house hunting

I'll spare you the sugar coating. House hunting is the worst hell on earth. It's stressful, tiring, and frustrating. Not only do you have to deal with trudging through the snow in Kingston to see about a thousand ugly and disgusting houses, but you have to do be willing to sign a lease at a moment's notice, with all your housemates in tow, and you ALL actually have to agree on the place. I think it's a lot harder for girls than it is for guys, and it pays to be easy going and to start early. Below are a few tips and tricks that we've learned (the hard way).

Choose your ‘mates wisely

It is only a fortunate few who make it through their university careers without housemate conflict (some of it – the healthy stuff- is actually inevitable). So keep in mind that some of the people you meet in first year are not necessarily going to be the people you think they are when you move in with them. Make sure you and your housemates understand each other’s expectations, and, if possible, get to know each other well. We’ve heard of (and experienced) more than a few situations where housemates turn into first-class a-holes.

For God’s Sake Look EARLY

Start looking for a house in January if you can. Truth be told, very few people get their acts together to do this, but it’s worthwhile. It’s a good idea to make friends with fourth years in nice houses- they can get you in touch with their landlord. February is usually when the insanity hits, and houses can be snapped up VERY FAST. Sometimes it’s a matter of seconds- people will enter a house to sign, and others two steps ahead have already done so.


Make sure you and your landlord are compatible

There are a lot of woefully irresponsible landlords out there who maintain houses in conditions beyond crappy. Be cautious when househunting, and on the lookout for obvious warning signs. The reality is that there just aren’t many nice houses available in the Ghetto, at least not within a reasonable distance of campus, so don’t get your hopes up too high. Grunge is to be expected to a limited degree- but it should not become unsafe or unsanitary. DO NOT be afraid to ask your landlord for improvements, and be sure to take the appropriate action if he/she is negligent. Far too many students accept their crummy conditions with the totally wrong idea that they’re normal or part of student life in Kingston. When your stove belches smoke and flame, its time to call the property inspector.

Understand the Ghetto

It's worth it to get out and understand just how big the ghetto is. In second year I lived way the hell out on Nelson street, near Princess, and while our house was gorgeous, it wasn't worth the walk. The further you go from campus, often the houses get cheaper and nicer, as most students are lazy and will pay a premium for crappy places close to campus (err the bars). Your most important factors are that you are close to a grocery store (likely the A&P), a convenience store, campus, and Princess.

If All Else Fails

If you manage to make it through first year and hate everyone on your floor, don't fret. There are various options for housemate-less househunters. You can check out the International Housing Office Website and search for people in need of a random roomate, or research upper year rez, Science 44 Co-Op, or the trendy Princess Louise House.