Tips on Finding a Home
Housing
As Camosun College does not have dormitories, students should seek off-campus housing that is close to campus if possible, and quiet and calm enough to allow sufficient study and sleep.
Before you agree to rent, inspect the premises, and discuss your landlord's expectations, your responsibilities, and other rental arrangements with the landlord.
Good websites for house-hunters include:
- Camosun College Student Society Accommodation Service
- University of Victoria Off-Campus Housing Registry
- Victoria Times Colonist - Real Estate Rentals on Canada.com
- Homes4Students.ca
- Victoria Youth Hostel offers inexpensive short-term accommodation
- The Cooperative Housing Federation lists co-op housing for low to moderate income individuals and families. Low-income families may also qualify for subsidized housing - check www.bchousing.org.
- International students can find out about homestay programs and find more assistance at Camosun International.
Let your friends and family know that you are looking for accommodation as they or someone they know may be able to help. Bulletin boards outside both the Interurban and Lansdowne campus Student Society offices and local newspapers also have postings for available housing, including:
- Furnished or unfurnished rooms in a private home or rooming house, without meals.
- "Room and board", usually a furnished room in a shared, private home, including meals.
- "Light housekeeping rooms", usually a room in a private house with cooking facilities.
- Shared accommodation, "roommate" situations, or cooperative or communal housing; where facilities, cleaning, cooking, shopping or bills are sometimes shared.
- Private suites in houses.
- Private apartments in multi-unit buildings.
- Houses, duplexes, condos or townhouses.
Tenant and Landlord Responsibilities
- As a tenant you must pay rent on time, keep the place clean, repair any damages you cause, and not disturb other tenants. The landlord must keep the premises in good repair, and give notice if they wish to enter (except for emergencies) or if you must move out.
- For information on tenant and landlord rights, rental laws, and support in resolving tenancy issues, contact The Residential Tenancy Office (RTO), a government agency, or read "A Guide for Landlords & Tenants in British Columbia" (PDF).
- If you rent a room in an owner's home, or a renter's home where your name is not included on the lease, you are not covered under the Residential Tenancy Act.
Leases
- Leases are legal agreements that confirm renter and landlord responsibilities. Do not sign one unless you understand and agree with all the conditions, including: when rent is due, what happens if you cannot fulfill the lease period, the deposit amount and how to get it refunded, whether utilities (heat, electricity, water, and/or cable) are included, any conditions on visitors, and if you can rent to someone else if you leave for a few months.
- Make sure to keep a copy of the lease or rental agreement if you sign one.
Living with Others
- If you are sharing housing, try to ensure your living arrangements will not add to your stress, and allow enough sleep and quiet study time. Select roommates who support your studies, and, to prevent study-busting conflicts, discuss initial house guidelines on rent and bill payment, making house decisions, cleaning, noise, pets and smoking, visitors and sleepovers, and sharing the kitchen, phone, and internet.
- Find and use on-campus study spaces when you need to.