The former home of Laurentian University's presidents is now an Airbnb property

What once served as the home of Laurentian University's presidents is now a rental property with a mix of long-term tenants and Airbnb rooms which its new owner has dubbed Laurentian Manor.

Nicholas Bonderoff purchased the six-bedroom home at the edge of downtown Sudbury in May after Laurentian put it on the market due to the school's insolvency.

Ralph Parker, who was superintendent of the Frood Mine in Sudbury, had the Spanish colonial house built in 1930.

He later sold it to lumber baron Ben Merwin, and Laurentian purchased the home in 1966. At that point it became the official residence of successive presidents at the university.

The house's large living room became a hub for social events where the university would wine and dine various dignitaries visiting the city.

When Bonderoff bought the home, for $925,000, he was still a relative newcomer to Sudbury.

"I knew nothing of the history or that this house even existed for that matter," he says.

But when he saw an open house advertised for the property, he decided to check it out.

"I kind of thought that there's a potential around this house for doing something like renting rooms in a unique space, kind of like some of the bed and breakfast places that some cities have," Bonderoff said.

He moved into the house himself, and now has a few long-term tenants. He rents out the remaining rooms on Airbnb.

Bonderoff saysthe house has posed a lot of challenges since he bought it.

It was a struggle just to get financing to purchase it in the first place.

"Regular banks were not so inclined to provide financing for this house for a long list of reasons, including that they didn't actually believe I would live here," he said.

He did find a private lender, but the deal almost fell through at the eleventh hour because it turned out the federal government had a lien on the property.

"But eventually everybody somehow came to an agreement and we were able to close," he said.

After buying the home, he learned it needed a lot of repairs.

"Probably the biggest challenge I've had is the plumbing," he said.

"In four or five months, I think I've only gone nine days without having a plumber here for a water leak, or a valve, or something else."

Bonderoff sayshe has a lot of ideas for the home, and hopes he can eventually open it up to host events like wedding receptions.

As for concerns that an historic property in the city now has rooms listed on Airbnb, he saysthe home is providing housing, when it didn't before.

"Prior to me owning, it had zero people living in it," he said.

"And now you have myself, and there arethree other families living in the house. And then in addition to that, you know, three bedrooms that are kind of on Airbnb."

Not a heritage building

Local historian Paul Haynes told CBC News in an email that turning the house into an Airbnb property isn't necessarily a bad thing.

"The house was not designated or listed under the Heritage Act so there were no expectations regarding the future of the building," Haynes said.

"As well as preserving the built heritage of 179 John Street, I hope the new owner will display its history and have an occasional open house for the public to tour this historic property."