Granville Hall

How many rooms are in Granville Hall? What's in the building?

Granville Hall is a boutique residence offering 30 single-occupancy rooms of varying sizes, distributed over three levels. Each level has 3 to 4 bathrooms, a fully stocked kitchen and a dining area.

The ground floor contains a common lounge, a vending machine containing cold beverages and snacks, and the Residence Coordinator's room.

The laundry room, with several card-operated laundry machines, is located in the basement level.

Parking

Granville Hall does not provide its own parking space for vehicles or bicycles. There are several parking garages, parking lots and metered parking around the residence that can be used. These parking options are not affiliated with Granville Hall and are open to the public based on various hourly, daily, monthly or annual parking fees that can be paid to the company that manages the parking space. For more information about parking options in the area, please visit our parking page.

SHORT TERM GUESTS

The nearest parking garage is Metro Park, located on Granville street within a 3-minute walk from our front door. Parking rates (before discount) can be found at http://metropark.ca/halifax/.

LONG TERM GUESTS

In downtown Halifax, monthly parking fees can range from approximately $100 to $200, depending on the location and whether it's indoor or outdoor parking.

Some nearby parking providers:
Metro Park (Indoors): http://metropark.ca/halifax/
Waterfront Parking (outdoors): https://my-waterfront.ca/getting-here/parking/halifax/

Can minors live at Granville Hall?

Students under 19 years of age are considered minors in Nova Scotia. Granville Hall can accept minors if they display a level of maturity acceptable to the residence manager and submit a release of liability form signed by the student’s parent or legal guardian. The form will be provided to the applicant after an application is received.

What are "Privacy Bathrooms"? How many bathrooms are on each floor? How many people share each bathroom?

Each of our three floors can be occupied by a maximum of 12 guests and contains four private bathrooms that are shared by the guests/students on that floor. Guests have complete privacy when using the washrooms, and the number of bathrooms on each floor ensures that guests will always find an available washroom when they need one.

One of the bathrooms on each floor is female-only and the rest are unisex. Each bathroom is a fully enclosed unit (not public stall-style bathrooms) equipped with a standing shower or bathtub, toilet, sink, mirror and hooks for towels/clothes. Some bathrooms are equipped with toilet bidet sprays for added comfort. There is enough space to dry off and change inside each bathroom, so no need to walk around in towels!

Bathrooms are cleaned and restocked with toilet paper and hand soap daily by our housekeeping staff.

Deposit and Fees

SHORT-TERM GUESTS

No deposit is required from guests who book a room for less than one month, but a valid credit card is required to confirm your reservation. Your card will be charged for the quoted room fee and taxes. Once payment is processed successfully, your will receive an email confirming your reservation.

If you selected a refundable room rate, you will be able to cancel your reservation and receive a full refund at any time up to 48 hours before arrival. If you cancel within the 48-hour window, you will be charged for a one-night stay and the remainder of your fees will be refunded.

If you selected a non-refundable room rate, you will be charged for a one-night stay if you cancel you reservation at any time before arrival.

LONG-TERM GUESTS AND STUDENTS

A deposit is required to confirm your reservation if you're booking a room for 30 days or more. Rooms are assigned on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once your payment is received and processed, you will receive an email showing that the status of your reservation has changed from "Pending Payment" to "Confirmed".

The minimum reservation period for the Fall semester is 120 days. The Fall semester deadline to submit your fees is July 1. The Winter semester deadline to submit your fees is November 1. For other start dates, fees are generally due in full at least one month prior to arrival.

If you book a room, you must pay the deposit within 48 hours and sign a lease within 5 business days of your booking. If you don't, your room will be released and another applicant may book the same room.

The deposit is non-refundable if you cancel your reservation before arrival or if you fail to submit the signed lease by the noted deadline. If you fail to show up on your check-in day without rescheduling with Granville Hall, your room will be offered to another student from the waiting list and your deposit will not be refunded.

When you arrive, the deposit becomes your damage deposit for the room and will be refunded to you at the end of your stay following a satisfactory room inspection.

What is your refund policy?

Deposits: Your confirmation deposit is non-refundable. If you pay it and cancel your reservation, not show up to occupy the room, or miss the deadlines to submit the signed residence agreement and residence fees, then the deposit is forfeited.

Meal Plans: If a resident departs after a calendar month has started, the meal plan fee for that month will not be refunded in part or in whole. However, any meal plan balance remaining on account for future months will be returned to the resident. Similarly, any fees on account for other amenities, services or consumables purchased or subscribed to for an ongoing month are non-refundable, but fees for future months of said items will be refunded.

Room Fees: Residents are required to sign a residence agreement/lease, which is a binding room rental lease for the entire period they booked the room for. This is a “fixed-term” lease and residents are not able to break or quit the lease before the end date noted on the lease. Therefore, residents are responsible for the rent amount of the entire lease period and any room fee payments received for each semester are non-refundable.

Granville Hall may make exceptions in cases of extreme circumstances or emergencies, or if a student provides proof that they have terminated their program of study before it started. These exceptions may be granted solely at the discretion of the Residence Director.

What happens to the confirmation deposit I paid at registration?

Your confirmation deposit becomes your security/damage deposit, and is returned to you after your room is inspected for damages upon your departure. The deposit is not applied to your residence fees.

Will my room be cleaned?

Your room will be cleaned once a week. On that day, our custodian staff will enter your room during the day, clean the room, empty your garbage, remove your sheets and pillow cases for washing and provide you with a clean set of sheets and pillow cases.

Common areas, such as bathrooms, kitchens and lounges, are cleaned daily. Students are encouraged to maintain clean and tidy common spaces and dispose of their own garbage to help our cleaning staff keep your living environment enjoyable for everyone.

** COVID-19 NOTE **
For long-term bookings (30 days or more): Due to the pandemic, and until further notice, housekeeping service for individual rooms has been suspended to maintain the health and safety of residents and staff. Residents are responsible for cleaning their own rooms and sheets/linen. Bed sheets are no longer provided and should be purchased separately from Granville Hall or supplied independently by the resident. Each bed is supplied with two pillows and a duvet. Long-term residents must supply their own bed sheets, pillow and duvet covers. You may also select the option to purchase a linen pack from Granville Hall when you create your reservation on the website.

Is it noisy? Do you have quiet hours?

Granville Hall is located in the centre of downtown Halifax, surrounded by other buildings and street activities. Granville street is a one-way secondary street parallel to the main traffic artery on Barrington street. The block where Granville Hall is located is occupied by government, business and residential buildings that are mainly active during business hours (8am to 5pm). On occasion, you may experience noise from an early morning waste collection truck. Therefore, while generally quiet, expect ambient urban noise if you leave your window open at night.

For all residents to enjoy our shared-living environment, we maintain a "quiet hours" policy. During quiet hours, guests and residents are asked to contain any noise to within their rooms or the common lounge on the first floor, and to be mindful about disturbing other residents. Excessive noise is not tolerated at any time, within or outside quiet hours.

Quiet hours are from 10:00pm to 8:00am Sunday night to Thursday night, and 1:00am to 8:00am on Fridays and Saturdays. If someone reports noise during quiet hours, the Residence Manager will respond and ask those causing the disturbance to relocate to the common lounge or reduce the noise. If visitors are present who do not have a room reservation at Granville Hall, the Residence Manager may ask them to leave the residence.

What if I have a conflict with one of my room or floor mates?

Students are encouraged to address any issues with each other openly and respectfully. If you're uncomfortable in communicating your concerns or resolving your conflict directly with your room/floor mate, you can speak to the Residence Coordinator. Our RCs are trained in conflict resolution and will try and help you and your room/floor mate resolve your conflict.

Am I allowed to smoke or use other tobacco products?

Due to the shared-living environment and the close proximity of rooms, Granville Hall is a smoke-free environment. Smoking interferes with the reasonable enjoyment of the premises by other residents and is particularly problematic to residents who have certain respiratory conditions. Smoking any product (cigarettes, pipes, cigars, hookah, cannabis etc.) is prohibited anywhere inside or directly in front of the building. Use of e-cigarettes or vaporizers is not permitted in Granville Hall.

Do you have a curfew or "lights-out" policy?

No. Students are able to access the residence at any time using their keys.

What is your policy on illegal substances?

Granville Hall has a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal substances, drugs, etc. Students who are caught with illegal substances may face eviction from the residence.

Can I terminate my residence agreement and leave before my booking period ends?

You can exit your accommodations at any time during your lease, but you are still responsible for rent payments for the remaining period of your lease. If you've already paid for the full semester/year, then no refund will be issued for the remaining period in your lease. Students and guests staying for 31 days or more are required to sign a residence agreement/lease upon arrival for the entire period of their stay. This is a “fixed-term” lease and tenants are not able to break or quit the lease before the end date noted on the lease, and are responsible for full payment of the lease (or finding an approved subletter) if they wish to leave before the end date of the lease.

Can I pick my own room?

Your room will be assigned to you by the Residence Coordinator according to the room type you reserved. If other rooms are available, you may request a different room on your check in date.

Does Granville Hall have insurance to cover my belongings?

Our insurance does not cover any damages that occur to student belongings for any reason. Students are encouraged to obtain separate tenants' insurance to cover their belongings and/or other liabilities in the unlikely case of theft, starting a fire, water damage, etc. If you're an international student who is opening a Canadian student bank account, ask your bank for more information about tenants insurance upon your arrival in Halifax.

What happens if one of my belongings is lost or stolen?

Granville Hall is not responsible for any lost or stolen items. Students must exercise due diligence in securing their belongings, valuable items or large amounts of cash. All rooms are equipped with locks and students should not leave their doors unlocked or rooms unattended if they have highly valuable items in the room.

Am I allowed to have a pet, such as a cat or a dog?

Pets of any kind are not allowed in residence.

Is there somewhere to store my luggage?

Your room will have enough space under the bed and on top of the wardrobe to store one large bag and one or two additional smaller bags.

Am I expected to separate my garbage?

Recycling is an important part of a sustainable future. It is also required by the city's municipal laws. Each floor in Granville Hall is equipped with recycling bins and students should separate their garbage and put it in the correct bin. A clear guide of what goes in which bin will be provided.

What do I do in case of emergency?

If you encounter a fire, medical or criminal emergency - dial 911 first. Next, alert the Residence Coordinator or Residence Director.

If you encounter a fire, close any doors between you and the fire, pull the nearest fire alarm and evacuate the building following the fire evacuation procedures.

How can I activate a fire alarm? Where can I find a fire extinguisher?

If a fire breaks anywhere in the building without being noticed, the sprinkler system will be activated and the alarm will sound automatically.

If you notice smoke or see a fire, there are clearly marked fire alarm pull-stations and fire extinguishers on every floor. Proceed to the nearest fire alarm and pull down the lever, then evacuate the building.

Please note that activating a malicious false or nuisance fire alarm can result in a minimum fine of $500 and eviction from Granville Hall.

Are there cooking facilities in Granville Hall?

Each floor in Granville Hall is equipped with a common kitchen containing a fridge, freezer, microwave, toaster, coffee maker, dishes and cutlery.

Shared stoves are provided on the second and third floor only and are available for use by all residents of Granville Hall.

Can I light candles in my bedroom?

For fire safety and to avoid wax damage to your room's furniture and floors, we prohibit the use of candles and any other open-flame items in Granville Hall. Battery operated candles are recommended instead of real candles. These artificial candles come in a variety of shapes and colours, and can provide great ambiance while being safe to use.

Can I cook or use electric plate/stove in my room?

Any form of cooking or electric hot plates or stoves are a fire hazard and are prohibited from use in any rooms other than the common kitchen area. Students who use cooking equipment in their room may receive a written warning followed by eviction from residence if the issue continues to occur.

What are grounds for eviction?

A student who violates the residence's rules may receive up to two written warnings. On the third infraction, a student may receive a notice that their residence agreement has been cancelled and that they must evacuate the residence within 5 to 15 days, depending on the issue.

A student's lease agreement may be terminated if rent is more than 15 days late. A 15-day notice of termination will be provided to the student in this case.

The decision to terminate a lease is at the discretion of the Residence Director.

For more serious infractions, such as violence towards another student, harassment, causing deliberate property damage to the residence, or engaging in illegal activities, the Residence Director may issue notice to a student without any initial warnings.

What happens if an individual causes damage to the property?

The cost of fixing damages caused by the misuse of equipment or caused by deliberate intent will be charged to the responsible student. In addition, the student may receive a warning or be evicted from the residence, depending on the seriousness of the damage/incident.

Can I have guests in my room or the common lounge?

Yes. However, you must accompany your guests at all times. Your guests are your responsibility, including any damages or disturbance they cause.

You may have one overnight guest for up to a maximum of 2 nights at any one time, and the guest should not be using your room as a place of short or long term accommodations. Granville Hall's rooms are meant to accommodate one person only.

** COVID-19 NOTE **
Our normal guest policy is suspended for the duration of the pandemic. We are currently following public health guidelines on guests, visitations and gathering sizes while pandemic restrictions are in place. Please enquire with staff about the current policies for having guests in the residence.