If you are studying in Waterloo and looking for off-campus housing, Fergus House is one of the first names that comes up, and for good reason. It is a purpose-built student residence on Phillip Street, set right beside the University of Waterloo, offering private rooms with en-suite bathrooms and a long list of amenities.
This guide walks through what the suites are actually like, what the rent covers, the amenities worth knowing about, and what current residents say in their reviews. Rather than just listing features, the goal is to help you work out whether Fergus House fits how you want to live, or whether somewhere else in Waterloo would suit you better. By the end you will have a clear sense of who this residence is really built for.
Quick Overview: Fergus House at a Glance
| Detail | Information |
| Location | 254 Phillip Street, Waterloo, ON |
| Nearby universities | University of Waterloo (steps away), Wilfrid Laurier (around 8-min walk) |
| Room type | Private rooms in 4-bedroom suites |
| Bathrooms | En-suite (private) |
| Amenities | Fitness centre, movie theatre, study rooms, game room, basketball court, laundry |
| Transport | Walkable to campus, on transit routes, secure bike storage |
| Bills | Furnished suites; utilities charged as a separate flat fee |
Property Overview
Fergus House is a purpose-built student accommodation run by Rez-One, set in a tall building on Phillip Street. It is designed around four-bedroom suites, where each student gets a private, furnished bedroom with their own en-suite bathroom, sharing a kitchen and living area with three flatmates.
The setup hits a sweet spot a lot of students are after: real privacy in your own room and bathroom, combined with the social side of a shared suite. The suites come fully furnished, with spacious kitchens, stainless steel appliances, large windows and in-unit climate control. It leans towards the higher end of Waterloo student housing, and it is popular with upper-year students who want comfort without giving up the community feel.
Location and Nearby Universities
Location is the headline feature. Fergus House sits immediately beside the University of Waterloo, so getting to class can be a short walk rather than a commute. That is a genuine advantage in a Canadian winter, when shaving ten minutes off an icy walk actually matters.
Wilfrid Laurier University is around an eight-minute walk away, which makes Fergus House a realistic option for Laurier students too. St. Jerome's University and Conrad Grebel University College are also close by. University Plaza, with a range of food options, is a couple of minutes on foot, so quick meals and essentials are right there.
Room Options
Fergus House keeps its layout simple: private rooms within four-bedroom suites. What sets it apart from a lot of shared housing is that the bedrooms come with en-suite bathrooms, so you are not sharing a bathroom with your flatmates.
Each bedroom is fully furnished and finished to a modern standard, with contemporary furniture and large windows for natural light. The shared kitchen and living area give you space to cook and hang out together, while the private bedroom and bathroom mean you can shut the door and have your own space when you need it. For students who find shared bathrooms a dealbreaker, this is the main reason Fergus House stands out.
Facilities and Amenities
This is where Fergus House goes beyond the basics, and it is a big part of the appeal:
- A large fitness centre with modern equipment, so you can skip a separate gym membership.
- A fully enclosed movie theatre room for film nights.
- Multiple study areas and quiet rooms for solo work or group projects.
- A game room with a pool table and ping-pong.
- An entertainment lounge and communal spaces for socialising.
- A full-size outdoor basketball court, plus other outdoor amenity spaces.
Having a gym, study space and social spots all in the building changes how you live, especially in winter. You can train, study and unwind without ever stepping outside, which sounds minor until the temperature drops and you appreciate it.
Internet, Laundry and Security
Fast, reliable Wi-Fi runs throughout the building, which matters when you are streaming lectures or submitting work against a deadline. On-site laundry means you are not hauling clothes across town.
Security is handled with electronic key entry and video surveillance throughout the building, giving you peace of mind, particularly if you are an international or first-year student living away from home for the first time. Secure bike storage is available too, which is handy in a cycle-friendly city like Waterloo.
Transport and Getting Around
Because Fergus House is right next to campus, a lot of your daily travel is on foot. For everything else, the building sits on Waterloo's transit routes, including easy access towards Laurier and the wider region, and the ION light rail and bus network make getting around the city straightforward.
If you drive, Waterloo is well connected by road, and a larger supermarket run, like a trip to T&T, is a short drive away. For most students, though, the walkable location means a car is genuinely optional.
Local Area Guide
The area around Fergus House is built for student life, which the official listings tend to underplay. University Plaza, a couple of minutes away, packs in a range of affordable food options. Beyond that, Waterloo's uptown and the strip around the universities give you cafes, restaurants, grocery stores and the usual student essentials within easy reach.
Waterloo also has a reputation as one of Canada's most student-friendly cities, partly thanks to its tech and research scene, which brings a steady flow of internships and part-time work. That mix of convenience, safety and opportunity is a real part of what you are paying for with the location.
Pricing Expectations
Fergus House sits towards the premium end of Waterloo student housing, which reflects the en-suite bathrooms and the amenities. Leasing has advertised rooms starting from around the high CAD$700s per month, with utilities charged as a separate flat fee of roughly CAD$100 per month. Contracts are generally 12-month terms, with fall move-in dates, so the room is yours across the full year rather than term time only.
Because promotional rates and availability change between intakes, confirm the current pricing and any move-in offers directly with the Fergus House leasing team before you commit. Look closely at whether utilities are bundled or separate, since that affects the true monthly cost.
Beyond rent, budget for food, transport, a phone plan and personal spending. Waterloo is more affordable than Toronto, but the everyday costs still add up, so plan around the full picture.
What Students Say: Fergus House Reviews
The Fergus House reviews are strongly positive, and a few points come up repeatedly.
Residents consistently rate the location as unbeatable, often describing it as right across from campus, which makes getting to class easy. The fully furnished, modern suites get praise, and several reviewers single out the en-suite bathrooms as worth the price compared with other buildings they toured. The amenities, especially the gym, movie room and study spaces, are frequently mentioned as a highlight. Some students say they stayed for their entire degree and recommended it to friends and family, which is usually a strong signal.
As with any shared suite, your experience depends a little on your flatmates, but the overall sentiment leans clearly towards Fergus House being one of the better options near the University of Waterloo.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Steps from the University of Waterloo, and walkable to Laurier.
- Private en-suite bathrooms in every bedroom.
- Strong amenities, including a gym, movie theatre, study rooms and a basketball court.
- Fully furnished suites and well-reviewed by residents.
Cons
- Premium pricing compared with basic shared housing.
- Utilities are typically a separate flat fee on top of rent.
- Only four-bedroom suites, so fewer layout choices.
- Contracts are usually 12 months, so you pay across the summer.
Who Should Choose Fergus House?
Fergus House suits students at the University of Waterloo or Laurier who want privacy, including their own bathroom, alongside a social suite and a strong set of amenities. If a short walk to campus, en-suite living and a building with a gym, study space and social areas matter to you, it lines up well.
It is a particularly good fit for upper-year and international students who want a comfortable, low-hassle base with security and reliable Wi-Fi built in. If you are on a tight budget or want a layout other than a four-bed suite, it is worth comparing against other Waterloo options first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Fergus House in Waterloo?
At 254 Phillip Street, Waterloo, Ontario, right beside the University of Waterloo and around an eight-minute walk from Wilfrid Laurier University.
Does Fergus House have en-suite bathrooms?
Yes. Each private bedroom in the four-bedroom suites comes with its own en-suite bathroom, which is a key reason students choose it over shared-bathroom housing.
What is included in Fergus House rent?
Suites are fully furnished, with fast Wi-Fi and access to amenities like the gym, study rooms and movie theatre. Utilities are usually charged as a separate flat monthly fee, so check the current breakdown with leasing.
What do Fergus House reviews say?
Reviews are strongly positive, with frequent praise for the location next to campus, the modern furnished suites, the en-suite bathrooms and the amenities. Many residents stay for multiple years.
How close is Fergus House to the University of Waterloo?
It is right beside the campus, so it is a short walk to class. Wilfrid Laurier University is around an eight-minute walk away.
Is Fergus House good for international students?
Yes. The furnished suites, en-suite bathrooms, secure entry and on-site amenities make it a comfortable, low-stress option for students moving to Waterloo from abroad.
How much does Fergus House cost?
Leasing has advertised rooms starting from around the high CAD$700s per month, plus a separate utilities fee. Rates change by intake, so confirm the latest pricing directly with the property.
Read Also: University of Waterloo Admission Rate
Final Thoughts
Fergus House has earned its place as one of the go-to residences near the University of Waterloo, and the reviews back that up. The combination of an unbeatable location, en-suite private bathrooms and genuinely strong amenities makes it an easy, comfortable place to live, especially for upper-year and international students.
The main things to weigh are the premium pricing and the separate utilities fee. If those work for your budget, Fergus House is a strong, low-hassle choice in Waterloo. Confirm current rates and availability with the leasing team, since the best move-in offers and rooms tend to go early.