Off-Campus Living

Students walking near park

As the largest urban area on Cape Breton and the island’s historical capital, Sydney is the perfect mix of metropolitan charm and down home hospitality. As with many Nova Scotian communities on the ocean, the heart of Sydney is its waterfront. On a warm, summer evening it’s a great place to go for a walk, stop to watch a busker and to watch ships in the harbour. Along the way, be sure to get your photo taken beside the world’s largest fiddle, built in recognition of Cape Breton’s musical talent.

Secure housing plays a vital role in your student experience. It is very important that students do not travel to Canada before securing proper accommodations. Like most of Canada, affordable housing is a serious issue in Cape Breton. Housing in the area is limited and students should begin their search early.  We continue to advocate for affordable housing solutions, including pushing for Federal support of the proposed Tartan Downs Project, which would see various housing options built within the CBRM.

Students should budget $1000 per month for housing and associated costs.

Below, find a searchable database for students looking for off-campus accommodations as well FAQs about off-campus accommodations.

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House 2 Bedroom - 1294 Mira Bay Rd., Bateston, Cape Breton $3000

1294 Mira Bay Rd., Bateston

A unique, Nordic-style, 1200 sq ft., open-flowing house available for long-term rental, ideal for professors or artists seeking a serene,…

2 bedrooms
1 bathrooms
  • Category: House
  • Status: Available
  • Type: House
  • Feature: Fully Furnished
  • Rent Period: Lease
View Listing

2 Rooms in House - 10 Bay St., Glace Bay $500

10 Bay Street, Glace Bay

2 Rooms available in home – 10 Bay Street, Glace Bay Two fully furnished rooms, including heat, lights, WiFi. Shared…

2 bedrooms
  • Category: Bedroom
  • Status: Available
  • Type: Bedroom
  • Feature: Bus Route
  • Rent Period: Lease
  • Amenity: Electricity
View Listing

1 bedroom in House - 17 Keefe Ave., Cantley Village $800

17 Keefe Avenue, Cantley Village

1 Bedroom in House – 17 Keefe Avenue, Cantley Village Fully furnished bedroom with shared washroom and kitchen facilities. Amenities…

1 bedrooms
  • Category: Bedroom
  • Status: Available
  • Type: Bedroom
  • Feature: Bus Route
  • Amenity: Electricity
View Listing

1 Bedroom in Rental Unit - #19 - 790 King St., Waterford $650

19-790 King St., New Waterford

1 Bedroom in House – #19-790 King St., New Waterford Within walking distance to bus route, parking available Female only. …

1 bedrooms
  • Category: Bedroom
  • Status: Available
  • Type: Bedroom
  • Feature: Bus Route
View Listing

1 Bedroom in House - 98 Spruce St., Sydney $600

98 Spruce St., Sydney

1 Bedroom available in 3 Bedroom rental – 98 Spruce St., Sydney Fully furnished bedroom, shared washroom and kitchen facilities.…

1 bedrooms
  • Category: Bedroom
  • Status: Available
  • Type: House
  • Feature: Bus Route
  • Amenity: Electricity
View Listing

1 Shared Bedroom, 151 Commercial Street, Glace Bay $500

151 Commercial St Glace Bay

One shared bedroom, with male student. Available immediately. Unit is shared with 5 males. On bus route, includes heat, lights,…

1 bedrooms
  • Category: Bedroom
  • Status: Available
  • Type: Apartment
  • Feature: Bus Route
  • Rent Period: Monthly
  • Amenity: Electricity
View Listing

Bedroom in House - 559 Coxheath Rd., Coxheath $450

2-3 bedrooms – 559 Coxheath Road Two female renters currently on site, looking to share rent in large country home.…

1 bedrooms
  • Category: Bedroom
  • Status: Available
  • Type: Bedroom
  • Feature: Fully Furnished
  • Amenity: Heat
View Listing

1 Bedroom in House, 398 10th Street, New Waterford $550

398 10th Street, New Waterford

One bedroom available immediately, 398 10th St., New Waterford Join four male CBU students in a five bedroom house. This…

1 bedrooms
  • Category: Bedrooms
  • Status: Available January 1st
  • Type: Bedroom
  • Feature: Bus Route
  • Amenity: Electricity
View Listing

1 Bedroom in House, 268 Douglas Avenue, Glace Bay $625

268 Douglas Avenue, Glace Bay

1 bedroom available to rent immediately to a mature, female tenant. This bedroom is located in the landlords home and…

1 bedrooms
  • Category: Bedroom
  • Status: Available
  • Type: House
  • Feature: Bus Route
  • Rent Period: Lease
  • Amenity: Electricity
View Listing

1 Bedroom in House - 66 Maple St., Scotchtown $600

66 Maple St., Scotchtown

1 Bedroom in owner’s home,  66 Maple Street, Scotchtown  1 female student only. Heat, lights, water, internet & Netflix. Double…

1 bedrooms
  • Category: Bedroom
  • Status: Available
  • Type: Bedroom
  • Feature: Bus Route
  • Amenity: Electricity
View Listing

Apartment, 2 Bedroom - 109 Muggah St., Whitney Pier $650

109 Muggah Street, Whitney

2 Bedroom Apartment, with private entrance,  109 Muggah St., Whitney Pier Available February 15, 2025  Rooms are fully furnished, rent…

2 bedrooms
  • Category: Apartment
  • Status: February 15 2025
  • Type: Bedroom
  • Feature: Bus Route
  • Amenity: Electricity
View Listing

1 Private Bedroom in House- 420 Terrace St., Sydney

420 Terrace St., Sydney

Private room,  420 Terrace Sydney NS All utilities included, WiFi and parking Located in CBRM, on bus route, within walking…

1 bedrooms
  • Category: Bedroom
  • Type: Bedroom
  • Feature: Bus Route
  • Rent Period: Lease
  • Amenity: Electricity
View Listing

Off-Campus Accommodations FAQs

The Off-Campus Housing Coordinator works to connect students to landlords and vice-versa via the Off-Campus Accommodation Listing which is a free resource for the community. The coordinator ensures a smooth operation of this free resource that can be used by newcomers as well as property owners/managers in the community.

Students are most welcome to reach out to the coordinator but depending on the email traffic, you may or may not hear back in time and rental listings can get sold out quickly. Hence, students are encouraged to follow the contact instructions on the listing to secure it.

Students are encouraged to reach out to the listing’s point of contact directly and be mindful that the property owners/managers do not work for CBU and will answer on their own accord.

Rental/Property listings take place approximately 2 months prior to an intake. If you start searching too early or too late in relation to your intake, you may not find the right option for you. Starting your search early is definitely the key and we encourage future students to use this resource as early in their journey as possible.

 The prices displayed on listings can vary since some of them are room leases, some apartments and some are for houses. The pricing may seem high because it is for a whole house that can be leased.

Listings posted on third-party platforms and social media websites can be fake/scams and it is very important to be mindful of the same. The Off-Campus living page is maintained and updated by the Off-Campus housing coordinator and not through user-generated content.

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