Off-Campus Housing: Deciding your next steps

Deciding your needs

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

Planning your next steps

Determine your needs

- 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 are your priorities?

What should you budget for?

Room (in shared house) $750+/month

Bachelor $900-$1,200/month

1 bedroom apartment $1,100-$1,800/month

2 bedroom* $1,600-$2,600/month

3 bedroom* $2,500-$4,000/month

Hydro $35-55/month depending on electricity usage (lighting,

heat, appliances).

Water $20-40/month depending on water usage (faucet/shower use, washing machine, toilet flushing, etc.)

Internet $35-70/month depending on plan

*Price is total for all bedrooms; may be divided among roommates

Insurance $12-30/month depending on provider

Other living costs include books & supplies, local transportation,

and entertainment.

Be realistic and reasonable!

Groceries $40-$100/week or $300/month (varies by person)

What type of housing do you want?

Entire house

Room in a shared house

Condo or traditional apartment building

Student-housing building

Basement apartment in a house

What type of housing do you want?

Entire house

Room in a shared house

Condo or traditional apartment building

Student-housing building

Basement apartment in a house

Student-housing buildings

● 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 single-payments; 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

What do you need to know?

- Campus Common- Parkside- CampusOne

Understanding the various options…

• Fully booked.

20+ students waitlisted

for each room type

• Rent is slightly below

market rate

• 90% Ryerson students

• 12-month leases only

• Apartment-style w/

roommate matching

• No meal plan

• September 4th move-in

• Rooms available

• Total cost is comparable

to Ryerson residence

• 60% Ryerson students

• 8 + 12-month leases

• Residence-style w/

roommate matching

• Required meal plan

• September 1st move-in

August 26th early move-in (you must email with a formal

request to move in by the early

date; first come-first serve)

• Rooms available

• Total cost is comparable

to Ryerson residence

• 25% Ryerson students

• 12-month leases only

3 months free this year

• Residence-style w/

roommate matching

• Required meal plan

• August 26th move-in

Campus Common Parkside CampusOne

What type of housing do you want?

Entire house

Room in a shared house

Condo or traditional apartment building

Student-housing building

Basement apartment in a house

Timeline: Find A Place to Live

Determine your needsHousing type, neighbourhood,

budget, guarantor, roommates

Find roommatesCheck out

Places4Students’

Roommate Finder

Search for housingContact student-housing

buildings, work with a realtor, or

use Places4Students’ housing

listing service

Set up viewingsContact the landlord/property

manager to make an

appointment to view the unit

Submit rental application(s)Formally place an offer to rent the

unit by completing the rental

application form

Sign a leaseLegally commit in writing to

the terms of your rental

agreement

Move in!

Find roommates

How doyou 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.

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

How doyou find the RIGHT roommates?

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 searchBe persistentBe flexibleUnderstand the process and be prepared!

Avoid scamsVerifyKeep your cash closeCheck the place outUnderstand the marketKeep your guard up

Set up viewings

Contact landlords by email or phone to request to view the

unit in person.

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.

How doyou set up a viewing?

Sign a lease

Off-Campus Housing OfficeThe 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!