32 Frequently Asked Questions

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:

1. 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.
2. Once you have the email, click on the link and follow the step-by-step instructions.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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

Yes, at houses it is usually included. For our apartments, it is usually a fixed rate. Read up on our Parking Policy here.

To send an Email Money Transfer, please follow the below procedures:

1. Sign into your online banking account.
2. On the left side, click on the Transfer tab, and select Interact Email Transfer.
3. Click Add Recipient, and add Domus Student Housing Inc.
4. For the email address, please use finance@domushousing.com.
5. Enter the Deposit amount
   If you also want to make a payment for the $200 Key deposit at this time, please enter the sum of the two deposits.
   (e.g. $600 Deposit + $200 Key Deposit = $800 total)
6. There is a note section below; please state (your name)'s Deposit
   (and Key Deposit if applicable) for (unit and address of the property)
   e.g. Cindy Liang's Deposit for 110 University, Unit 101.
7. Set the password as domushousing
8. Once the email transfer is sent, it can take up to an hour for us to receive it.
   Once we receive it, you will get an email confirmation from the bank and we will also send you confirmation and a receipt. Please be patient.