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Housing & Conference Services

Living At McMaster

How to Lease at 10 Bay Graduate Residence

Want to live at 10 Bay Graduate Residence?

All students and postdoctoral fellows interested in living at 10 Bay Graduate Residence can apply for access to the housing portal through the Residence Application.

Within 48 hours, we will verify your student standing at McMaster, and then you can proceed to choose your apartment at 10 Bay Graduate Residence. Current vacancies are listed here and updated daily.

Before You Accept Your Housing Offer:

Please note that 10 Bay Graduate Residence is currently under construction.

  • When you are selecting an apartment, it is important you consider the move-in date and lease length. Not all floors will be available move-in until construction is finished.
  • Your monthly rent includes utilities, internet, and access to all building amenities. It does not include a meal plan or parking.
  • To minimize any construction noise in the building, there will be no direct overhead work.
    • For example, if you live on floor 6, there will be no construction on floor 7.
  • For September 1st, we expect that 10 Bay Graduate Residence’s lobby, building amenities, and the parking garage will be available.

Who Can Lease at 10 Bay Graduate Residence:

Students with a verifiable Graduate program, upper-year or postdoctoral status can apply for access to 10 Bay Graduate Residence apartments through the Residence Application Portal.

Bay has adopted a phased occupancy model to where the building is undergoing construction; students occupy areas of the building in different phases.

10 Bay 2 Bed Type H Floor plan 10 Bay Two Bed Type B Floor Plan 10 Bay Two Bed Type F Floor Plan

Graduate and Go – End Your Lease Early

If you are going to graduate, complete your program, or postdoctoral appointment before the end of your lease, you can end your contract early with a few steps.

If you are approved to move out early based on program completion/graduation/appointment end, you will not be held liable for rent payment following your scheduled move-out date if:

  • You have completed at least 12 months of your lease.

  • You have notified Residence Admissions Office, in writing, at least 30 days before your intended move-out date and our move-out day must be on the last day of the month.

  • You have provided documentation, such as a letter from your faculty or program, to support that you have completed your program completion or graduated.

A portfolio with the text

How to Choose Your 10 Bay Graduate Residence Apartment.

Step 1: 

  • Log into the residence application portal with your MacID and password. 
  • Select the graduate residence application in the Portal to begin your application.

Step 2. 

  • Complete the information section of the residence portal.
  • Choose your apartment:
    • Please take note of your apartment’s occupancy date and lease length during selection.
    • Pay $300 deposit. The deposit is credited to your Mosaic Student Account and goes towards your 1st month’s rent payment.
  • Housing & Conference Services will be in touch with details regarding your move-in.
  • Your first month’s rent will be due on your student account on the first day of the month.

Important Leasing Information

  • For leases longer than 12 months, rent rates may be increased if at least 12 months have passed since the tenant first moved in or since the tenant’s last rent increase. 
    • We will provide you with written notice of a rate increase 90 days before they are to take effect.  
  • Your lease will include information regarding student conduct rules and regulations. Your lease may be terminated if you fail to uphold your student responsibilities.
  • You are responsible for securing tenant insurance before moving into 10 Bay Graduate Residence.

Phased Move-In Dates and Lease Lengths:

Move-In Date Offered Lease Lengths
Sept 1, 2023
  • 12 month lease
    • Sept 1, 2023 to Sept 1, 2024 at 12 p.m.
Oct 1, 2023
  • 12 month lease
    • Oct 1, 2023 to Oct 1, 2024 at 12 p.m.
  • 22.5 month lease
    • Oct 1, 2023 to August 15, 2025 at 12 p.m.
Nov 1, 2023
  • 21.5 month lease
    • November 1, 2023 to August 15, 2025 at 12 p.m.
Jan 3, 2024
  • 12 month lease
    • January 3, 2024 to January 3, 2025 at 12 p.m.
  • 19.5 month lease
    • January 3, 2024 to August 18, 2025 at 12 p.m.

No construction work will occur directly overhead of occupied floors.

Cancellation Policy

  • If you wish to cancel your residence before move-in, the date you cancel will impact what refund, if any, you receive.
  • To cancel, please log-in to the residence portal and proceed to the Application Status page to complete the online cancellation step.

Note (June 30, 2023): We have updated our pre-move-in cancellation policy for September and October leases to be more flexible. See the changes below (the table to the right has also been updated):

Leases beginning September 1, 2023

  1. If cancellation is received on or before August 1, 2023: the applicant receives a FULL deposit refund, with no rent fees owing.
  2. If cancellation is after August 1, 2023: the applicant will not receive a deposit refund but will not owe any rent fees.

Leases beginning October 1, 2023

  1. If cancellation is received on or before September 1, 2023: the applicant receives a FULL deposit refund, with no rent fees owing.
  2. If cancellation is after September 1, 2023: the applicant will not receive a deposit refund but will not owe any rent fees.
Date of Cancellation Refund
For September 1 leases: If cancellation is received on or before August 1, 2023 Applicant receives a FULL deposit refund, no rent fees owing
For September 1: If cancellation after August 1, 2023 Applicant will not receive a deposit refund, but will not owe any rent fees.
For October 1 leases: If cancellation is received on or before September 1, 2023 Applicant receives a FULL deposit refund, no rent fees owing
For October 1 leases: If cancellation is received on or before August 1, 2023 Applicant will not receive a deposit refund, but will not owe any rent fees.
For November 1 leases: If cancellation is received on or before September 1, 2023 Applicant receives a FULL deposit refund, no rent fees owing
For November 1 leases: If cancellation is received after September 1, 2023 Applicant receives NO deposit refund and is responsible for 60 days of rent. If a new tenant leases the apartment before the rent owing is due, no payment is required.
For January 3 leases: If cancellation is received on or before November 3, 2023 Applicant receives a FULL deposit refund, no rent fees owing
For January 3 leases: If cancellation is received after November 3, 2023 Applicant receives NO deposit refund and is responsible for 60 days of rent. If a new tenant leases the apartment before the rent owing is due, no payment is required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Application Criteria and Process

10 Bay Graduate Residence is a graduate student residence and all McMaster graduate students can request access through the housing portal.

10 Bay Graduate Residence apartments are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

10 Bay Graduate Residence residence spaces do not require first and last month’s rent. The deposit fee is $300. This is 50% less than Housing & Conference Services’ regular deposit fee.

The deposit is credited to your Mosaic Student Account and goes towards your 1st month’s rent payment. 

 

A discounted rate for entire 2-bedroom apartments are available for couples and families who meet the Family Criteria. Family Discounts are outlined on our Pricing and Floor Plans page.

Building Amenities & Features

Students interested in 10 Bay Graduate Residence parking must visit the McMaster Parking Services website.

To purchase parking, please follow the login steps and proceed by selecting ‘order permit.’ Please be mindful that students must select ‘Transponder’ as their permit category on the appropriate step. Only those who have confirmed their space in our 10 Bay Graduate Residence will have the option for this parking lot.

After purchasing a transponder, students must contact the Parking Services at parking@mcmaster.ca office to be added to 10 Bay Graduate Residence parking.

10 Bay Graduate Residence has 24-hour security on-site, a front desk and live-in professional McMaster professional residence life staff to support any concerns.

Service animals as defined in McMaster University policy, must be pre-approved to live in 10 Bay Graduate Residence by Housing and Conference Services. All other domestic animals or pets are not permitted in 10 Bay Graduate Residence as per McMaster policy in order to provide an allergen-free living space for everyone.

10 Bay Graduate Residence is part of McMaster’s Smoke-Free Campus, and smoking tobacco is not permitted on McMaster University property. The policy documentation and further FAQs about the Smoke-Free Campus policy can be found on the McMaster web site.

Lease Agreement Terms

Tenants are able to renew a lease provided certain conditions are met and there was no rent payment or conduct issues during the period of the preceding lease.  

  • You will receive a reminder at least 90 days before your existing tenancy will end with a deadline to submit an application for a lease renewal for subsequent terms, but such application is not guaranteed on the basis of previous occupancy.  
  • With the approval of Housing & Conference Services and your faculty, a lease can be renewed for subsequent terms. If your renewal request is approved, you will be required to sign a new lease. Once the lease re-application/lease signing deadline has passed, any apartments for which renewed leases have not been signed will be offered to other applicants. 

If an applicant wants to move-out before their lease end date, they may do so by providing 60 day advance written notice to confirm their move-out date.

The applicant will be held financially responsible for 60 days of rent payments. If a new tenant leases the apartment before the rent owing is due, no payment is required.

OR:

If you are going to graduate, complete your program, or postdoctoral appointment before the end of your lease, you can end your contract early with a few steps.

If you are approved to move out early based on program completion/graduation/appointment end, you will not be held liable for rent payment following your scheduled move-out date if:

  • You have completed at least 12 months of your lease.

  • You have notified Residence Admissions Office, in writing, at least 30 days before your intended move-out date and our move-out day must be on the last day of the month.

  • You have provided documentation, such as a letter from your faculty or program, to support that you have completed your program completion or graduated.

If an applicant’s status is revoked or changes, they will be given notice and will be required to move-out. The applicant will remain financially responsible for the remainder of their lease agreement until a new tenant moves in to the unit.

Provided the person you wish to sublet to meets the eligibility criteria to live at 10 Bay Graduate Residence, you can submit an application for sublet to Housing & Conference Services. Tenants who will be living off campus for a minimum of four (4) months (consecutive) but wish to return to their rental apartment at later date may request to sublet their apartment while they are away.

  • sublet occurs when a tenant moves out of the rental unit, lets another graduate student live there for a period of time, but returns to live in the unit before the tenancy ends. If approved by Housing & Conference Services, this is not a lease and does not imply any contractual relationship between Housing & Conference Services and another graduate student who sublets an apartment, and you as the leaseholder are responsible for making all monthly payments for the apartment.
  • Sublettees who are not graduate students will automatically be denied from subletting the unit.  Sublet terms are typically approved at 4 to 6 months in duration.
  • Persons who sublet who wish to become tenants must complete the residence application and may or may not be offered a lease.  If they are not selected, they will need to move out at the end of the sublet term.  Their application is treated as all other external applications.