There is a lot to take into consideration when conducting an off-campus housing search. Here are some steps to help your student with their search:

• Read the Renting in London section on the Off-Campus Housing web site:https://offcampus.uwo.ca/rental_law.cfm
• Use https://offcampus.uwo.ca/listings/ to look for housing
• Arrange tours of properties that your student is interested in. View at least five rental properties before making a decision
• Keep track of viewed rentals by filling out an Accommodation Comparison Chart: https://offcampus.uwo.ca/accommodation_checklist.pdf
• Talk to current tenants about the relationship they have with their landlord
• Before signing, book your free lease review: https://offcampus.uwo.ca/appointment.cfm

Roommates

Encourage your student to fill out a Roommate Agreement with their future roommates BEFORE signing a lease together. The Roommate Agreement can be proactive in noting problem areas before roommates live together: https://offcampus.uwo.ca/roommate_agreement.pdf

Communication with the Landlord

• Ensure your student gets all negotiations and agreements in writing!
• Landlords are not required to paint, clean carpets or change locks between tenants. Tenants should try to negotiate at least a lock change before signing the lease.

What is a Guarantor?

A guarantor is any creditworthy person a landlord will accept who undertakes to “guarantee” all liabilities under the lease. If both your student and their co-tenant are on the same lease and you, as a parent/guardian of a tenant, sign as guarantor, you can be held liable for that lease.

For example, if one of your student’s co-tenants fails to pay their share of the rent, you can be called upon by the landlord to make up the missing share. The guarantee is not just for your student’s liabilities if there is more than one tenant on the lease, and it will remain in effect if the lease has sub-tenants.

Off-Campus Advisors -- Students helping Students!

From September to April, Off-Campus Advisors are available Monday-Friday from 4:30 p.m. - midnight and Saturday-Sunday (and stat holidays) from 8:30 a.m. - midnight.

They can be contacted at oca@uwo.ca or 519-661-3787.

Learn more about the Off-Campus Advisor program here: https://offcampus.uwo.ca/advisors.cfm

Applications for positions on the Off-Campus Advisor student staff team are available in February.