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 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

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, Sydney $750

Sydney

House located in the B1P 1Y7 area of Sydney.   1 Cozy, private bedroom for rent, on the second floor…

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

2-Bedroom Suite, 33 MacKillop Avenue, Coxheath $1400

33 MacKillop Avenue, Coxheath

2-Bedroom Suite, available to rent beginning November 1st, 2025. Suite is located on a quiet, dead end street, across from…

2 bedrooms
  • Category: Suite
  • Status: Available November 1st
  • Feature: Laundry
  • Rent Period: Lease
View Listing

3 Bedrooms in House, Park Street, Sydney $650

Park Street, Sydney

3 Rooms available to rent in private home, beginning December 1st, 2025. Rooms for rent to Female students; bright second floor…

3 bedrooms
  • Category: Bedrooms
  • Status: Available December 1st
  • Type: House
  • Feature: Bus Route
  • Rent Period: Monthly
  • 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

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

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

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 in House, Cossitt Heights Drive, Sydney $850

Cossit Heights Drive, Sydney

1 bedroom in home, available to rent to 1 male tenant immediately. Tenant will have utilities, parking and WIFI included…

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

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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