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his time of year is usually when students begin the search for an off-campus rental, although this year is posing as a much more competitive and expensive time to be entering the student housing market. Many students are worried about finding any place, let alone being able to afford monthly rent. We interviewed Dr. Paul Anglin and two first-year students to bring you tips to ease the process. Once you’re set to sign your lease, don’t forget to review the landlord laws at the end of the article. Professional Insights Dr. Paul Anglin is a professor of real-estate at the Lang School of Business and Economics, with a focus on the process of buying and selling properties. He has provided helpful advice for students currently searching the market for a rental. “Most university students have limited experience with selecting a place to live.” Anglin strongly recommends speaking with upper year students who have more insight on the process, like finding the right area to live, and might be able to provide advanced information on rentals that are becoming available. When considering a rental, Anglin suggests “talk[ing] with the landlord and see[ing] if you would be comfortable with them, especially since you would need to talk with them in case of a problem.” Anglin reminds us that houses are assets worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. You are in competition with many others, “So, why should a landlord pick you?” He recommends that when
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communicating with landlords, be as presentable as you can, including over email. Show that you are a clean and respectful person when walking through the place, to show how you would take care of it if you were actually living there. It can be perplexing to many students when they don’t get the house they want. Anglin explains that students have to distinguish themselves. “If you know somebody who lives there currently then mention their name, “ he said. “If you will be living in a house then offer to shovel the snow.” Students have different criteria when seeking a rental, and this has created gaps in the cost and types of units available. It might be valuable to focus on your personal criteria, like area, cost and upkeep, as this can influence the direction of your search. Maybe you’ve already found a listing, but don’t know if it is legitimate or not. Anglin says that scams exist, but they are rare. “The most common scam that I hear of is renting places that do not exist,” said Anglin. “Verify that the place actually exists and that the person who takes your money actually looks after it.” Many students might be wondering why they can’t find a place. “The sad truth is that the process of building more places to live often takes longer than it takes to finish an undergraduate degree,” said Anglin. If you’re frustrated with the rental search, you’re not the only one. Here’s what other students have to say about finding a place to call home for next year. The Student Experience
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First-year students Amanda Veltman and Hannah Collins have been trying to find a house for next year. Veltman is studying an Honors Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with Co-op, and Collins is a Bachelor of Arts and Sciences student. Veltman and Collins agreed it can be a pain to look for housing. It’s “very, very stressful,” said Veltman. “[It’s] time consuming… I’m not sleeping. I’m dreaming of landlords. It’s horrendous.”
"They don't warn you how hard it's going to be" Collins said that looking for a rental has definitely not been easy and has been more of a headache than anything else. “They don’t warn you how hard it’s going to be,” said Collins. Many students might be wondering how long it takes to find a place and how to even approach the task. Veltman started looking during Nov. of last year through checking on the cannon, kijiji, places4students, Facebook marketplace, realtor.ca, rentola, and various different websites. She’s “met 2 good landlords. The rest
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are indifferent or some are standoffish.” Her group of 4 put their names in for around 16 houses and found a place this Feb. Collins says she and her 3 roommates started looking Dec. 2022 and got their place Jan. of this year. She stresses to be on top of the new listings, which are often posted at night. For students, finding a roommate does not have to be a hassle. Veltman met two girls during O-week and saw whether it would be good for them to live together. They then reached out to another person to move in with, and have a 5th person backup, who posted on the Cannon that they are looking for a place. Collins said she talked with her current roommates and also found someone living across the hall in residence. “You can live with people you don’t know, but it can be a bit of a gamble. You just have to make sure you are compatible,” she said. Although student housing may seem like a nightmare, there are some tips you can follow to make it easier. Veltman recommends to“start as early as possible. Be assertive with landlords, email them. Have multiple options going on at once, so that you have backups. If you need parking spots, make sure the place comes with parking spots. Be willing to compromise. ” Collins echoed these thoughts. “Don’t put off the housing hunt…Don’t get disheartened,” said Collins. “Make sure you know how many people you are looking to live with. Be ready to sign right off the bat, like that day. Check to see if utilities are included, and
if the place has wifi. Figure out what you need, and what you can compromise on. We have a tenant living in our basement, but we’re ok with it.” General Landlord Laws The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing states the Renting Rights in Ontario. The Government of Ontario describes the standard lease as a requirement for most residential tenancy agreements. Here are some relevant Landlord Laws to know: • The rent increase guideline for 2023 is 2.5% on rentals first occupied before Nov. 15, 2018 • It is the responsibility of the landlord to keep the property in good state of repair • A landlord can not shut off or interfere with the supply of vital services: heat, electricity, fuel, hot or cold water. Regardless of the state of the unit when a tenant agrees to rent • Landlords may enter the unit after providing 24 hours notice to do general repairs, show the unit to prospective renters and to carry out an inspection • Landlords may enter without notice in the case of an emergency, if they have the consent of the renter, or the lease requires the landlord to clean the unit • The Landlord Tenant Board can resolve conflicts between tenants and landlords out the rental process, and they are great to consult if you need further clarification or support. Their website offers a pdf titled Learning Your Lease which outlines
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