Finding and signing a lease
On Jan. 20, a rental housing fair was held in the UC, with representatives from a variety of organizations willing to offer friendly and helpful advice. The Ontarion spoke with some housing experts for tips on signing a lease.
1. Make a list, check it twice:
It’s important to do your research before you head out to view potential housing, and have a rental checklist with some key questions prepared ahead of time. “Always come prepared to rent. So you want to come in, ask the right questions: what’s the rent; where’s the bus stop; are utilities included; what kind of utilities – because people don’t understand that electric is a lot more [expensive] than gas; how long the lease is?” said Michael Christie, Property Manager at Vici Properties.
2. Like your landlord:
When it comes to choosing a place to live, you’re not just choosing the property; you’re choosing a landlord as well. Make sure that your landlord is reliable and attentive, since they will be in charge of dealing with any issues that come up – you want them to be easy to communicate with if something is in need of a repair. Watch out for absentee or slum landlords, and trust your first impressions. “Go with your gut, it’s all about intuition,” advised Allana McComb, Senior Peer with Off-Campus Living. A landlord should not pressure you into signing anything prematurely. “A lot of students don’t know their rights under the Residential Tenancy Act, so they’re signing all these things they think are legal, but there’s no merit to them at all,” said McComb.
3. Housemates:
Living with your best friends may seem like a surefire way to have a fun year, but it is most important to live with people who have similar habits to avoid conflict. Consider choosing housemates who have similar sleep, study and socializing habits, and similar levels of cleanliness. Nothing erodes the bonds of friendship like a weeks worth of dirty dishes piling up in the sink. “That kind of resentment can cause roommate issues,” said McComb.
4. Money matters:
Once you’ve found the perfect place, in a great location, with the right people, at the right price, it’s time for the least fun part: it’s time to write some cheques. Landlords will ask for you to pay last month’s rent when you sign the lease. You don’t have to pay the first month’s rent until the start of the lease period (for 12-month leases, often this is May 1). The landlord may also ask tenants for post-dated cheques, which can be an easy way to keep on top of payments. “It shows a paper trail; it shows that you actually paid for your rent,” McComb explained. “Never pay with cash because it’s a lot harder to prove that you’ve paid something.” Also note that it is illegal for the landlord to demand a damage deposit.
5. Take your time:
While you may be feeling pressured to find a place as soon as possible, some of the panic is the result of unnecessary hype. “The biggest mistake is there’s this hype around not having enough housing, and so students jump on the first house that they see, or if the landlord pushes a little, they sign,” McComb said. It is recommended that students check out at least five houses before making a decision. “We definitely tell students to wait. Guelph has a surplus of housing, so there’s more houses than students that need housing,” explained McComb.
So don’t rush into anything; you can wait until mid-February or the beginning of March to sign a twelve-month lease. Even if you don’t find success instantly, the odds are in your favour that something will work out. If you have any concerns about student housing, or if you’d like someone to review a lease before you sign it, visit Off Campus Living on the main floor of the UC.