Off-Campus Housing: Deciding your next steps

Deciding your needs Planning your next steps The goal of this session is to help you create an action plan so you can find the housing that suits your needs.

Determine your needs

What are your priorities? - Safety (Feeling comfortable in the unit, the building & the neighbourhood) - Affordability - Proximity to campus - Living among other Ryerson students - Convenience factors (e.g. meal plans, in-building laundry) - Others?

What should you budget for? Be realistic and reasonable! Room (in shared house) $750+/month Hydro $35-55/month depending on electricity usage (lighting, heat, appliances). Bachelor $900-$1,200/month Water $20-40/month depending on water usage (faucet/shower use, washing machine, toilet flushing, etc.) 1 bedroom apartment $1,100-$1,800/month 2 bedroom* $1,600-$2,600/month Internet Insurance Groceries $35-70/month depending on plan $12-30/month depending on provider $40-$100/week or $300/month (varies by person) 3 bedroom* $2,500-$4,000/month Other living costs include books & supplies, local transportation, and entertainment. *Price is total for all bedrooms; may be divided among roommates

What type of housing do you want? Student-housing building Room in a shared house Basement apartment in a house Condo or traditional apartment building Entire house

Student-housing buildings What do you need to know? - Campus Common - Parkside - CampusOne Not Ryerson properties House many Ryerson students including international students Safe, comfortable, and compliant with tenant law 8-month or 12-month leases Combines most of your housing costs into singlepayments; usually paid in installments Prices vary but are typical of Toronto Offer differing amenities (meal plans, kitchens, study space, etc.) They are filling up quickly You will likely have a roommate but lifestyles / profiles are considered You can sublet out your unit during the summer

Understanding the various options Campus Common Parkside CampusOne Fully booked. 20+ students waitlisted for each room type Rent is slightly below market rate Rooms available Total cost is comparable to Ryerson residence 60% Ryerson students Rooms available Total cost is comparable to Ryerson residence 25% Ryerson students 90% Ryerson students 12-month leases only Apartment-style w/ roommate matching No meal plan September 4 th move-in 8 + 12-month leases Residence-style w/ roommate matching Required meal plan September 1 st move-in August 26 th early move-in (you must email with a formal request to move in by the early date; first come-first serve) 12-month leases only 3 months free this year Residence-style w/ roommate matching Required meal plan August 26 th move-in

What type of housing do you want? Student-housing building Room in a shared house Basement apartment in a house Condo or traditional apartment building Entire house

Timeline: Find A Place to Live Determine your needs Housing type, neighbourhood, budget, guarantor, roommates Search for housing Contact student-housing buildings, work with a realtor, or use Places4Students housing listing service Submit rental application(s) Formally place an offer to rent the unit by completing the rental application form Move in! Find roommates Check out Places4Students Roommate Finder Set up viewings Contact the landlord/property manager to make an appointment to view the unit Sign a lease Legally commit in writing to the terms of your rental agreement

Find roommates

How do you find potential roommates? Use the Places4Students Roommate Finder to post your profile and connect with others Check out the Off-Campus website for tips on writing a great roommate profile These could be people who are also looking for places, or it could be people who already have a place and are looking to fill an empty bedroom. Meet your community! Your new roommate might even be in this room Use social media groups and pages wisely Connect through your network Friends of friends, your old high school, etc.

How do you find the RIGHT roommates? Before agreeing to be roommates... Figure out if you re a good fit Once you have decided to be roommates... Agree to a plan for successful living

Prepare for your rental application(s)

How do you prepare for a rental application? Preparation begins even before searching! 1. A confirmed guarantor / plan to pay rent 2. Cheque(s) for first & last month s rent 3. References 4. Credit report (Equifax)

Search for apartments

When should you begin searching? 44-60 days before you want to move in. Sept 1st move-in? Start searching in July!

Where do you start looking? If you live off-campus, you can still choose to get a Ryerson Community Meal Plan.

How to de-stress the search Treat your housing search like a job search Be persistent Be flexible Understand the process and be prepared! Avoid scams Verify Keep your cash close Check the place out Understand the market Keep your guard up

Set up viewings

Contact landlords by email or phone to request to view the unit in person. How do you set up a viewing? 1. Be professional and mature 2. Provide your availability and plan to be flexible 3. Be prepared to apply for the unit immediately after the viewing Bring our Master Apartment Viewing Checklist to cover all the essentials while viewing a place If you like the unit, follow up by sending the landlord our Landlord Q&A to them to complete.

Sign a lease

Off-Campus Housing Office The Off-Campus Housing Office is here to support you in your search for a place to live off-campus. Services we offer include: Connections to Places4Students and other important off-campus living services Suggestions for how to search effectively and secure a place to live Resources for doing viewings, signing leases, and living with roommates Helping you understand your rights & responsibilities as a tenant Connect by email at offcamp@ryerson.ca or attend drop-in hours in PIT-110 as posted on our website: ryerson.ca/housing/off-campus You can also download all the resources referenced in this session from our website!