Who This Residence Suits (and Who Should Look Elsewhere)
35 Spencer St is a shared independent house in Toronto, Ontario, offering three-bedroom non-ensuite units. It is marketed toward students who need accommodation near the city’s universities, particularly those attending the main university in the area (located in nearby Hamilton). With a monthly price range of $1,000 to $1,350 (all prices indicative — confirm with the operator), this property sits well above the city’s general starting price for student housing, which is around $265 per month. That starting figure likely reflects a different type of room or building; 35 Spencer St is a three-bedroom branded house with higher rents.
Who it might suit
- Students who prioritize a fixed-term lease of four months or more. The minimum lease period is 4 months, making it potentially suitable for a single academic semester.
- Those who want bills included in the rent — the property lists “bills_included” as a tag, which can simplify budgeting.
- Residents who value an on-site gym: the property is tagged with “gym”.
- Students eligible for the “no visa no pay” policy (tagged), which may be relevant for international applicants who are still waiting for their study permit.
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone seeking a responsive management team. The online reviews (detailed below) strongly indicate that the management failed to show up for scheduled viewings and ignored calls and emails. This raises serious concerns for prospective tenants who need reliable communication before move-in.
- Students with a tight budget. At a minimum of $1,000 per month for a room in a shared house — compared to $265 for the cheapest city listing — the price is high for the area. While the house format includes multiple bedrooms and common areas, the value proposition is weak given the reported management issues.
- Non-smokers bothered by indoor smoke. One review explicitly mentions that the “lobby / hallways reek of cigarettes”. If you are sensitive to smoke or require a smoke-free environment, this property may not meet your standards.
- Anyone who expects a professional viewing and leasing process. The pattern of missed appointments and unresponsive staff suggests prospective tenants should be prepared for complications.
- Those looking for a property close to McMaster University (the area’s primary institution) should note that 35 Spencer St is located in Toronto, not Hamilton. While the city field in our records says “Hamilton”, the physical address is Toronto, ON M6K 2K1 — about a 70 km drive from the campus in Hamilton. This may work for students who are willing to commute, but for those who need daily walking or short transit access, this is not ideal.
What Residents Actually Say
The property has a Google rating of 2.4 out of 5 based on 5 reviews. The two reviews available in our data are both negative, describing a shared experience of poor management.
Jackie Hsing (rating 1/5) wrote:
“was really excited to take a look at an apartment here to rent out, but when I showed up for the house viewing appointment there was no one here to greet us. no one picked up our phone call despite the hours clearly labeled they were open. I even tried to look for someone to help us in the lobby but there was no one wo”
Austin Chiasson (rating 1/5) wrote:
“Set up an appointment to view an apartment here. Day of, management stopped responding to calls and emails, didn’t show up to greet us. How will you get tenants if you flake on them when they’re supposed to be viewing an apartment? Clearly negligent management. Additionally, the lobby / hallways reek of cigarettes.”
Both reviewers highlight the same issue: scheduled appointments were ignored, and management was unreachable. One adds that the building smells of cigarette smoke. No positive reviews are available in our dataset. These accounts are significant because they happened at the very first stage of the rental process — viewing. If potential tenants cannot even get inside the building to see the unit, the risk of committing to a lease sight unseen is high.
Price Positioning vs Hamilton’s Starting Rates
The monthly price for a room at 35 Spencer St ranges from $1,000 to $1,350 (indicative — confirm with the operator). For context, the city’s from-price for student accommodation is $265 per month — that figure represents the cheapest option across all student housing listings in the Hamilton area. The gap is substantial: 35 Spencer St starts at nearly four times that baseline.
However, direct comparison is limited. The $265 listing is likely a different property type — perhaps a private room in a shared apartment with a lower level of amenities or a non-branded arrangement. 35 Spencer St is a “branded independent house” with tags for gym and bills included, and it offers three-bedroom non-ensuite units, meaning tenants share a bathroom. Still, the price-to-quality ratio depends heavily on the level of service and management reliability, which the reviews call into question.
If you are comparing other properties in the same city, note that 35 Spencer St’s price is at the high end for a shared house. For the same monthly budget in Hamilton, you might find a studio or a larger private room in a professionally managed building — assuming you can find a responsive landlord.
Room-Type Guidance and Lease Terms
The property offers three-bedroom non-ensuite units. That means three tenants share a common kitchen and living area, and the bathroom is shared between occupants — it is not private. No ensuite or studio options are available. This setup is typical for independent student houses, but the lack of ensuite could be a drawback for those who value privacy.
Lease duration: minimum 4 months. No maximum is specified, and the property is currently tagged as “not_available” — this may indicate it is fully leased at the time of writing. The availability from date is not given. You should always confirm exact start dates with the operator.
The “no visa no pay” tag suggests that international students who do not receive their study permit may have the option to cancel the booking without financial penalty. Verify this policy directly with the management, as the tag alone does not guarantee a straightforward process.
Booking Timing and Availability Notes
Because the property carries a “not_available” tag, it may currently have no vacancies. If you are looking for accommodation starting in 2026 or 2027, you should contact the operator to ask about future availability. The poor reviews regarding appointment management mean you should expect delays or difficulties in reaching someone. To reduce risk, consider:
- Requesting a virtual tour or a self-guided viewing if the operator offers one.
- Confirming all policies and lease terms in writing before any payment.
- Checking multiple other listings in the same price range to have a backup plan.
Given that the city has only 8 student properties listed in our system (as of the city data), options may be limited. If 35 Spencer St does not work out, look for other houses with better-reviewed management.
Is the property currently available for booking?
Based on the data tag “not_available”, 35 Spencer St does not appear to have rooms open for rent at this moment. However, tags can become outdated. You should contact the operator directly (preferably by phone and email) to ask about future availability for 2026 or 2027. Be prepared for potential communication issues, as past reviewers reported no response during working hours.
What is included in the monthly rent?
The property is tagged with “bills_included”, which typically covers water, electricity, heating, and internet. The exact scope of included utilities is not specified in our data — confirm with the operator. The gym is listed as an on-site amenity, but note that the “non_ensuite” room type means you will share a bathroom. No parking, laundry, or storage specifics are given; ask the operator for a full list of inclusions.
How far is this residence from the local university?
The physical address is Toronto, ON M6K 2K1, not the city of Hamilton that appears in our system. The primary university in the Hamilton area (McMaster University) is about 70 km away by road. Driving takes roughly 50–70 minutes depending on traffic. Public transit options include GO Transit buses and trains, but the commute would be long, often over 1.5 hours each way. If you are attending that university, consider whether this distance is acceptable for your daily schedule. For students at other Toronto campuses (e.g., University of Toronto or Ryerson), the property is in Toronto proper, but those institutions are not listed in the data — you would need to check individual transit times.
Sources & data date: 2026-07
This article is based on publicly available listing data and Google reviews collected as of July 2026. Prices, availability, and policies may change. To check current availability for 35 Spencer St or similar properties, use the on-site assistant on this page — it can look up live vacancy and booking options for you.
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