Even though we are only approaching the end of 2018, many students are starting to think of their living arrangements  for the following school year.  Living in residence for the first year gives you the security of a new place where you find your surroundings in a new community.  However, for many, residences is expensive and not ideal.

So, with the University of Guelph hosting its annual off-campus housing fair in November of 2018, it is a good time to ponder over your options.  In this article there are some good pointers to consider when looking for your home while attending University.

1.  Be Organized I know this sounds simple, but you would be surprised at how many things you will be needing to think of. How well do you know the person(s) you will be living with? Will you be ready to put a deposit on an unit as soon as you find a suitable place? Did you start thinking about a place early enough? What area(s) are you interested in?  Do you have enough money earned to afford the rent and extra costs?  Where is the local stores if I need to buy food and other necessities?
2. Transportation Going to school can be costly with transportation.  Many of the off campus housing in the City of Guelph is located in the south end of the city.  For this reason the transportation department has certain routes that students can easily hop on a bus that will take them directly to University Centre.  At certain times of the day, extra buses are also added to factor in rush hour(s) for students getting to and from campus. For more information on the transit system in Guelph click on the link:  https://guelph.ca/living/getting-around/bus/schedules/ .
3. Parking if you are attending school and do have access to a vehicle, parking is something to keep in mind.  Many units will have only one parking space.  The question then becomes, what to do with additional vehicles? Some places you are able to rent an extra spot from another tenant.  Other places, you may not be able to.  During certain months out of the year, Guelph does allow on street parking; but be careful! If by-law does not know you are planning to park on a street on a regular basis you may get ticketed or towed. To understand the parking regulations for the city click on the link:  https://guelph.ca/how-can-we-help-you/residential-parking-enforcement/ .
4. Monthly Rent budgeting is a huge factor when considering where you will be living.  Make sure before you sign the lease you understand what the rent is. Is it per room per person or is for the complete unit?  What is included in your rent? What are you responsible for? What happens if one roommate is late on rent, will you and the others be responsible for their portion? Or if one roommate moves out, are you responsible for covering their portion of the rent, or can the "extra" room be subletted?
5. Laundry, Utilities and Internet Not every unit will have laundry facilities – not every unit will be inclusive either.  So this is something to factor into your budget as well. Nor is internet an item landlords are willing to pay for. If you have to pay for the utilities, you and your roommates must make a deal among yourselves as to who is going on the utility bill (if that utility allows only one name) and how to split the monthly cost.  The same applies to the internet.  In most areas of Guelph, the two major providers are available. One important reminder when it comes to utilities: until you have put the utilities into your name the landlord or management company will not issue the key!
6. Furnishings once you have decided on place and have been accepted, does the unit come furnished?   Within Guelph, the answer is no.  If this is your first time out on your own, buying furniture can be costly.  Talk with your roommates and see who has what and what is still needed. Ask family members if there something they will part with. Even try second hand places, garage sales, facebook groups, kijiji, freecycle.org, or even university sites.
7. Ask Questions the best way to know what you are looking for is to ask questions.  Landlords can tell you what is expected of you and what you are responsible for. Do you know what to do if an appliance stops working? What if the water heater or furnace stops working? How do we pay rent to you? Who looks after the yard?  When's garbage night, and how do we sort the garbage?

University is time to prepare you for your future.  It's a time to enjoy life as well, but if it's not with lasting memories of good times, good friends and safe living; educational experience can be challenging. Thank you for timing the time to read this article.  Remember if you have students attending the University of Guelph, get them to see us at our booth at the UC!