Student Voices Matter: Help Shape the Future of Rental Housing in Waterloo
The City of Waterloo is currently reviewing its Rental Housing Licensing Bylaw and this is a crucial opportunity for students to make their voices heard! The decisions being made now will directly impact student renters, especially those living in apartments, shared accommodations, and other types of rental housing.
🔗 Take the survey now
📅 Survey closes: May 16, 2025
This is a key opportunity for you to influence how rental housing is regulated, particularly when it comes to affordability, safety, and access.
What does the new bylaw propose?
The new bylaw proposes the registration of all apartment buildings, which requires:
- An annual self-assessment
- Proof of liability insurance (at least $5 million)
- Proof of operational plans detailing how owners will address cleaning, pest control, electrical maintenance, and service (i.e. electrical, heat) outages.
- Evaluation of each registered building, with buildings who do not meet requirements being subject to audits and/or corrective orders. These evaluations will be published annually to allow tenants and prospective renters to make an informed decision and ensure owners are maintaining high standards for their properties.
Building owners would also have to:
- Maintain a tenant service request process
- Post key information on a tenant notification board
- Promptly respond to maintenance issues
Units not meeting these standards will not be allowed to be rented out.
Why Does This Matter?
Whether you’re currently renting off-campus or are planning to in the future, the outcome of this bylaw review could shape:
- What kinds of rental properties are licensed in Waterloo
- How often units are inspected
- How safety standards are enforced
- Including requiring owners to submit plans for cleaning, pest control, electrical upkeep, repairs, and how they would deal with service outages
- How accessible and affordable the housing market remains for students
In short: this bylaw review will have an impact on your experience as a renter in Waterloo.
WUSA’s Housing Advocacy
WUSA has been pushing for improved off-campus housing for years. Through our advocacy work around off-campus housing and our Housing Playbook, we’ve outlined solutions to make student housing better.
Now it’s your turn to give the city feedback! Share your lived experience as a renter and help effect real policy change.
