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Moving to London, Ontario
London, Ontario, Canada
A London, Ontario moving reference with utility account steps, school boards, newcomer appointments, housing support and local service contacts.
Key information
For a move to London, Ontario, Canada, confirm your housing, who pays each bill and your travel route. Set up any utility account you need, find your waste schedule and contact the correct school board. The checklist and contacts below cover these steps and local settlement support.
On this page
Moving checklist
- Before you move
Check your home, bills and daily journey.
- When you arrive
Set up services and find your collection day.
- As you settle in
Join the library and find local support.
| Task | What to do | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | Confirm the address, move-in date and which bills are included. | Your landlord or housing provider |
| Electricity and water | Open or transfer an account if these bills are your responsibility. | London Hydro |
| Daily travel | Check the trip to work or school, including the journey home. | London Transit |
| Waste | Look up the collection schedule for your address. | City Zone Finder |
| Library | Bring identification and proof of your address. | Your library branch |
| Newcomer help | Ask about settlement and language services. | City settlement directory |
| School registration | Contact the board for your chosen school system and address. | School board registration office |
| Child care | Apply for a place; apply separately for fee subsidy if needed. | Regional waitlist and City subsidy service |
This reference covers household services and local support. Complete the tasks that apply to your household. Utility responsibility and building services depend on your housing agreement.
Sources: London Hydro: start, stop or transfer service · London Transit riding and accessibility guide · City collection schedules and exceptions · London Public Library card requirements · City settlement and language service directory · City school registration and settlement support · City child care applications
Housing costs and neighbourhood information
Before choosing an area, list the places you need to reach each week. Compare the full journey, including walks to bus stops, transfers and the return trip. Try it at the time you will usually travel.
The City publishes neighbourhood profiles with population, housing, education and income information. The current profiles use the 2021 Census. They are a historical snapshot, not a measure of today’s rent or a safety score. Their planning boundaries may be wider than the neighbourhood names people use.
Housing costs vary with location, size and what is included. Check current listings and the City’s housing guide. A city-wide average cannot tell you what a specific home will cost.
- Check whether groceries and a library are easy to reach.
- Ask how building waste collection works and where bins are stored.
- Confirm the total monthly cost, including any separate bills.
- Visit the street and test the journey before committing where possible.
Sources: City neighbourhood profiles · City guide to finding housing
Electricity and water account setup
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| Telephone | 519-661-5503 |
| Customer Service hours | Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| Billing email | BillingSupport@LondonHydro.com |
London Hydro lets you open, close or transfer electricity and water accounts online. First confirm which bills you must pay. In a rental, some may already be included.
- Confirm with your landlord or housing provider which accounts are your responsibility.
- Sign in or register for MyLondonHydro.
- Choose Move In/Out/Transfer and follow the screens for your address and move.
- Contact Customer Service if you need to add a second applicant.
Sources: London Hydro new account steps and support · London Hydro: start, stop or transfer service
Get a free London Public Library card
London residents can get a free library card. The library has 16 locations. For an in-person card, take two pieces of identification, including one with your current address. If you do not have the usual ID, ask staff about other card options.
A temporary online eAccount gives access to digital resources before you visit a branch. Library cards also open up learning tools, not just books.
Settlement and language services
Quick comparison and full source records
| Provider | Help described by the City |
|---|---|
| London Cross Cultural Learner Centre | Orientation, resettlement help and language assessment |
| LUSO Community Services | Settlement support and community programs |
| Northwest London Resource Centre | Settlement and employment-related help |
| South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre | Settlement and community programs |
| YMCA of Southwestern Ontario | Orientation, English instruction and newcomer youth programs |
| Collège Boréal | Settlement, orientation and language-related training |
| Carrefour Communautaire francophone de London | Services for French-speaking residents |
Settlement services help people new to Canada find local services and settle in. Ask the provider which programs you qualify for, what documents to bring and which languages are available.
London Cross Cultural Learner Centre
505 Dundas Street
Orientation appointments cover housing, education, language learning and local services. Complete the provider’s intake form; walk-in orientation appointments are no longer available.
- Help described by the City
- Orientation, resettlement help and language assessment
Sources: City settlement and language service directory · CCLC orientation appointments
LUSO Community Services
1193 Oxford Street East, Unit 2
LUSO Community Services: Settlement support and community programs.
- Help described by the City
- Settlement support and community programs
Northwest London Resource Centre
27A-1225 Wonderland Road North, Sherwood Forest Mall
Northwest London Resource Centre: Settlement and employment-related help.
- Help described by the City
- Settlement and employment-related help
South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre
1119 Jalna Boulevard
South London Neighbourhood Resource Centre: Settlement and community programs.
- Help described by the City
- Settlement and community programs
Sources: City settlement and language service directory · City community location data · City open data terms
Collège Boréal
142 Fullarton Street
Collège Boréal: Settlement, orientation and language-related training.
- Help described by the City
- Settlement, orientation and language-related training
Carrefour Communautaire francophone de London
920 Huron Street
Carrefour Communautaire francophone de London: Services for French-speaking residents.
- Help described by the City
- Services for French-speaking residents
Newcomer orientation appointments
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | 505 Dundas Street, London, ON N6B 1W4 |
| Telephone | 519-432-1133 |
| cclc@lcclc.org | |
| Appointment request | Use the intake form on the orientation services page |
The London Cross Cultural Learner Centre offers orientation about housing, education, language programs, documents and local services. Complete its intake form to request an appointment. Its current page says walk-in appointments are no longer available.
Ask the provider to confirm your program eligibility, language needs and documents before your appointment.
Sources: Cross Cultural Learner Centre orientation appointments
School boards and registration support
| System | Board |
|---|---|
| English public | Thames Valley District School Board |
| English Catholic | London District Catholic School Board |
| French public | Conseil scolaire Viamonde |
| French Catholic | Conseil scolaire catholique Providence |
Contact the board for registration, school boundaries, entry rules and required documents. Your address and chosen school system matter. A nearby school is not always the school assigned to your address.
The City directs newcomer families to their school board for a Settlement Worker in Schools referral. This support can help families understand school services and local resources.
City service requests and housing assistance
| Need | Contact | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| General City help | 519-661-2489 or 311 within London | Finding the responsible City service |
| Service London portal | service.london.ca | Reporting waste, road, sidewalk and other City service issues |
| Bylaw complaints | 519-661-4660 | Bylaw concerns; phone hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. |
| Bylaw email | enforcement@london.ca | Submitting a bylaw concern outside phone hours |
| Housing Access Centre | 519-661-0861; hac@london.ca | Housing assistance information and application guidance |
For a service request, provide the address or nearest intersection and a clear description. Keep the request number for follow-up. Housing assistance has its own eligibility and waiting rules; contacting the centre does not confirm a housing place.
- Submit a City service request
- Rental housing, repairs and tenant help
- City financial, food and housing assistance directory
Sources: City contacts and service requests · City financial, food and housing assistance directory
Questions about moving to London
Where can I get help after moving to London, Ontario?
Start with the City’s after-arrival guide. It connects you with settlement services and information on housing, schools, child care, health services and other daily needs.
Is a library card free in London?
Yes, it is free for City of London residents. Bring ID and proof of your current address, or ask staff about other options if you do not have them.
How do I choose a neighbourhood without a car?
Compare actual journeys to the places you use most. Check departure times, transfers, walks and the last journey home using London Transit’s schedules.
How do I set up electricity and water when moving to London?
First confirm which bills your lease makes you responsible for. Use MyLondonHydro to start or transfer service for your move-in address and date. Contact Customer Service if you need to add a second applicant.
What do I need for a London library card?
For an in-person resident card, bring two pieces of identification, including one showing your current address. Ask staff about other card options if you do not have the usual documents. A temporary eAccount gives access to digital resources.
Does my child attend the school nearest our new home?
The closest school may belong to a different board or attendance area. Give your address to the board for your chosen school system and confirm the assigned school, program and registration documents.
Do London neighbourhood profiles show current rent prices?
No. The City profiles use the 2021 Census. They help explain population and housing patterns, but they do not show the asking rent for a home today or provide a neighbourhood safety score.
Source: City neighbourhood profiles
Can I walk into the Cross Cultural Learner Centre for orientation?
Its orientation page asks newcomers to complete an intake form to request an appointment and says walk-in appointments are no longer available. The centre is at 505 Dundas Street. Use its appointment instructions before travelling.
Source: Cross Cultural Learner Centre orientation appointments
Who handles general City service requests in London?
Use Service London or call 519-661-2489, or 311 within London. For a report, give the address or nearest intersection and explain the issue. Keep the request number so you can follow up.
Does a child care application include financial help?
No. Finding a child care place and applying for fee subsidy are separate tasks. Start with the regional child care application and use the City subsidy process if you need help paying. Neither application confirms a place by itself.
Source: City child care applications
Related services and scope
- Getting around London: buses, cycling and parking
- London garbage, recycling and Green Bin guide
- Library services, rooms and printing
- Child care and family support
- Parks and free things to do
- Find local jobs
- Find local events
- City guide to services after arrival
This page covers local service setup. It does not cover immigration decisions, health insurance eligibility or detailed rental law. Use the City’s after-arrival directory to find the relevant service for those questions.