By: Katie Fitzgerald, Student Success Centre, Transition Program Coordinator
On November 19, 2024, the How to House Hunt panel discussion, led by housing experts in Hamilton, McMaster professionals and upper-year students with lived experiences, addressed questions about finding off-campus housing at McMaster University. The panelists answered questions related to tenant rights, responsibilities and the student rental process in Hamilton, Ontario.
On the panel this year (from left to right):
- Catherine French, Hamilton Housing Help Centre representative
- Michael Blashko, Housing Lawyer and Queer Justice Project Lead, Hamilton Community Legal Clinic
- Sarvin Khak Zadeh Mohamareh, Senior Community Advisor, Residence Life
- Kaylinda Mupesse, Student Accessibility Services Ambassador
- Valeria Flores, Access Program Ambassador
1. Set your budget
House hunting can be exciting, but our experts encourage you to be realistic when searching for housing. Knowing how much you can afford to pay for housing will be a determining factor in what options are available to you. Rent can vary depending on location, property type, and size. There can also be additional costs associated with a rental. Be sure to find out what is included in your rent price such as utilities and parking that may not be included in rent but may be factored into your budget.
Not sure how to determine what you can afford? Use Mac’s Money Centre’s budgeting tools to help get you started or email Mac’s Money Centre money@mcmaster.ca to set up an appointment to get budgeting advice from a professional.
2. Outline your “must-haves” or “nice-to-haves”
Everyone has different needs and wants when it comes to housing – know what yours are before you begin searching. Making a list of must-haves and nice-to-haves is a great way to help guide your search. If you are someone who absolutely must have a big window in their bedroom, you can make your search easier by avoiding basement units. A list of nice-to-haves is also helpful. There may be some things that you’d love to have in your new rental, but knowing you can go without some of these will open your search up to more options.
3. Start the search
Now that you know what you want and can afford, it’s time to start searching! There are many sites to search for housing – like Facebook, Kijiji and Places4Students. We also recommend using your community as a resource. Facebook groups for McMaster student rentals may be useful and connecting with upper-years who may be leaving their unit could be a great way to learn about housing that may not yet be listed. For a full list of websites that can help you find housing in Hamilton, check out the Housing Help Centre’s rental listings page.
4. Be aware of “red flags”
Remember, if a rental listing seems too good to be true – it probably is. Scams are very real and anyone can be a target, so be sure to do your due diligence to protect yourself. Listings may not be reflective of the rental – or the rental may not exist at all. It is very important to visit a rental in-person to ensure it is as advertised before providing personal information or signing a lease. If a landlord is asking for money before you have visited the unit in person, this is an immediate red flag and a good sign to continue your search elsewhere. If you are unable to visit potential rentals in-person, ask someone you trust to do it for you.
Remember: Do not share personal information, send money or sign a lease unless you are able to confirm that the rental is legitimate.
5. Be thorough – and then be thorough again!
Throughout the house hunting process, it is important to be thorough. When searching for listings online, make sure you are reviewing all the information provided. Before visiting a potential rental, you can view it on Google Street View and even search the property and landlord to see if there are any reviews – Reddit can be helpful for this. When visiting a rental in-person, ask to take photos. Not only will this help you to remember what each rental was like, but can also be a great reference to go back to when comparing options. If meeting with the landlord, prepare questions to ask them – like what is included in rent, how the outside of the rental is maintained, etc. Record as much as you can with photos and notes so you can refer to them when needed.
And lastly, once you have found a place you’d like to rent, read the lease thoroughly and carefully. A lease is a legally binding document. There are different things that can be included in a lease and different types of leases for those living with housemates (group lease vs. individual lease). If you have any questions about leases, contact Hamilton Community Legal Clinic.
In conclusion
There is a lot to consider when it comes to house hunting, especially for the first time. Though it may seem overwhelming at first, being thoughtful and thorough can help you to find the place that is right for you.
Did you know? McMaster has a brand new off campus residence, open to the McMaster community! McMaster’s 10 Bay Residence is a reliable option for students who are interested in a fully-furnished, turn-key unit with a variety of amenities geared to students.
The How to House Hunt panel event was hosted by the Student Success Centre in partnership with the Faculty of Social Sciences, Housing & Conference Services and the Access Program.