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Off-Campus Housing Services
Logo: Western University Canada
International & Exchange Students

Rental Scam Information for Tenants

Our office has been notified that some rental listings found on Facebook groups and/or Kijiji are scams, where people are advertising properties that do not exist and are asking for money as a deposit. As always, we advise you only search for off-campus housing rentals on our rental listings website: https://offcampus.uwo.ca/listings/

Tips for success:

  1. View the property in-person (maintaining physical distancing) or ask someone you trust to view it. If you are searching for a rental in the summer, find more information about personalized assistance available to you (see the section below).
  2. Talk to previous tenants to find out what the landlord/rental company is like.
  3. Only pay a deposit and/or sign a lease once you have seen the rental and had your lease reviewed by our service: https://offcampus.uwo.ca/lease_review.cfm. NEVER pay cash without getting an immediate receipt.

Summer Off-Campus Housing Assistance for International Students

Are you looking for off-campus housing? Contact us for personalized assistance with your housing search in London, Ontario if you aren't in Canada yet. This service is only available to international and/or exchange students studying at Western University and not currently residing in Canada.

How we can help you:

  • Personal property viewings on your behalf.
  • Assist with your questions about off-campus housing, London services and amenities.

Email ocha@housing.uwo.ca. This service is offered from early May until the end of August each year.

**Please note this service is intended to connect you with housing. We are not involved in the finalization of securing a rental and we do not make any guarantees regarding your living experience.

Paying Deposits from Abroad

We advise you only pay a deposit and/or sign a lease once you have seen the rental and had your lease reviewed by our service: https://offcampus.uwo.ca/lease_review.cfm. NEVER pay cash without getting an immediate receipt.

If you are sending a deposit from abroad, discuss with the landlord what method works best. Note that some methods will also charge a fee to the recipient for receiving money internationally.

Here are some options to send money internationally:

  • Your home financial institution may offer a service;
  • PayPal;
  • International wire transfer companies (ex. Transferwise, OFX, WesternUnion).

Our office does not recommend a particular method. We advise you research the different options to compare fees, currency exchange rates, and service value that best suit your needs

Top Ten Tips for Off-Campus Housing Success!

  1. Search for available rental listings on Western's Off-Campus Housing Listings website: https://offcampus.uwo.ca/listings. If you are interested in renting for a few months (3-4), you may want to check the rentals listed in the Sublet* section. London has a wide variety of rentals with varying price levels. Remember: never rent a place without seeing it first yourself!
  2. View at least five rentals & bring along the Accommodation Comparison Chart to keep track of the places you visit: https://offcampus.uwo.ca/accommodation_checklist.pdf
  3. Living with unfamiliar people might be a new experience for many students. To ensure that you and the people who will be sharing the same house/apartment have similar lifestyles and financial resources, we recommend you complete and sign a Roommate Agreement: https://offcampus.uwo.ca/roommate_agreement.pdf
  4. Read the Renting in London document to learn about provincial rental laws and issues other student tenants have encountered: https://offcampus.uwo.ca/renting_in_london
  5. Do you want to be close to a bus route or do you prefer walking? Learn about the different housing areas in London: https://offcampus.uwo.ca/maps.cfm
  6. To create a more peaceful and friendly environment, cities in Canada have created different laws and rules; these are referred to as "city bylaws". Failure to comply with these may result in a fine. Examples of some of the regulations outlined in the City bylaws are: alcohol, noise offences and no overnight parking on city streets. Make sure you review these so that your stay in London is a pleasant one. Learn more about London bylaws here: https://offcampus.uwo.ca/city_bylaws.cfm
  7. The Housing Mediation Service at Western is committed to helping students with their questions and the situations that may arise when living off-campus. For example, you can contact them for help with understanding the wording in your lease agreement. Learn more about the service here: https://offcampus.uwo.ca/mediation.cfm
  8. Can't remember which day to put out the trash? Get a schedule for London's 8-day garbage collection so you won't miss a pick-up: https://london.ca/living-london/garbage-recycling/collection-calendar
  9. Is there a smoke detector outside the sleeping area? Check! Make sure your rental is up to provincial fire code: https://offcampus.uwo.ca/fire_safety.cfm
  10. Want a student's opinion about your housing questions or issues? Contact one of Western's Off-Campus Advisors: https://offcampus.uwo.ca/advisors.cfm

*Sublet: transfer of a rental lease. For example, if someone is currently holding an eight month rental agreement, and would like to only live in that place for only four months, she/he can rent the remaining four months to another person, thus the third person will be renting not from the property owner but from the person who is on the original lease agreement. This is a common practice in Canada and it is referred to as "subletting".

Information from Western International

Western's International & Exchange Student Centre shares additional information about searching for off-campus housing as an international or exchange student here: https://iesc.uwo.ca/new_students/before_you_arrive/find_a_place_to_live/offcampus_housing.html

 
 
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