Tartu College Student Residence

It feels like living in the middle of a construction site. I asked to change rooms and was told I would have to pay for the change. The woman I spoke with was very moody. When I moved into this room, they said they were giving me the best room, but the noise is so bad that I can't stay in it after 6 AM.

The location is a real plus for students: Tartu College is right beside UTSG, next to Spadina Station, and a short walk from St. George Station. It isn't affiliated with UofT. Enrollment was straightforward: call, sign the forms online, transfer a deposit for the last month, and a room is secured. Paying rent monthly can help if you don't want to pay everything upfront. The on-site diner serves good food, and its staff are friendly. Suite cleaners were friendly too and came twice a week. Each tenant gets a pantry with a mini fridge, which helps keep food secure. My suitemates were trustworthy, so we didn't need to lock ours, though that may vary. For $1300/month, though, the “fully furnished” suite with shared spaces felt expensive for what was included. Washrooms and kitchens had older, worn furniture and appliances. The common kitchen is small, with no extra appliances like toasters, blenders, or air fryers. Larger, more open common areas are only for premium suites. The “newly and fully furnished” upgrade cost another $100/month, yet had unfinished details, including exposed wiring and cabinet doors that couldn't open fully because they were misaligned. Maintenance could also be slow. If something breaks on a weekend, you may have to wait until the next weekday for repairs, which is inconvenient with utilities this old. Some showers have raised floors instead of recessed ones, so water can escape the shower area, and there's no extra drain for it. Standard rooms lack air conditioning and can get uncomfortably hot in summer. Several construction projects were right outside my window during my stay, though that seems common in downtown Toronto. There is no accessible entrance ramp. Several laundry machines were out of order, and some needed their doors opened and closed multiple times before a cycle would resume. Fire alarms are sensitive and can go off easily, especially in kitchens. Notices ask residents to keep suite doors closed to prevent false alarms, but they still happen unexpectedly. I'd rate the experience 2/5. The location is excellent, but the cost, maintenance delays, and facility problems make it hard to recommend without significant improvements.

The renovated room was clean and seemed well maintained, with sturdy, modern-looking furniture. It was on the small side, though. The AC dripped when I first switched it on, but then stopped. The hallway smelled from the garbage chute, and WiFi in the suites was poor. Decent value for the money, and a great location.

For about $950/month, it was a decent place to stay, and probably worth it compared with paying extra for a campus dorm. The cleaning staff did a great job keeping the shared areas clean. Fire alarms went off often, which I expected in a student residence. Rooms on the building's south side can get quite warm even in winter unless you pay extra for a climate-controlled room.