For support finding off-campus housing, Dalhousie’s off-campus living website contains lots of useful information and tips for navigating the rental market in Halifax. Some of these resources include steps for renting, things to know before you sign, average rental and utility costs in Halifax, a Rental 101 guide, and more.

If you’re looking for a roommate, try downloading the Dal Mobile app! Many students post in the housing channel of this app when they are looking for a roommate. Dal Mobile is also a great resource for general updates and it's an easy way to connect with other Dal students.

Places4Students has partnered with Dalhousie University to offer Dalhousie students a list of off-campus student housing rentals close to Studley campus. Create a profile and search the directory here

Dalhousie University's Undergraduate Bursary program provides funds to assist students in financial need. Additional bursary funding for those facing housing and food insecurity has been included in the 2022/2023 program to support the financial challenges many are facing. For more information about applying for bursaries, visit the link below or reach out to awards@dal.ca.

Note: The Walker Emergency Microbursary program previously advertised here is closed and will no longer be available through the Bissett Student Success Centre.

The Dalhousie International Centre offers loans and emergency bursaries for international students, which can be used to help support costs related to housing. Students can apply through an advisor at the International Centre. To book an appointment with an advisor at the International Centre, visit their website.

Emergency financial assistance is available for international students struggling with financial difficulties due to unforeseen circumstances. For more information, visit the link below, and submit your application here.

Many students are able to find housing through online rental ads. Some places to look include Facebook Marketplace, Facebook groups, and Kijiji. Remember to always exercise caution with online housing ads, and make sure to meet with potential roommates in advance and in public. Always tour potential rentals or request a virtual tour before signing a lease, and check references and do some online searching before moving in. International students are more frequently targeted in housing-related scams, so it is important to know the right questions to ask a landlord before signing a lease.

Check out our upcoming tenancy rights workshop for more information on how to navigate the rental system in Nova Scotia. Find more information and register for the workshop here. 

There are also specific Facebook groups which help connect queer and/or disabled folks in Halifax with safe housing. ‘Halifax Queer Exchange’ and ‘Homes for Queers Halifax’ are two groups on Facebook where new rentals ads are posted daily.

There are many real-estate companies in Halifax and their websites can be a useful place to begin looking for available rentals. Some large rental companies in Halifax include Killam Apartment REIT, Paramount Management, and Southwest Properties. Check out the link below for a list of some apartment complexes close to Dalhousie’s Studley Campus.

*Please note there are many other real-estate companies near the campus other than the ones listed on this site, this is only a jumping off point!*

Housing Nova Scotia is the provincial government agency responsible for the administration and delivery of affordable housing solutions for low-to-modest income Nova Scotians. 

Single student parents, as well as families, often qualify for this accessible housing resource. 

Disability friendly: If someone with a disability has an apartment that needs to be made more accessible, their landlord may be eligible for funding from Housing Nova Scotia to make modifications to the building so that it is accessible. 

Harbour City Homes is a nonprofit housing society with a mandate to provide safe, affordable living accommodations to those of low to moderate incomes within the Halifax Regional Municipality. 

Calling is your best bet as openings are not always publicized. Call (902) 490-6277 and they’ll put you on the waitlist. 

This resource is 2SLGBTQIA+ and disability friendly.

The Atlantic Region Office, located in Nova Scotia, provides housing co-operatives with the supports they need to operate successfully in all four Atlantic provinces. 

Call the Nova Scotia office to get on a waitlist: 902-423-7119 or toll-free at 1-866-213-2667 

2SLGBTQIA+ and disability friendly: The Creighton Street Co-op is known in the community for being 2SLGBTQIA+ friendly. Their website includes educational resources for co-op members to run co-ops that are 2SLGBTQIA+ and disability friendly. 

Adsum offers emergency shelter, short and long-term housing, and programs and services for women, families, youth and gender-diverse persons. This resource is 2SLGBTQIA+ and disability friendly.

If you need assistance for emergency shelter or other client services, please call (902) 423-4443. 

Dalhousie Legal Aid operates a Tenant's Rights project, staffed by student volunteers from the Law School. All services are free and confidential. See the Dalhousie Legal Aid website for access to a Tenant's Rights Guide, the Community Clinic schedule, a variety of forms and more.

For a quick response to your tenancy concerns call the Tenant Rights Phone Line: (902)-423-8105.

Nova Scotia Legal Aid has many free legal services to help adults and youth facing a range of legal issues. If you are looking for more information and a wide variety of resources about Residential Tenancy Law in Nova Scotia, please visit the Nova Scotia Residential Tenancy Law Resources website.

Students Nova Scotia is a not-for-profit and non-partisan advocacy group that represents Nova Scotia post-secondary students. The following resources are from Students NS' Housing Week 2022."