Waterloo is unique in Canada for its student housing situation. Having two universities makes the student population a big proportion of the city’s population. Because of the large population of co-op students likely cause more subletting and greater turnover in leases.
Also with low interest rates and growth in enrolment a lot more landlords have entered the market and a lot more rental properties have been built. The university built townhouses to make the Columbia Lake Villages north community, student housing has built several apartment blocks near laurier and on the old iglesia property on Hickory Street as well as several other construction projects around the city, mainly on the corridors where zoning restrictions were loosened.
- Growth in housing and demand 27 Jun 2002
- The state of Housing II 20 Sep 2002
- University and city debate housing 25 Feb 2004
- City housing policy flawed 17 Mar 2004
- City recommends mixed plan in Student Accommodation Study 12 Aug 2004