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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1 Bedroom in House, 32 Richmond Street, Sydney $525

32 Richmond Street, Sydney

1 fully furnished bedroom, available to rent beginning November 1st, 2025. This bedroom is located in a 4-bedroom house, and…

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

1 Bedroom in House, 3636 Ellsworth Avenue, New Waterford $750

3636 Ellsworth Avenue, New Waterford

🏡 Student Housing – Direct Bus to CBU! 🏡 Looking for a clean, fully furnished room in a quiet student-friendly home? Cape Breton…

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

1 Bedroom in House, 3636 Ellsworth Avenue, New Waterford $700

3636 Ellsworth Avenue, New Waterford

🏡 Student Housing – Direct Bus to CBU! 🏡 Looking for a clean, fully furnished room in a quiet student-friendly home? Cape Breton…

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

1 Bedroom in House, 3636 Ellsworth Avenue, New Waterford $650

3636 Ellsworth Avenue, New Waterford

🏡 Student Housing – Direct Bus to CBU! 🏡 Looking for a clean, fully furnished room in a quiet student-friendly home? Cape Breton…

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

1 Bedroom in House, Carmichael Drive, Sydney River $750

105 Carmichael Drive, Sydney River

There is 1 fully furnished bedroom available to rent in this 3-bedroom house. This house is located in a very…

1 bedrooms
  • Category: Bedrooms
  • Status: Available
  • Type: House
  • Feature: Fully Furnished
  • Rent Period: Lease
  • Amenity: Electricity
View Listing

1 Bedroom in House, Sydney $575

Sydney

A cozy, private bedroom rental on the second floor of the home. Tenant will share a kitchen and bathroom with…

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

1 Bedroom in House, Sydney $650

Sydney

1 Cozy, private bedroom for rent, on the second floor of a home. The bedroom is available to rent beginning…

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

1 Master Bedroom, 388 Atlantic Street, Sydney Please Call

388 Atlantic Street, Sydney

Master Bedroom– Ideal for a couple or 2 female tenants. WIFI, in-house laundry, all basic kitchen appliances, furniture and bedding.…

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

1 Shared Bedroom, 16 Sutherland Street, Sydney $435

16 Sutherland Street, Sydney

There is one shared bedroom available to rent immediately to 2 female tenants. All utilities are included in tenants rent,…

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

1 Single Bedroom for Rent, 3 Charlotte Street, Sydney Please Call

3 Charlotte Street, Sydney

1 single, fully furnished bedroom, available to rent beginning February 2026. All utilities will be included in tenants rent, which…

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

1-Bedroom Apt, Main Street, Sydney Mines $1000

Main Street, Sydney Mines

1-bedroom apartment that is partially furnished, available to rent immediately. Apartment is attached to the homeowners home, and the landlord…

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

1-Bedroom Apt, Main Street, Sydney Mines $1100

Main Street, Sydney Mines

This upgraded 1-bedroom apartment has been fully renovated in the last year with a new kitchen, bathroom, appliances, windows and…

1 bedrooms
  • Category: Apartment
  • Status: Available
  • Feature: Bus Route
  • Rent Period: Lease
  • Amenity: Water
View Listing

1-Bedroom Mini Home, 12 Murray Street, Glace Bay $1500

12 Murray Street, Glace Bay

This is a 1-bedroom, 1 bathroom, full mini home. This is suitable for 2 tenants. The mini home has a…

1 bedrooms
1 bathrooms
  • Category: House
  • Status: Available
  • Feature: Bus Route
  • Rent Period: Lease
View Listing

2 Bedrooms in House, 57 East Street, Sydney $400

57 East Street, Sydney

There are 2 furnished bedrooms available to rent in the Whitney Pier area of Sydney, beginning November 27th, 2025. Tenants…

2 bedrooms
  • Category: Bedrooms
  • Status: Available November 2025
  • Type: House
  • Feature: 2 Bedrooms
  • Rent Period: Lease
  • Amenity: Electricity
View Listing

2 Bedrooms in House, 64 Archibald Avenue, North Sydney $500

64 Archibald Avenue, North Sydney

Seeking Roommates: Tenant is looking to fill 2 bedrooms in a 3-bedroom apartment, beginning September 1st. All tenants will have…

2 bedrooms
  • Category: Bedrooms
  • Status: Available September
  • Type: Apartment
  • Feature: Parking
  • Rent Period: Lease
View Listing

2 Bedrooms in House, 73 Daley Road, New Victoria $550

73 Daley Road, New Victoria

2 single bedrooms, fully furnished and available to rent immediately. This house has 8 rooms in total, with 2 vacant…

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

2-Bedroom Apt, Barrington Street, Sydney Mines $1150

Barrington Street, Sydney Mines

This upgraded 2-bedroom apartment has been freshly painted with new floors and kitchen appliances installed. The bathroom has also been…

2 bedrooms
  • Category: Apartment
  • Status: Available
  • Feature: 2 Bedrooms
  • Rent Period: Lease
  • Amenity: Water
View Listing

2-Bedroom Apt, Sydney $1550

Sydney

Brand new 2-bedroom apartment, available to rent in Sydney. Units are heated with heat pumps and electric heat. Each unit…

2 bedrooms
  • Category: Apartment
  • Status: Available
  • Type: Apartment
  • Feature: 2 Bedrooms
  • Rent Period: Lease
View Listing

2-Bedroom Apt's, 205 Cossitt Heights Drive, Sydney $1500

205 Cossitt Heights Drive

There are 12 2-Bedroom, 1 Bath units available to rent immediately. Parking will be included in tenants rent. Utilities will…

2 bedrooms
1 bathrooms
  • Status: Available
  • Type: Apartment
  • Feature: 2 Bedrooms
  • Rent Period: Lease
View Listing

2-Bedroom House, 153 Rockdale Avenue, Sydney $2650

153 Rockdale Avenue, Sydney

This is a 2-bedroom, semi-detached house. There are 2 bedrooms per unit. The house is furnished with lightly used furniture,…

2 bedrooms
  • Category: House
  • Status: Available
  • Feature: Fully Furnished
  • Rent Period: Lease
  • Amenity: Electricity
View Listing

2-Bedroom House, 42 Macrae Avenue, Sydney $2100

42 Macrae Avenue, Sydney

This is a new house with an attached garage, available to rent immediately to 4 tenants in total. This house…

2 bedrooms
  • Category: House
  • Status: Available
  • Feature: 2 Bedrooms
  • Rent Period: Lease
View Listing

2-Bedroom House, 72 West Street, Whitney Pier $2000

72 West Street, Whitney Pier

This fully furnished, cozy 2-bedroom house, is available to rent immediately to 2 female tenants. Tenants will be responsible for…

2 bedrooms
  • Status: Available
  • Type: House
  • Feature: 2 Bedrooms
  • Rent Period: Lease
View Listing

2-Bedroom Street, King Street, New Waterford $1400

King Street, New Waterford

This 2-bedroom apartment features an open concept layout with a modern kitchen, plenty of natural light and an upgraded bathroom.…

2 bedrooms
1 bathrooms
  • Category: Apartment
  • Status: Available
  • Feature: Bus Route
  • Rent Period: Lease
  • Amenity: Water
View Listing

24 Chase Estates, Sydney River $4000

24 Chase Estates, Sydney River

This is a 4-bedroom home complete with two kitchens and two living spaces. There are 2 bedrooms that each have…

4 bedrooms
3 bathrooms
  • Category: House
  • Status: Available
  • Feature: Bus Route
  • Rent Period: Lease
  • Amenity: Electricity
View Listing

3-Bedroom Apt, 124 MacLean Street, Donkin $1800

124 MacLean Street, Donkin

This is a 3-bedroom apartment, available to rent immediately. Tenants will have heat, electricity and hot water included in their…

3 bedrooms
  • Category: Apartment
  • Status: Available
  • Feature: Parking
  • Rent Period: Lease
  • Amenity: Electricity
View Listing

4 Bedrooms in House, Sydney $550

Sydney

All bedrooms are single and available now in a large house. The house is located in downtown Sydney, near the…

4 bedrooms
4 bathrooms
  • Category: Bedrooms
  • Status: Available
  • Type: House
  • Feature: Bus Route
  • Rent Period: Lease
  • Amenity: Electricity
View Listing

Bedroom in House, 111 Victoria Street, Glace Bay $800

111 Victoria Street, Glace Bay

Colm & Black Incorporated is a newly established construction and rental property company specializing in modern, single-bedroom rentals designed specifically…

1 bedrooms
  • Category: Bedroom
  • Status: Available
  • Type: House
  • Feature: Air Conditioning
  • Rent Period: Lease
View Listing

Bedrooms in House, Ling Street, Glace Bay $500

Ling Street, Glace Bay

Several bedrooms available to rent. All utilities will be included in tenants rent. The house is a 5-minute walk to…

  • Category: Bedrooms
  • Status: Available
  • Type: House
  • Feature: Parking
  • Rent Period: Lease
  • Amenity: Electricity
View Listing

House for Rent, 20 Lameys Lane, New Victoria  $3000

20 Lameys Lane, New Victoria 

This is a 4-bedroom house that is available to rent beginning Dec 1st, 2025. The house can accommodate 6 people…

4 bedrooms
  • Category: House
  • Status: Available December 1st
  • Feature: Laundry
  • Rent Period: Lease
View Listing

Multiple 2-Bedroom Apts, 297 Rotary Drive, Sydney $1400

297 Rotary Drive, Sydney

There are 8 unfurnished, 2-bedroom apartments, which allow for 2 beds per room, therefore accommodating up to 4 tenants per…

2 bedrooms
1 bathrooms
  • Category: Apartments
  • Status: Available September
  • Feature: 2 Bedrooms
  • Rent Period: Lease
  • Amenity: Heat
View Listing

Studio Apartment, Oxford Avenue, Sydney Mines

A fully furnished studio apartment, perfect for any student wishing to have their own space. The unit has been refreshed…

  • Status: Available
  • Type: Apartment
  • Feature: Bus Route
  • Rent Period: Lease
  • Amenity: Water
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.

Related Contacts

Profile Picture
Kelsey Johnston
Residence Life Coordinator
Housing
Kelsey_Johnston@cbu.ca
902-563-1792