Student Community Relations will be hosting a virtual Housemate Search Social January 28th, 2021 at 8:00PM est. The purpose of this event is to bring together students that have been looking for housemates, and to make connections within the Queen's community, which has been otherwise difficult due to online learning. If you are interested in this event, please contact scr@queensu.ca.
The following information and links are provided to support students looking for safe and appropriate off-campus housing in the Kingston community during the pandemic including temporary quarantine accommodation.
Your Housing Search
Given the ongoing pandemic, your housing search may be limited to on-line viewings and remote negotiations. Most leases are signed for a fixed term. That signed contract constitutes a binding agreement that cannot be cancelled if you later determine that the living space is not suitable for you, is too far from campus, or does not meet expectations. Before you sign a lease, make sure you are confident that the space is appropriate for your needs.
Apartment/housing search websites are helpful, but cannot and do not guarantee the quality or legitimacy of every posting. As a tenant, you need to be vigilant to avoid being defrauded.
Queen’s University does not endorse or warrant the quality of units advertised on any rental search tool, including units posted to the Accommodations Listing Service on our Community Housing website.
In addition to the Accommodations Listing Service, the links below are provided as a convenience to start your housing search:
Other considerations
Finding a room is only part of the equation. Before you agree to live with others, it is recommended that you negotiate clear expectations for co-living.
The two most common areas of conflict in Kingston student households are:
- no shared understanding about what “clean” means, and
- partners or guests spending too much time in the unit.
During COVID-19 restrictions, you will likely be spending a lot of your time in your house/apartment. To ensure you feel safe and productive in your space, take time to establish clear agreements with the people you live with about:
- visitors and guests
- respect for quiet during class time
- cleaning, including following public health recommendations for illness prevention and shared spaces
Like many other situations, good preparation will be key to success.
Quarantine Temporary Accommodation
In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, hotels across Kingston have created accommodation packages to meet the needs of Queen’s graduate and undergraduate students. Each provider offers a different package. Interested students are encouraged to investigate all the options available. Please contact the hotel directly to inquire about the Queen’s student/best available rate. It may be also a good idea to ask about booking cancellation policy in case your plans change. You will be required to pay for these accommodation and food costs.
Four Points by Sheraton Kingston
Residence Inn by Marriott Kingston Water’s Edge
To learn how to find other accommodation options in Kingston visit the QUIC Housing Search page.
If you are unable to immediately begin your onward journey to Kingston upon arrival in Canada, or if you are required to quarantine at your Port of Entry, hotel providers in Toronto have created accommodation packages to meet the needs of students. You will be required to pay for these accommodation and food costs.
