REPOST: Post-secondary students feeling squeeze of tight rental market

Apartment vacancy rate in Calvary in Canada reached its lowest level, making it hard for students to find affordable housing. This article from the Calgary Herald has the details.

As Calgary post-secondary students prepare to begin classes next week, many say finding rental accommodation in the city is “very difficult.”
Photograph by: Gavin Young Gavin Young , Calgary Herald | calgaryherald.com

A low vacancy rate combined with a lack of progress on legalizing secondary suites is making it difficult for Calgary post-secondary students to find safe, affordable rental accommodation, say student leaders.

“Calgary is an expensive city and it’s extremely hard for young people to find affordable housing,” said Erik Queenan, president of the Students’ Association of Mount Royal University.

Queenan said, anecdotally, it appears finding a rental suite in Calgary is easier than last year at this time — when the vacancy rate hovered around one per cent and displaced flood victims competed with students for scarce accommodation — but that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

A spring rental market survey released in June by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. pegged Calgary’s vacancy rate in April 2014 as the worst among big Canadian cities at 1.4 per cent. Monthly average rents for a two-bedroom apartment were $1,267, according to the CMHC.

Darren Paddock, president of RentFaster.ca, said while there are more rental properties in Calgary now compared with previous years, the type of accommodations are different, and in many cases, students are being squeezed out.

“There’s more inventory but the inventory has changed ... We rarely see the lower-priced apartments that you used to see quite a bit of,” he said.

On-campus housing at the city’s post-secondary institutions is also difficult to find.

Mount Royal University has approximately 1,000 rooms in residence and, on Thursday, there were between 30 to 40 vacancies, a number that fluctuates on an hourly basis, according to the school’s director of residence services.

Kimmi Nguyen, SAIT Students’ Association vice-president academic, said the school’s residences, which have space for 1,172 students, are at 100 per cent capacity and there are 120 students on a wait list.

“There is quite a high demand for on-campus housing,” said Nguyen.

With demand also high off campus, student leaders from different institutions are working together to make a case for easing secondary suite zoning rules in Calgary.

The city has one of Canada’s most prohibitive zoning systems for suites, and students pressured candidates on the issue in last fall’s civic election.

“We are very adamant that the city recognize the illegal suites that currently exist to protect tenant rights,” Queenan said.

Queenan said student leaders are planning to meet with councillors to push forward the issue, which is scheduled to be discussed at council this fall, and plans are in the works to get fellow students involved.

Levi Nilson, University of Calgary Students’ Union vice-president external, said the association is working on an information campaign to get students up to speed on secondary suites.

“We do know that at the U of C, one-fifth of all renters are living in these secondary suites. We want to make sure that those people who are in the suites know that they have a lot of problems as far as legal rights go,” he said.

Nilson said he’s hearing from students that finding safe, affordable student housing in Calgary is “about as hard as it was last year.”

Statistics provided by RentFaster.ca, comparing August 2013 to August 2014, show an increase in the number of available units of all types, and an increase in average rents.

For example, there were 422 basements listed on the site in August 2013, at an average price of $1,049, compared to 585 basements this August, at an average price of $1,132. There were 623 apartments listed last August on the site, at an average price of $1,409, and this August there were 713 apartments listed at an average price of $1,522.

While the year-over-year rent increase is not as high as previous years, Paddock said finding an affordable place to rent in Calgary is still “very difficult” and, as a result, both renters and landlords are getting creative.

“You start seeing different ways of living — (single) rooms for rent, more people sharing,” he said.

RentFaster statistics show 174 shared rental accommodations, at an average price of $748, listed on the site this August that are all within three kilometres of either the U of C, MRU or SAIT, compared to 102 in 2013.

The hot rental market also means landlords have a lot of choice when it comes to who they rent to.

“It’s really tight, especially if you have possible bad credit, or a pet, or you smoke, or things like that,” said Paddock.

When landlord Tony Dinh posted his Marda Loop condo for rent online in May, he was so overwhelmed by calls and emails from people wanting to view the home, he decided to host a two-hour open house.

“I changed the ad and said come by and take a look at the place,” he said.

After the open house, he was inundated with applications from would-be tenants and eventually rented the place to the strongest applicants.

Dinh, who has rented out several properties in Calgary for the past five years, described the current rental market as the “craziest” he’s ever seen as a landlord.

A three-bedroom student-friendly home in Brentwood that he posted online for $1,500 a month in mid-August quickly netted a lot of interest and 10 showings.

The Reserve Apartments in Tyler, TX helps students live independently for the first time through affordable housing.For more information on apartment amenities, visit this Facebook page.

REPOST: Should college students get rental insurance?

This article from WWLP.com talks about college students getting rental insurance for the places their leasing.

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AGAWAM, Mass. (WWLP) – If you are sending a college student to school this fall, you know there is quite a list involved in making sure they’re prepared for classes, the dorm, or off-campus housing. But what would happen to all that stuff in the event of an accident? 22News is working for you with information on renter’s insurance.

Students in dorms are covered for up to 10% of the limit on their parents’ homeowner policy, for fire, theft, or water damage. But if the students are leasing a house or apartment, that is the time to think about getting their own policy. And it’s a good idea to make a list of what you have, says Bill Trudeau of the Insurance Center of New England.

“If your son or daughter has a fancy watch or some other jewelry, they’re going to have to have that listed on the policy. Otherwise, it’s going to be capped for theft at a lower limit,” Trudeau said.

He said one that thing that has changed over the years is students listing laptops. They used to be more big-ticket items, but since costs have come down, today laptops are now more in range of the deductible.


For more information on student housing, follow The Reserve apartment on this Facebook page.

A guide to peaceful rooming

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It is often necessary to live with a roommate, given financial realities. But cohabitation with a difficult person is challenging. Luckily, there are a few simple tricks that a student can do to make life easier.

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Start with a clean slate. It is best to avoid any misconception or misunderstanding in circumstances that might make the roommate feel inferior or inadequate. Keep suggestions for room improvement or decorations as friendly as possible. If the roommate displays unhealthy or unwanted behavior after a decent time period, then address the issue civilly and without allocating blame. If it is the roommate who acts superior and distributes tasks unfairly, again, take it up with him or her in a diplomatic manner. Explain using facts, not feelings.

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Avoid living with friends. This seems counterintuitive; but the thing is, friends are better off not sharing the same roof. This is because friends are more comfortable than strangers in stepping over boundaries and taking certain liberties. Sometimes, this can put stress on the relationship and cause the friendship to turn sour. The most successful roommates are generally friends of friends, that is, people who come recommended, but with whom the student is not so intimately familiar.

Ultimately, the most sound advice would be to trust instincts, and work from there. Most students are around their 20s or 30s, and should already have a solid moral compass. This will point them to the current or potential roommate who would suit them.

The Reserve Apartments in Tyler, TX helps prepare students for college life with affordable housing options. Learn more about college living by visiting this website.

Maximizing apartment space

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Whether living in a dorm or an apartment, students living independently for the first time may can find it difficult to adjust to a significantly smaller space. With the need to express individuality and yet maintain function, they could be confronted by a decorating dilemma. However, there are several easy tips for maximizing apartment space.

Create zones. Cut the apartment in zones. Most apartments already guide the owner in this, with the kitchen in one area and the bathroom in another. Still, the owner should divide the remaining floor space for specific areas. Set aside one area as the bedroom, another for work. Use simple decorating techniques to divide the areas. Maintaining distinct areas will also allow you to focus on the specific activity the area was set for (eating in the dining area, sleeping in the bedroom etc.) and maintain balance and function.

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Maximize furniture. It is best to get bigger, but more functional, furniture rather than have smaller mono-use pieces. If your bed frame will lord over a significant floor area, ensure that it comes with additional storage space or has enough space at the bottom to hide some boxes. Most furniture are designed to have multiple functions to address small-space living. These pieces also come in a variety of designs to suit personal style.

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Personal style and function are taken into account with The Reserve Apartments in Tyler, TX. Catering to students living on their own for the first time, the apartments are living spaces where all needs are met. Follow the developer on Twitter to learn more about the amenities.

Dog-friendly apartments: A dog owner's guide

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For many people, a house (or an apartment) is not a home without a canine companion. Finding an apartment that allows dogs is no longer as hard as it used to be, thanks to changing attitudes about pet ownership in the real estate industry. Listed below are some tips to help dog-owners looking for a place for them and their dogs to call home.

Where to find a dog-friendly apartment

There are many online resources for people looking for dog-friendly apartments. Websites like Apartment Guide and People with Pets have a large database of pet-friendly apartments. Animal rights groups like the Humane Society and No Paws Left Behind also list resources and tips on finding dog-friendly apartments by city or state on their websites. Other ways to find pet-friendly apartments: classified ads websites like Craigslist, referrals from fellow dog-owning friends, and referrals from the veterinarian.

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Understanding the landlord's policies on dogs and other pets

Many apartments have breed and weight restrictions. Some landlords do not allow renters to keep dogs on the Dangerous Dog Breeds list, and some do not allow dogs that weigh more than 30 lbs. There may also be extra fees or an added deposit required. Potential renters should read the lease agreement carefully and ask questions if necessary.

How to keep good relations between landlord and renter

Even if an apartment is specified as pet-friendly, the landlord may still have some reservations about renting to dog owners because of a few bad experiences. A potential renter should sympathize with the landlord's concerns and offer the following information to set the landlord's mind at ease:

• A copy of the dog's vaccination records
• A copy of the dog's medical records, including details on spaying/neutering, prophylaxis, micro chipping, and the like.
• A certificate of completion from canine obedience class, if any
• References from previous landlords, friends, neighbors, or veterinarians that show that the renter is a responsible owner and that the dog is well-behaved.

Responsibility and a willingness to work with the landlord are key to living happily in an apartment with a dog.

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The Reserve Apartments in Tyler, TX provides luxury off-campus housing at reasonable rates. For discussions about apartment rentals, like this Facebook page.

Life hacks: Ways to make college apartment life easier

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College life is tough. It is even tougher because you tend to live away from your family who would normally help you in your daily needs and do stuff for you to make life easier. There are, however, some hacks in independent living that lessen the difficulties.

Eating sandwiches is a very common thing in college. It is the easiest and fastest food to prepare. However, cutting cheese can be a drag. Instead of using a knife, try using floss or a clean string. This should let you avoid cleaning the knife rigorously.

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You can also try eating seasoned popcorns. College life means saving up some money. Popcorn is one of the cheapest foods available. Season it with pepper and rosemary, and you can trick your mouth into thinking that you just had some great food in your mouth.

If you are using an old laptop and it heats up easily, you can save money from buying those fans by using cup holders. It will neutralize the heat and will prevent your legs from getting toasted.

Taking out trash can be a problem if it leaks. Use some old newspapers and spread them at the bottom of your trash bin. They can absorb food juices and prevent any possibilities of leaks. Plus, you can finally get rid of those stacks of newspapers.

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If you find it hard to come up with a grocery list, it would be best to simply take a picture of your fridge when it is fully loaded. You get an instant grocery list by doing this, or take a picture before you leave for groceries so you know the stuff you already have.

There are other things that you can try to ease the stress of daily living. Just be resourceful about it.

The Reserve Apartments in Tyler, TX is dedicated to giving a comfortable and complete college life experience. Visit the property’s website to find out more about the amenities for college residents.

Enjoying college life to the fullest at the Reserve

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The Reserve Apartments at Tyler, Texas provides students a great place to call their home as they attend classes at the university. After tiring days of attending lectures and fulfilling their responsibilities as students, they can take comfort in knowing that they can relax and unwind in the comfort of their apartment.

Located just 0.7 miles east of the University of Texas Tyler Campus, the Reserve also provides students many modern conveniences to complete their college experience. Elegantly decorated, it boasts of a contemporary and edgy atmosphere and a lifestyle-oriented community that jives with the needs and wants of young and vibrant co-eds.

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To make apartment living as comfortable as possible for these students, the Reserve has given the apartments modern facilities. Every apartment is fully-furnished so students can just move right in at the beginning of the term without worrying about anything else. They get high speed internet and cable in each bedroom, complete kitchen amenities, and even a 37” LCD TV in the living room with an expanded cable package for their entertainment needs. Security is also not a problem as each apartment is equipped with intrusion alarms and every bedroom door has its own key.

As part of the Reserve’s community, students can also enjoy fun and relaxing times with their friends in between school work by hanging out at the swimming pool, game room, or the sporting areas. The staff also holds some events like parties and movie nights to give the residents a good time.

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For more information about the full college experience at The Reserve Apartments at Tyler, Texas, visit this Facebook page.