About this site

So no student goes through this again.

MacHousingStories was started by a McMaster PhD student after he was locked out of his rented room in Hamilton with no notice, his belongings packed and left on the porch.

Why it exists

I paid every month in full, including my last month in advance. On October 19, 2026, the locks were changed while I was away, and I was told I had no lawful authority to enter. When I called the police, I learned that because I shared a kitchen and bathroom with the owner, Ontario’s tenancy law might not cover me at all.

I did not know that when I signed. Most students don’t. By the time you find out, it is too late to ask the right questions.

This site is the thing I wish I had found before I moved in: real accounts from students, backed by documents, with the address and the landlord named, and the practical steps that would have protected me.

What we do
1

Warn

Publish documented stories so students can check an address or a landlord before they sign.

2

Explain

Show, in plain language, where the law protects renters and where it may not — starting with the shared-kitchen gap.

3

Record

Give students somewhere to put their story on the record when official channels say it isn’t their problem.

Our standard
↳No story goes up without the documents behind it.
↳Every landlord named is offered a right of reply, published unedited.
↳Students may stay anonymous. The evidence still has to check out.
↳Corrections supported by documents are made and noted.
What this site is not

This is not a law firm and nothing here is legal advice. If you are in a housing dispute, contact the Hamilton Community Legal Clinic at 905-527-4572.

This site is not affiliated with McMaster University.

If it happened to you, tell us.

Your story can be the warning the next student needs. Write to infosysscholar@gmail.com or use the form.