7 Off-Campus Housing Tips

1
7 Off-Campus Housing Tips
2

• Living off campus is a completely different
  experience to living in a McMaster accommodation.
  Youll have much more freedom, but also more
  responsibilities. To ensure that you find the
  right place, feel comfortable during your time
  there, and save money, there are some things you
  need to do.

3
1. Check Everything Before Making a Decision

• Never feel too shy to poke around when visiting
  potential housing. Look out for red flags like
  water damage, mold, broken windows, creaky
  floors, and signs of bugs.

4
2. Choose the Right Roommates

• Your best friends may not make the best
  roommates. Pick people you can trust to pay their
  share of the rent and utility bills and who want
  the same kind of lifestyle as you.

5
3. Read the Lease

• Your landlord must provide you with a lease
  before you seal the agreement. Only sign if you
  are happy about terms like the number of people
  that can live in the house, the subletting
  policy, parking, who is responsible for
  maintaining appliances, and what is required for
  the return of your security deposit.

6
4. Find Cheap Furniture

• Most places come unfurnished, which means youll
  need to acquire all the furniture yourself. The
  cheapest way to do this is to ask former
  students. The people leaving your apartment may
  be able to sell you their stuff. If not, get in
  touch with other graduates.

7
5. Plan for Home Maintenance

• You need to keep the apartment well maintained
  if you are to avoid damages. Should an appliance
  or fixture need a repair, call your landlord and
  document everything.

8
6. Prepare the Kitchen

• When you move in, purchase all the basics you
  need for the kitchen and split the cost with your
  roommates. Set ground rules about what essentials
  you will share, how youll label your food, and
  how you will divide the cleaning.

9
7. Meet Your Neighbours

• Develop a good relationship with your
  neighbours. They will be useful contacts to have
  if you ever need to borrow something (like a hand
  tool) and theyll be more likely to turn to you
  in the case of minor disputes (such as noise)
  instead of calling the police.

10

• You can avoid many of the above complications by
  living in student accommodation. For instance,
  places like West Village Suites have dedicated
  maintenance personnel and all the suites are
  fully furnished. Plus, you are only responsible
  for paying your own lease, meaning you never need
  to worry if your roommates are late paying their
  bills.