International Students

Below are some resources to find rental housing in Hamilton, Ontario.

Please note that all listings are submitted by private landlords and are not affiliated with McMaster Divinity College. It is your responsibility to exercise discretion when communicating with landlords or subletters.

Online Postings

• Redeemer University Off-Campus Housing Board
• McMaster University Off-Campus Housing Board
• Kijiji
• Viewit.ca
• Facebook Marketplace
• Point2homes
• PadMapper

Pre-Screened Listings

• Realtor.ca
• Zumper
• Hanlyn

Facebook Student Groups

We advise you to beware of scams on Facebook housing groups. Please do not interact with any job postings in these groups as they are often spam.

• MacHousing

Neighbourhood Guides

• Moving2Canada
• Hamilton Police Crime Mapping Tool

Documents Often Required for Rental Application

1. Credit Report: a summary of your credit history, or personal details for your landlord to run a credit check. Your credit report includes your credit score, payment history and any outstanding debts. Some landlords will accept a credit report that you can get online.
2. Job letters & bank statements: a job letter that shows employee name, job position, and income. Bank statements that show the flow of your money and if you are paying other bills on time.
3. Proof of Income: including recent pay stubs, a Notice of Assessment (NOA) or Proof of Income Statement from the CRA.
4. References: supporting document of recommendation from current or past landlord, property manager, superintendent, or a character reference.
5. Proof of Identification: Canadian Driver’s License, Passport, or other valid government-issued photo IDs.

You have the right to question the use of your personal information in the application process according to the PIPEDA (Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act). Your landlord can only use your information for the purpose of which it was collected.

International law says that people in Canada have the right to affordable housing. To help achieve this in Ontario, tenants and landlords (or housing providers) have rights and responsibilities under the Human Rights Code.

You also have rights as a tenant. Review the City of Hamilton Tenant/Landlord Resources to learn more about your rights as a tenant including how much rent can be raised per year, what must be provided (and paid for) by the landlord, etc.

Familiarize yourself with Ontario’s Standard Lease Agreement prior to signing a lease agreement.

How to Spot a Scam

Here are some warning signs to look out for when looking for housing:

1. Too-Good-To-Be-True Prices: When you find a price that seems significantly lower than other similar listings. Combined with the other warning signs, look out for places that advertise low prices, in hopes to bait people for money, or to suddenly spike prices.
2. Fake Photos: Many scammers will post very nice pictures at cheap/affordable cost. To vet these pictures, right click, then click “search image with Google.”
3. No Address or Neighbourhood Details: Exercise your discretion here. Legitimate listings usually include the neighbourhood, area, and ideally the complete address. You should be able to check against Google Maps to see if the address advertised is accurate to the listing.
4. You are Asked for Money Before Signing the Lease: It is NOT legal to ask you for any security deposit, “first and last” rent or any upfront fees or instalments before you sign a written, formal rental agreement. Do not make any payments, especially online via e-transfer, or wire money to anyone asking you for a substantial amount of money before you have signed anything.
5. You are not Allowed to see the Property: Before making any payments, signing any lease, or moving in, you must see the property. You should be able to get a live, virtual tour or go in person to check out the place and make sure the cleanliness, size, and maintenance is up to your standard, and accurate to the pictures and description in the listing.
6. The Lease is Incomplete/there is no Screening Process: Always look for a landlord that is responsible, high-quality, and responsive. Professional landlords will have a tenant screening process and complete rental application process. Landlords should want an application and credit check at the least, to ensure that you are able to pay rent in full and on time. If the lease is incomplete, do not sign it.
7. The Listing is Written Poorly: Good and professional landlords will ensure that their listing is well-written and contains detailed descriptions of their place. If the listing has tons of typos, poor grammar, excessive punctuation, or capitalization, it is very likely that the listing is a scam.

Hamilton Transit (HSR)

The HSR is Hamilton’s local transit system.

Schedule & Route Tools HSR Fares

GO Transit

GO Transit is a network of train and bus lines that aid people to travel around the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

Metrolinx, GO Transit is the regional public transit service for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. They provide service to downtown Toronto and other nearby urban areas.

Plan Your Trip

On-Campus Parking

On-campus parking is available for MDC students but not guaranteed due to high demand. Contact Parking Services for further information.

Parking Services

Finding a Church

There are many church denominations represented across Hamilton. Search for a church near you on Google Maps or by denomination using the links below:

Hamilton Church Map

Canadian Baptists of Ontario & Quebec (CBOQ) Church Finder

Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC) Church Finder

The Alliance Church Finder

Groceries & Shopping

There are many grocery store options in Hamilton. To shop sales, download and use the Flipp app.

Affordable Grocery Stores

• No Frills
• Food Basics
• Walmart

More Expensive Grocery Stores

• Fortinos
• Longos
• Sobeys

International Grocery Stores

• Nations Fresh Food
• Hamilton Farmer’s Market

Pharmacies

• Shoppers Drug Mart
• Rexall
• IDA

Shopping Centres/Malls

• Limeridge Mall (Hamilton)
• Mapleview Mall (Burlington)
• Square One (Mississauga)

Learn more about Canadian bank accounts below. Note that most Student accounts do not have a monthly fee.

Canadian Banking Banking & Credit Tips

Visit the Government of Canada website for more information on Banking to confirm the necessary documentation.

Government of Canada Banking

Cell Phone & Internet Plans

The most popular cell phone and internet providers in Canada are:

• Bell
• Rogers
• Telus

There are many smaller, more affordable mobile phone options that can be used within the city such as:

• Koodo
• Fido
• Freedom Mobile
• Wind

Some other internet providers include:

• Start.ca
• Cogeco
• Teksaavy

Compare Mobile and Internet Plans

Seasonal Weather in Hamilton

Hamilton is located in Southern Ontario and temperatures can range from 30°C in the summer to -20°C in the winter. Be prepared when moving to Hamilton that proper cold weather clothing will be necessary.

From Moving2Canada:

Summers in Hamilton are warm, with an average July temperature of 22°C, but this warmth can quickly turn more intense when the humidity kicks in. Air conditioners are a smart investment, as you’ll likely get use out of one from June to September.

As in most of southern Ontario, Hamilton’s spring is fairly short and wet, acting more as a short melting period in between winter and summer. Temperatures get slightly milder, but nobody takes off their winter boots until about April, when the sidewalks are finally clear of slush and grit. Fall is longer and milder, giving plenty of time to enjoy the glorious changing colours of the foliage, both in the city and in the many nature trails and conservation areas surrounding the urban core. For most Canadians, including those living in Hamilton, fall is the last breath of fresh air before the long cold winter, and you’ll notice Hamiltonians getting outside and enjoying it to the fullest during from September to November.

If you’ve done any research at all about moving to Canada, you may have some idea of what to expect when it comes to winters. In Hamilton, as in most other Canadian cities, winters are long and cold – but those in southern Ontario can be less extreme than other regions of Canada. Hamilton typically sees temperatures at freezing or below for 129 days out of the year, but average temperatures rarely drop lower than -10°C.

Finding proper cold weather clothing will be one of the top priorities when your first winter in Hamilton is approaching, and it is worth investing in boots and a coat that will last for years. Several outlet malls in the Hamilton area and closer to Toronto begin to sell good-value winter gear in September and October. If you can bear the autumnal chill, hold out for deals around the end of November. Canada has seen a growing offering of ‘Black Friday’ sales, in emulation of the United States – where stores offer major price cuts on the third Friday in November, the day after American Thanksgiving – and this is a great time to get a bargain on winter clothing. See our winter in Hamilton page to learn more.

To check the local forecast, use the link below or an app like The Weather Network:

Hamilton Forecast