Can a student could claim their university residence fees?

[TurboTaxJennifer]

Fees for student residence are not eligible tuition fees but, if you are applying for a provincial benefit such as the Ontario Trillium Benefit, the residence fees can be used. 

In the Provincial section, on the screen titled Apply for 2018 Ontario Trillium Benefit, select Yes to the question Did you live in a designated university, college, or private school residence during 2017?

[JB629]

On the Ontario form page, are you actually required to enter the student residence fees as rent for the number of months you are in residence? 4 months. This will provide an OTB for the next year on a monthly basis?

[TurboTaxGinette]

The Canada Revenue Agency informs us that: "The OEPTC has two components: an energy component and a property tax component. You should apply for the OEPTC if you are eligible for either component. You may be eligible if you lived in Ontario on December 31, 2019, and at least one of the following applies:". For more information, here is the Ontario energy and property tax credit (OEPTC) link: https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/child-family-benefits/provincial-territorial-progra...

Depending on which province you live in, you could also receive a credit for residence fees. For example, from the Ontario Energy and Property Tax Credit, if your province of residence is in Ontario, you can get a $25 credit for living in a designated post-secondary residence shown in this link:  https://www.ontario.ca/page/ontario-trillium-benefit