you are
responsible for any damage you or your guests cause beyond regular wear and tear.
Yes. In the waiver you sign as part of the leasing package, it states that tenants
belongings should be insured, either by renter's insurance or extended coverage under
his or her parent/guardian's home insurance. Likewise, the management agrees to
respond to all issues brought to their attention promptly and within the guidelines of
the Residential Tenancies Act, 2008.
No, Domus Student Housing houses and apartments do not accept pets.
Our houses and apartments are non-smoking buildings. Smoking inside, on a balcony or
within 10 feet of the building are against the conditions of the lease and will result in a
$200 charge. If caught, you can be fined by the City of Waterloo By-Law Enforcement.
You will receive a Deficiencies List in your move-in package, to write down anything that
is not working or broken. This chart is handed into us within 2 weeks of move-in, so that
we can assess the list, inform the landlord, and make improvements. Throughout the
year, a property administrator is available by phone/email throughout the week and a
maintenance supervisor is reachable by phone afterhours. The office number is 519-
342-0608 and the maintenance supervisor's contact information will be available on the
greeting. Maintenance requests are taken into consideration, consulted by our property
admin and the landlord, and plans are communicated to our tenants. Emergencies (i.e.
leaks, broken roofs, etc.) will be handled promptly.
Yes. We can send you a generic Sublet Contract for you to use and tips on where to
advertise - just send us an email to request these documents. Please note, you are still
the tenant, and you are now acting like a "landlord" for your subletter. You still pay rent
to Domus, and you are responsible for collecting rent from your subletter.
Domus offers a tip sheet and a generic Sublet Contract for you to modify and use. We do
not advertise or do viewings to help sublet your room. Subletting can be successful Fall,
Winter and Spring term in Waterloo! Advertise early, be committed and be prepared to drop your price if need be.
No. Unless, you talk to your roommates and get it in writing that this is acceptable.
Bottom line - communicate with everyone to avoid problems.
Our housing is not residence. We do not govern behavior, and therefore, we expect our
tenants to communicate and sort out any issues amongst themselves. For legal advice,
the Landlord and Tenant Board can be contacted at the City.
We assign rooms in apartments. For houses, it is up to the group to assign rooms
amongst themselves.
Rent varies according to location, condition, amenities, and features. In Waterloo, it can
be anywhere from $400-$700, and higher for a 1-bedroom or bachelor apartment. The
cost of living often goes down as the number of resident's increases. Living with a few
roommates is an effective way to keep costs down. Pricing for our available properties
can be found on our website listings or by requesting an Availabilities email be sent to
you.
Utilities are not included in the rent but as outlined in the lease, if you pay your rent on
time, the landlord agrees to pay your utilities at a set price of $50. You are encouraged
to pay on time to avoid paying extra for your utilities. We advertise that utilities are
included because we assume that tenants will pay their rent on time. If you decide upon
housing that does not include this offer and utilities are the tenants responsibility, you
can expect to pay roughly $45-65 per month for electricity, heat, and hydro.
It depends; some have internet deals included, others do not. If not, the best approach
is to bundle internet, cable, and phone together with one company to receive a bundle
discount (a 10-15% savings). Be sure to account for installation fees as well. Separately
students can expect to pay:
- Cable: $50-100 depending on the package selected
- Internet: $35-75 depending on the connection speed
- Phone: A minimum of $30, depending on if you select a land line or cell
The part of the lease that outlines rent payment and utilities fees, usually found on the
lower half of the first page of the lease, is better understood when read through as one
section.
We are the link between landlords and students, handling all housing related issues for both parties.
Using a property management company does not cost students anything; it is the landlord's preference and cost.
We provide:
- Help with your search, providing a number of viable options and taking the hassle out of looking for accommodations
- A standardized process for seeking student housing
- Help in narrowing your search to meet specific needs
- Professional and timely service
- Help with the application process
- Property maintenance services (i.e. lawn care and snow removal) included in the rent
