SEPT 15 - OCT 13, 2017 VOLUME 33, ISSUE 09, FREE
EDMONTON EDITION
Your nexthome is here!
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AXXESS 930 – 156 St.
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• Spacious suites • Luxury finishes including tile floors and granite countertops • Six Appliances • Underground Parking Available • Located on a transit route • Easy access to South Edmonton Common, Anthony Henday • Close to shopping, parks, schools & much more
* Current advertised pricing reflects incentive application of $200 per month on a one year lease. Terms and conditions apply. Prices and specifications may change without notice. Errors & Omissions excepted. Please visit our website at www.bentallkennedyresidential.com for more information.
F U S E R E N TA L S 780.851.9335 I 2105 - 68 STREET SW
www.fuserentals.ca
SEPT 15 - OCT 13, 2017 | RENTERS GUIDE 3
Editor's Note
EXPLORING KNOTTWOOD
Elisa Krovblit Senior Editor Yellow Pages NextHome Email: elisa.krovblit@ypnexthome.ca Twitter: @ElisaKrovblit
MORE PHOTOS ONLINE nexthome.ca/knottwood
A lot to learn SEPTEMBER IS AN ESPECIALLY busy
month in the rental industry for communities with post-secondary schools. Going to college or university, many people find themselves needing to move in order to attend a specific school. For many students, this means they are leaving the nest for the first time. Sure, September moves include other reasons, but there’s a mass movement in of students. This issue we’ve sourced some great advice for students, but it really does apply to everyone who’s new to moving and not quite familiar with the process, yet. From reading leases to doing the actual move, we’ve got some great advice for you.
+ get social 4 nexthome.ca
The one thing that can’t be stressed enough is that the rental industry is a business. There are rules. Legally binding rules. Knowing these rules can help you enjoy your rental experience. Rules help you to avoid conflict as well as arm you with your rights so that you won’t be taken advantage of – or an easy target for a scam. The three most important things to remember are: If it’s not in writing, it’s hard to prove; if in doubt, check with your province’s rental board; and if paying cash, always get a receipt. In this issue of Renters Guide, we’ve got some great rental living advice, plus more on NextHome.ca, making it easy to make your move.
Interact with us on social media: nexthome
contents SEPT 15 - OCT 13, 2017 | VOLUME 33 ISSUE 09
VICE-PRESIDENT & CHIEF PUBLISHING OFFICER
Caroline Andrews PUBLISHER & GENERAL MANAGER
Shawn Woodford DIRECTOR, CONTENT & EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Jennifer Reynolds MANAGING EDITOR
Wayne Karl SENIOR EDITOR
Elisa Krovblit CONTRIBUTORS
Jackie Marchildon Sonia Bell
MEDIA CONSULTANT
Heather Harke 780.456.1153 heather.harke@ypnexthome.ca
SALES CO-ORDINATOR
Ranee Pal Ranee.Pal@ypnexthome.ca
SENIOR MANAGER, DISTRIBUTION
Dwayne Rutherford
ON THE COVER
Your nexthome is here!
NATIONAL CIRCULATION MANAGER
John Jenkins
SENIOR PRODUCTION MANAGER
Anthony Majetic PRODUCTION COORDINATOR
Swinder Jodhka GRAPHIC DESIGNERS
Swinder Jodhka, Mike Terentiev
10
12
in every issue
neighbourhood profile
04 Editors' notes
06 Knottwood
A quiet family community
07
Area maps
18
What's online
by Amy Hancock
advice
10
Moving
Moving to university or college requires smart organization and planning by Chuck Resnick
+ online NEIGHBOURHOOD
HOME SEARCH
12 MORE +PHOTOS +VIDEOS +ADVICE +INSPIRATION +TRENDING
MAPS
Rental rantings
A renter’s guide to dealing with noisy neighbours by Jennifer Braun
14
Trending
Off to school? Students, study up on your rental rights by Elisa Krovblit
WITH
DYNAMIC
P.O. Box 458 Station Main, Edmonton, AB T5J 2K1 nexthome.ca
LOOK FOR THE CIRCLE
16
ADVERTISING Call 416.626.4200 for advertising rates
and information. CIRCULATION Highly targeted, free distribution system aimed at real estate buyers using street level boxes and racking, plus door-to-door insertions in key audience segments. Call 1-855-826-4200 to discuss distribution opportunities. COPYRIGHT 2017 All rights reserved by Yellow Pages Homes Limited. Reproduction in any form is prohibited. Contents of this publication are covered by copyright and offenders will be prosecuted under the law. TERMS Advertisers, editorial content and Renters Guide are not responsible for typographical errors, mistakes or misprints. All prices are correct as of press time and are subject to change without notice. E. & O. E. EDITORIAL Submissions from interested parties will be considered. Email to elisa.krovblit@ypnexthome.ca DISCLAIMER: The views expressed by the columnists in this publication are not necessarily those of the publication.
Apartmentality
The right match: Roommate compatibility testing by Anne Marshall SEPT 15 - OCT 13, 2017 | RENTERS GUIDE 5
West Anthony Baranow Batu Blackburne Bl Brander Garde Neighbourhood Profile Trail North Ca Square Industr Campus Clove Industrial East Eastgate Busin Research and Evansdale Eve Garside Indust Heights Granv Henderson Es Huff Bremner Kennedale Ind Perle Lago Lin Lymburn Lynn McArthur Indu Area Menisa M Park Southeas Newton North Oliver Ormsby Pembina Place Queen Alexan Terrace Ritchie River Valley M River Valley Wh Rural North Ea Big Lake North Skyrattler Sout Spruce Avenu Sunwapta Indu Ellerslie The P Greens Wedge Westbrook Est Wild Rose Wils Yellowhead C Allendale Amb is Edmonton’s largest box-store Argyll Armstro shopping centre, is right next door. MORE PHOTOS AND STATS ONLINE Belle Rive Bell Cinemas, restaurants, shopping, ypnexthome.ca/knottwood Quill Estates B groceries and other services are Brookside Brow all here. Schools, medical centres, SouthCamero churches and parks are right in McDougall Ch Crawford Plain KNOTTWOOD IS A COMMUNITY in older but well-cared for family Knottwood and the Grey Nuns located in Millwoods in southeast dwellings. More than 85 per cent Community Hospital is close by. You Industrial Don Edmonton. It consists of three of houses in Satoo and Menisa are can also do some shopping at the Industrial Edm neighbourhoods: Ekota, Satoo and owner-occupied and many of those less busy Millwoods Town Centre. southeast Elm Estate Industri Menisa. It’s between 66th street have children at home. Millwoods Road South intersects Gorman Indus and South Edmonton Common, There are three large parks, the community, taking you to 66th Industrial Hair with 23rd avenue bordering north several playgrounds and schools towards Whitemud Drive or 91st Hodgson Holl and Anthony Henday to the south. in Knottwood. If you’re walking street to the Anthony Henday Ring Jamieson Plac It’s a quiet neighbourhood with down the curving residential streets Road. Travel down 23rd Avenue to Kiniski Garden many schools and parks, with you’ll be sure to hear the sounds of get to South Edmonton Common, Ridge Leger Le Ridge Maple R the convenience of having major children playing at recess or pass or to make your way south of the McNamara Ind amenities and services close by. a group of teens riding home on city via the Queen Elizabeth Hwy. Ravine - South The average income is higher their bikes. It feels comfortable here, II or north to Whyte Avenue and Mitchell Indus in Knottwood compared to other though the main drags can get a downtown on Gateway Boulevard. Northwest Edm Millwoods neighbourhoods, little busy, and it’s obviously a family Bus routes follow the same roads, Ozerna Papa according to Census of Canada neighbourhood. intersecting with the Millwoods Business Park figures. Residents live comfortably, South Edmonton Common, which Transit Centre. Edmonton No Elsinore Empir Gariepy Garne Industrial West Amy is a freelance writer and communications professional. Her insights and extensive familiarity with Industrial Haze Edmonton make her a great guide for getting to know local communities. Homesteader Keheewin Ken 6 nexthome.ca YPNEXTHOME.CA Kirkness Klarva Farms Industri Berry Mayfield Meadowlark P
Knottwood
A quiet family community
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West York Youngstown IndustrialAbbottsfi eld Alberta AvenueWEST Alberta Park Industrial Aldergro WESTCorridor NORTH CENTRAL NORTH EAST ndale Ambleside Anthony Henday Anthony Henday South Anthony Henday South West Anthony Henday Southeast Anthony Henday Terwille yll Armstrong Industrial Aspen Gardens Athlone Avonmore Balwin Bannerman Heights Sherwood Bearspaw Beaumaris Belgra Athlone Hudson AbbottsfieldBaranow KildareBaturyn Beacon Aldergrove Glenora Downtown le Rive BellevueCalder Belmead Belmont Belvedere Bergman Beverly Heights Bisset Blackburne Blackmud Creek Blackmud Creek Ravine Blue Quill B Inglewood Balwin McLeod Crestwood Summerlea Westmount Oliver Boyle Street Brander Gardens Breckenridge Greens Brintnell Britannia Youngsto ll Estates Bonaventure Industrial Bonnie Doon Southcentral Carlisle Mayfield Canon Ridge Newton Granville The Hamptons Boyle Street Mary Calgary Park okside Brown Industrial Bulyea Heights Caernarvon CalderQueen Calgary Trail North Calgary Callaghan Callingwood North Callingwo Carlton Oxford Glengarry Sifton ParkTrail South Lynnwood Thorncliff McCauley Capilano McQueen uthCameron Heights Ridge Canora Canossa Carleton Square Industrial Carlisle Carlton Carter Crest Casselman Northeast Cen Glenora Canon Wellington Highlands York Parkview Westridge Dougall Chambery Charlesworth Clareview Business Park Clareview Campus Clover Bar Area Cloverdale Coronet Industrial CPR Irvine CPR W wford Plains Crestwood Cromdale Cumberland Daly Grove Davies Industrial East Davies Industrial West Dechene Delton Delwood Domin Page 15 Page 11 ustrial Donsdale Dovercourt Downtown Edmonton Duggan Dunluce Eastgate Business Park Eastwood Eaux Claires Ebbers Industrial Edmis ustrial Edmonton Municipal Airport Edmonton Northlands Edmonton Research and Development Park Ekota Ellerslie Southeast Ellerslie Indust theast Elmwood Elmwood Park Elsinore Empire Park Ermineskin Evansdale Evergreen Forest Heights Fraser Fulton Place Gagn SOUTH WEST SOUTH CENTRAL SOUTHFalconer EAST HeightsSURROUNDING AREA ate Industrial Gainer Industrial Gariepy Garneau Southcentral Garside Industrial Girard Industrial Glastonbury Glengarry Glenora Glenwood Gold rman IndustrialAllendale East GormanLansdowne Industrial West Grandview Heights Granville GreenfieldMill Greenview Griesbach Haddow Hagmann Est Avonmore Woods Gibbons Grovenor Fort Sask. Spruce Avenue Henderson Holyrod ustrial Hairsine Bearspaw Hawin Park Estate Industrial Hazeldean Estates Heritage Valley Area High Park High Park Industrial McKernan Cloverdale Summerside St. Albert Sherwood Park Highlands Hillvi ForestHudson Heights Huff Ottewell dgson Hollick-Kenyon Homesteader Bremner Estate Industrial Idylwylde Industrial Heights Inglewood Jackson Heig Brookside Holyrood Pleasantview Forest Heights Tamarack Spruce Grove Beaumont Fulton Place McKernan mieson Place Jasper Kildare Kilkenny DugganPark Kameyosek Twin Brooks Keheewin Kenilworth Kennedale Industrial Kenilworth Kensington Walker KernohanDevon Leduc Killarney King Edward P Park LaStrathcona ski Gardens Kinokamau AreaPark KirknessWindsor Klarvatten Perle Lago Lindo Lambton Lauderdale Laurier Heights L Hodgson Plains Windsor Maple Ridge Industrial Wild Rose Lansdowne CalmarLarkspur Morinville ge Leger Lendrum Place Lewis Farms Industrial Lorelei Lymburn Lynnwood MacEwan MacTaggart Area Magrath Heights Area Malmo Plains Ma ge Maple Ridge Industrial Matt Berry Mayfield Mayliewan Industrial McCauley McConachie Area McIntyre Industrial McKernan McLe PageMcArthur 9 Page 3 Namara Industrial McQueen Meadowlark Park Meadows Area Menisa Meyokumin Meyonohk Michaels Park Mill Creek Ravine - North Mill Cre ine - South Mill Woods Golf Course Southeast Mill Woods Park Southeast Mill Woods Town Centre Southeast Miller Minchau Mistatim Indust chell Industrial Montrose Morin Industrial Morris Industrial Newton North Central Edmonton North Glenora Northeast Edmonton Northmo rthwest Edmonton Norwester Industrial Ogilvie Ridge Oleskiw Oliver Ormsby Place Ottewell Overlanders Oxfo SEARCH ONLINE erna Papaschase Industrial Industrial Donsdale Dovercourt Downtown Edmonton Duggan Dunluce Eastg nexthome.ca Edmonton MunicipalAirp iness Park Eastwood Eaux Claires Ebbers Industrial Edmiston Industrial monton Northlands Edmonton Research and Development Park Ekota Ellerslie Southeast Ellerslie Industrial southeast Elmwood Elmwood P nore Empire Park Ermineskin Evansdale Evergreen Falconer Heights Forest Heights Fraser Fulton Place Gagnon Estate Industrial Gainer Indust Renters Guide isGarside organized geographically: North West,Glastonbury North Central,Glengarry North East,Glenora SouthWest, South Central, East, West and iepy Garneau Southcentral Industrial Girard Industrial Glenwood Gold South Bar Gorman Industrial East Gorm Surrounding Area. The tabs at Greenfi the top of page identify the areaGrovenor in which you are searching and the typeIndustrial of accommodations. ustrial West Grandview Heights Granville eldeach Greenview Griesbach Haddow Hagmann Estate Hairsine Hawin Park Est ustrial Hazeldean Henderson Estates Heritage Valley Area High Park High Park Industrial Highlands Hillview Hodgson Hollick-Kenyon Holyro mesteader Hudson Huff Bremner Industrial Idylwylde Industrial Heights Inglewood For MoreEstate Information on Advertising Please CallJackson Heights Jamieson Place Jasper Park Kameyo heewin Kenilworth Kennedale Industrial Kensington Kernohan Kildare Kilkenny Killarney King Edward Park Kiniski Gardens Kinokamau Plains A SEPT 15 - OCT 2017 | Leger RENTERSLendrum GUIDE 7 kness Klarvatten La Perle Lago Lindo Lambton Industrial Lansdowne Larkspur Lauderdale Laurier Heights Lee13,Ridge Place Le ms Industrial Lorelei Lymburn Lynnwood MacEwan MacTaggart Area Magrath Heights Area Malmo Plains Maple Ridge Maple Ridge Industrial M ry Mayfield Mayliewan McArthur Industrial McCauley McConachie Area McIntyre Industrial McKernan McLeod McNamara Industrial McQue adowlark Park Meadows Area Menisa Meyokumin Meyonohk Michaels Park Mill Creek Ravine - North Mill Creek Ravine - South Mill Woods G
780.456.1153
SPRUCE GROVE
Amberwynd a pa rtm en ts
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to the Trileasure Centre on any new 12 month leases until September 30, 2017
1 & 2 bedrooms available
Telus
package & rent incentives Reduced security deposit
Completely renovated Backs on to walking trails Rents from $895 Professional on-site Staff Close to several schools Family living at its best DATS Friendly Wheelchair friendly Cat friendly Gym onsite
609 King Street, Spruce Grove 780.960.0065 Accredited Management Organization (AMO)
www. AyreOxford.com
WITH 1 YEAR RENTAL AGREEMENT
TheAlbany
BACHELORS $950 1 BEDROOMS $1050 2 BEDROOMS $1300 Please Call For Your Appointment
87 St NW
90 St NW
96 Ave NW
95 Ave NW
• Newly renovated • Hardwood floors • Cover and open parking • Adult building • Exercise room, pool table, dart board • Excellent downtown location • Heat, power and water included in rent • Quiet, secure building • Cat friendly upon approval
10155 - 116 ST., EDMONTON
780-488-6060
Wake up to your nexthome!
SEPT 15 - OCT 13, 2017 | RENTERS GUIDE 9
SOUTH CENTRAL
RENT
INCENTIVES
Advice | MOVING
Moving to university or college requires smart organization and planning By Chuck Resnick
MORE ADVICE ONLINE ypnexthome.ca/news/advice
FOR MANY UNIVERSITY or college
students, a new school means a new place to live. Moving away from home for the first time can be a stressful change. However, taking a few painless steps can make the transition to the new “home-away-from-home” go more smoothly. Moving children to their university or college of choice for the first time can leave parents and their student children physically and emotionally drained, if unprepared. It’s easy to get frustrated when faced with packing and condensing belongings which will ultimately have to fit in a small apartment, likely shared by a few other people. Here are seven tips for parents and students to make the process easier: • Start early – Don’t wait until the last minute to collect boxes and moving supplies. Start packing nonessential items immediately, such as seasonal clothing. Clearly label all boxes so unpacking is easy. • Try to condense – Go through the new student’s belongings before packing. Reduce the amount of items to move to start the school year clutter-free. • Use the right supplies – Shop around for competitive prices on supplies. Avoid using old shopping bags, laundry baskets or topless 1 0 nexthome.ca
boxes to transport belongings. Items can get tossed around during the move and if loose items fall out, people can get hurt. Also, beware of using grocery store boxes – they stored food and can carry bugs. • Pack similar items together – Label the boxes so they are easily identified. This will help the student prioritize unpacking without making a huge mess. • Don’t over-pack boxes – Remember, the heavier the item, the smaller the box. • Use original packaging for large electronics when possible – The safest way to transport electronics like a computer, TV, mini-fridge or a microwave is to use the original
packaging. If it’s not available, wrap the electronics in anti-static bubble wrap. • Recycle – Buying reusable supplies like high-quality containers is good for parents’ wallets and for the environment. Most corrugated cardboard boxes can be easily folded and stored during the school year. Plastic storage bins with lids are also a good option. The containers parents buy this year can be reused and recycled throughout their student’s University career. Chuck Resnick is Vice President, Marketing & Operations at Two Men and a Truck – Canada. Visit twomen.ca
YOUR CHOICE!
ALE ANDER PLA A 11915 – 34 St. 1, 2 & 3 bedroom suites
780.413.4486
PARK IEW ESTATES 116A Ave. & 32 St. 2 & 3 bedroom townhomes
780.413.6007
MARLBOROU H MANOR 14535 – 54 St. 1 & 2 bedrooms suites 3 bedroom townhomes
780.415.5549
Save up to 2 months free rent OR move in to a newly renovated suite* TELUS Internet & Optik TVTM included.
Some conditions apply.
PINETREE ILLA E 14707 – 77 St.
*Offer only valid at select Communities for a limited time.
1 & 2 bedroom suites
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WEST
YOUR HOME,
Advice | RENTAL RANTINGS
A renter’s guide to dealing with
noisy neighbours By Jennifer Braun
1 2 nexthome.ca
MORE ADVICE ONLINE ypnexthome.ca/news/advice
RENTAL LIVING HAS ITS PERKS, but of the few compromises that come with this living culture, living with noise might be the biggest. It doesn’t matter if you have to deal with basketball all-stars living up-stairs or young beer pong champions living next door, you know the noise can take a toll on your life. Still, you also know you can’t get 100 per cent away from it. So, what do you do? The laws around neighbour noise aren’t clear cut. Before you blow a fuse and prance over to your neighbours to help get the frustration out and make yourself feel better, calm down and assess the situation. Ask yourself: Are my neighbours that loud or are my walls just paper thin? Are my neighbours being unreasonably loud or just annoyingly loud? You see, sometimes there’s a grey zone and it all comes down to perspective. Once you’re done assessing the situation, use this guide to help you deal with rental living noise.
If your walls are paper thin If your rental’s walls are paper thin, you’re probably annoying your neighbour as much as they are annoying you. Talk with your neighbour about the noise issue and try and agree on a reasonable timeframe where you can both get noisy activities done. Even with paper-thin walls, you’ll still be able to get your beauty sleep if you can both agree to not vacuum after 8 p.m.. If possible, rearrange your furniture. Moving big furniture like your couch and storage wardrobe against the wall you share with your neighbour can actually help dampen some of the noise. If the noise issue is your downstairs neighbour, a plush rug can also help dampen the noise and keep the peace.
If you’re easily annoyed Playing music at three in the afternoon isn’t completely unreasonable and doesn’t merit a formal complaint. Living in a building with other people just comes with compromises. With that said, if your neighbour’s living routine is annoying you, think of ways that you can escape it. Get out of your rental more by getting work done at a café or catch an afternoon movie with friends. If you want to stay in, try and drown out your neighbour’s noise with your own background noise. The sound of your own TV and music will feel less annoying. Finally, a good investment might just be a pair of earphones or earplugs. Sometimes you just have to help yourself out. If your neighbours are unreasonable If your neighbours are actually being totally unreasonable – playing loud music into the wee hours of the night or have an uncontrollable barking dog– it’s time to pull out the big guns. Again, assess the situation and write down on paper specific times and dates when your neighbour took the noise too far. If telling your neighbour to keep it down doesn’t solve the problem, present the evidence to your landlord. Until you can get the issue sorted out, resort to helping yourself out with earplugs. Hopefully you don’t have neighbours from hell and this simple guide can keep you sane, at least until your lease is up!
Want to share your ways to steer clear of the noise? Or do you have questions about rental living in general? Email us at AskRentersGuide@ ypnexthome.ca - perhaps the answer you need will be in the next Rental Rantings!
Jennifer Braun is a freelance lifestyle writer from Montreal. When she isn’t writing about fabulous things like her city and its fashion scene, she’s watching Sex and the City reruns and planning her next big story. Follow Jennifer on Twitter @justbejealous and find her blog at justbejealous.com SEPT 15 - OCT 13, 2017 | RENTERS GUIDE 13
Trending
Off to school? Students, study up on your rental rights By Elisa Krovblit THE NEW SCHOOL YEAR HAS BEGUN, and for many students in college and university, it means leaving Casa del Mom ’n’ Dad and moving off to a new apartment at school. It’s usually the first time leaving home, having your own place and having to pay all the bills. Students should enjoy and make the most of this newfound freedom, but they should also be aware of their rental rights and responsibilities. One of the first things students should learn is the basics that are included in the provincial rental laws. Regardless of which province you live in, there are laws that will help guide you to understanding your rental rights and responsibilities. Each province differs slightly in their rules, so it’s important to understand the rules in the province in which you will be residing. Basic rights: Entry – Your landlord must give you notice to enter your apartment and cannot just come in whenever they want (unless a valid emergency is involved). Rent – There are rules dictating how much rent your landlord can charge, including how often the rent can be raised and how much notice the landlord has to give you before raising the rent. Pets – Some provinces have pet restrictions, and if it’s in the lease, you can be evicted for having pets. Other provinces allow pets and anything pertaining to pets in the lease is void. Find out what applies to you. Deposits – Some provinces permit a deposit only equal to last month’s rent – and this money can only be applied to the last month’s rental payment. Some provinces allow damage and/or pet deposits, up to a legal limit. Repairs and maintenance – The landlord is obligated to keep the apartment and common areas clean 1 4 nexthome.ca
and in good repair. Know the process for submitting maintenance requests. Don’t feel you need to live in unhealthy, dangerous or otherwise sub-par conditions because you’re a student. Locks – Neither you nor the landlord can change the locks to lock the other out. Eviction – There are numerous valid reasons for eviction, but each includes a legal process that needs to be followed. Once the legal process is completed, the only one that can change the locks and physically remove the tenant is the bailiff or sheriff. Make sure you’re not getting put out illegally. Your responsibilities: Sign a lease – This is a contract that defines all expectations – from the cost of rent to what is included. It also outlines the landlord’s expectations. This contract is enforceable and you need to stick to the terms or you can be evicted. It cannot include illegal terms. Make sure you understand what you’re signing. If it’s not in writing, then it doesn’t count. Repairs and maintenance – If problems arise, contact your landlord immediately. This is both for your own comfort and for the protection of the property. Many small problems can turn into major issues if left unremedied, and you’re obligated to look after the property. Terminating residency – When you want to move out, you need to give proper notice. There are forms that you can use, provided by your local Landlord and Tenant agency or provincial services agency. There are also specified notice periods set by each province. If you do not give your landlord the proper notice, you may be on the hook for rent payments until the proper terms of termination are met. Human Rights – Everyone is protected under the Canadian Human Rights
Code, as well as the provincial code. You cannot be discriminated against for your age, sex, sexual preferences or gender identity, marital status, religion, ethnicity or many other basic principles. How to ensure your rental rights Make sure you get a copy of the lease you signed at the time of signing, and keep this document. If any issues arise, contact your landlord in writing. Keep a log of any times you need to contact your landlord. This is important if the issue needs to be escalated or you feel you’re not being treated fairly. A log showing repeated requests with no response will stand up as evidence if you need to pursue matters more formally. Make sure you always get receipts for your rent – at the time of payment, especially if you’re paying cash. Keep all documentation of any expenses incurred due to issues that are the landlord’s responsibility. Treat your landlord and neighbours with consideration and you should enjoy your first rental experience and your first time away from home, on your own. Most landlords treat their tenants well and look after their responsibilities, but as a new renter and a student, take you rights and responsibilities seriously. If you cannot resolve issues with your landlord, or want further information about the rental laws specific to your province, visit your province’s landlord and tenant association or government office. *Dorm rooms and student campus residences do not fall under provincial rental legislation.
YOUR CHOICE!
LORELEI HOUSE 16304 – 100 St. 1 & 2 bedroom suites
780.414.0155
WARWICK APARTMENTS 12004 – 162 Ave. 1, 2 & 3 bedroom suites
780.413.4471
Save up to 2 months free rent OR move in to a newly renovated suite* TELUS Internet & Optik TVTM included.
BOARDWALK ARMS A & B Some conditions apply.
*Offer only valid at select Communities for a limited time.
9550 – 129B Ave. Bachelor, 1, 1 + den & 2 bedroom suites
bwalk.com
780.414.6209
NORTH CENTRAL
YOUR HOME,
Advice | APARTMENTALITY
The right match:
Roommate compatibility testing By Anne Marshall
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IF YOU’RE SHARING A space with someone else, unless you’re both on completely different schedules, they’re going to become a pretty big part of your life. Girlfriends and boyfriends come and go, but especially in a big city, roommates can be with each other for years – even decades if the lease is good enough. If you’ve been “set up” by friends, it’s easy to find out about the other person’s habits and foibles before you let them sign the lease. But how can you ensure that cool-seeming stranger who answered your ad won’t become your new worst enemy once the lease is signed? I just happen to be a professional matchmaker, and the similarities that run between a love match and a roomie match are astounding, so I’m going to offer my professional matchmaking advice on finding that perfect roommate. These five topics can guide your roommate compatability testing – and are ideal to cover before you go making any yearlong commitments.
1. Are you lark, or an owl? If you’ve barely hit the sack at 3 a.m. after a Walking Dead marathon and your roomie rises at 4:45 a.m. for an early morning run, it’s never going to work unless you’ve got an extremely soundproof kitchen and bathroom. Better to find someone who keeps similar hours. 2. How do you play the social game? How’s your social life? A single introvert may not pair up very well with somebody who hosts a party every month and has friends “drop by” at random. Make sure you ask before the first spontaneous after-work session occurs in your living room. 3. Where are your boundaries? Can I borrow your boots? Do you mind if I use some of this soy sauce? Some people are extremely comfortable with sharing not only a space, but also the items within it. I once had a roommate who – after I’d told her she could wear a particular skirt – took to dressing herself daily from
my wardrobe, never bothering to ask permission. Boundaries around everything from the food in the kitchen to the contents of your closet need to be clearly delineated. 4. Who’s a bathroom hog? How much longer will you be in there? When two people share a lone bathroom, shower length, makeup application time and the duration of your depilation sessions all become a matter of some urgency. Talk to your potential cohabitant about their personal habits, especially if you both leave for work around the same time. 5. Housekeeping expectations? When was the last time you cleaned your bathtub? If your answer is “this morning, right after my shower,” and your prospective roommate responds incredulously, “you clean your bathtub?” it’s not a match. Be upfront about housekeeping standards, or one of you might end up feeling like the other one’s mom.
Anne Marshall has lived in New York City, Glasgow, Greensboro, NC and Toronto, and somehow ended up back in the fabulous small city of Guelph, where she grew up. She loves nothing more than exploring new areas, peering into other people’s apartments, houses and yards. 1 6 NEXTHOME.CA
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