Student rent guide for Vancouver

Where Vancouver students live

Each campus has its own pattern of student neighbourhoods. These are reasonable starting points. Run each through the calculator to see the current range.

Splitting rent in a Vancouver student rental

• Bedroom size is the most common factor. If your room is 20 percent smaller than the master, paying about 20 percent less is reasonable.
• Private bathroom carries a premium. En-suite rooms usually pay 10 to 15 percent more.
• Equal split for utilities and groceries unless usage is wildly different.
• Put it in writing. A group chat or email saves arguments later.

What to check in a Vancouver student lease

• Is the rent fair for the area? Run the listing through Fair Rent Canada for the Vancouver neighbourhood.
• Is the lease 12 months or 8 months? Some student rentals are priced by the school year. The monthly rate may be higher but the total can be lower.
• Who is on the lease? Joint leases mean everyone is responsible. Individual leases mean you are only responsible for your room.
• What is the policy for subletting? Plans change. You want flexibility for co-op terms or summer breaks.
• What is included? Utilities, internet, laundry, parking. The headline rent often misses these.
• Rent increase rules. In BC, annual rent increases are capped at the provincial guideline (around 3 percent) for all existing tenancies. Security deposits are limited to half a month's rent.