For most first year students, now is about the time to start looking for off-campus housing. The process for looking for student housing can be a lot of fun—it’s an excuse to get out of studying and spend some time with future roommates. However, when looking for houses it’s easy to get lost in imagining all the parties you’re going to throw and forget to check for functioning fire alarms and safety hazards. When looking for an off-campus house, take your time, be thorough, and don’t settle for the first place you see. Here is a list of things to look for during your housing hunt.
Safety
Check for working fire and carbon monoxide alarms on every floor, designated fire escapes, and functioning locks on windows and doors. If there are basement bedrooms, make sure that the windows in the basement open and are big enough for a person to escape through. I also recommend asking the landlord if past tenants may still have keys to the front and back doors. If the answer is yes, ask for the locks to be changed. Finally, check for mold and rodents. Mold often occurs around windows, and can also be detected by a musty smell. Open kitchen cupboards and check under furniture for any sign of traps for rodents.
Additional Fees
Is hydro included? Are there maintenance fees? What about a data plan? Hydro is something that is best to be included as a consistent bill in your monthly rent, rather than one that fluctuates from month to month—especially if you’re living with more than one other person. Water adds up quick, and you don’t want to be constantly bickering with your roommates about shower times.
Read the contract
What are your landlord’s thoughts on subletting? How about guests? How does overnight parking work? What if you want your partner to come live with you for a week? How many tenants does the contract say are allowed to live in the house? What are the rules on communication between landlord and tenant? What if you have to break your contract? What are your landlord’s rules on painting or changing anything in the house? What about pets? Who’s responsible for clearing snow? Before reading the actual contract, take everything your potential landlord says with a grain of salt. Not everyone is going to try to rip you off, but some will, and the best thing you can do is be aware. Don’t make decisions on the spot—go home and sleep on it. Talk to somebody you trust if you’re not sure about something. Always read the fine print.
Location
How far are you from the university? Is there a direct bus route, or is there a transfer involved? Is there a grocery store nearby? Will you need to live close to where you work? Are you close to students? Some neighbourhoods in Guelph have a dense student population, while others are geared toward families or a retirement population.
Finding the right place to live takes research and time, but the end payoff can often be rewarding. If you’re going to call a place your home for the next year, make sure to give the search the time it deserves, and enjoy it!