Frequently Asked Questions

General

Accounts and Settings

Plans and Listings

Browsing and Viewing

City of Guelph

Information for Landlords

 

General

What does the Off Campus Living Website have to offer?

Visit our rental listing website and login at studentlife.uoguelph.ca/ocl.  To create a new landlord account visit studentlife.uoguelph.ca/ocl/user/register.  This automated listing service includes the ability to create, publish, unpublish and edit your own listings 24 hours per day.  Promotional descriptions and photos are included in all payment plans.

How do I contact Off Campus Living about the Listing Website?


Accounts and Settings

How do I sign up for an account?

University of Guelph students, faculty, and staff members do not need to create an account. Simply login using your Central ID (the same user name and password as you use to access your UofG email) and an account will be automatically created for you.

Other users may create their own account using a non-uoguelph.ca email address (i.e. use gmail, hotmail, yahoo, rogers or some other service provider).

All fields must be filled in before submitting the form. A confirmation email will be sent to the email address you provided in the registration form. The email will include a link to follow in order to complete the account set-up. Reset your password immediately after your first log in.

How do I log in?

University of Guelph students, faculty, and staff may log in using their central login and password.

Other users may create a login account by selecting “Login” on the top menu bar, then click “Create new account”. After the initial account set-up, you can use the Login button to simply sign-in to your account.

If you received an email from ocho@uoguelph.ca  providing you with a login and password, you can log in by using the following steps:

  1. Check your email for the username and password that you received from ocho@uoguelph.ca .
  2. You can write the password information down or copy it by highlighting the information and pressing ctrl + c.
  3. Return to studentlife.uoguelph.ca/ocl
  4. Select “Login” from the top menu.
  5. Type your username and the password in the appropriate boxes (if you copied the password, select the password box and press ctrl + v).

 

How do I change my password?

If you are a University of Guelph student, staff or faculty member, you can change your password and perform other useful functions from the Account Utilities page provided by Computing & Communication Services.

All other users can change their passwords using the following method:

  1. Login
  2. Select My Settings from the tabs across the top of the white page.
  3. Choose a new password. Create a password using a combination of numbers, letters and symbols to increase the security of the password, for example, “choc234olate” is better than “chocolate”.
  4. Enter your new password into the “Password” field and the “Confirm Password” field.
  5. Select Submit. This is now the password you will use with your username to log into the website.

If you have forgotten your password, you can request that it be reset.

I forgot my password, what should I do?

If you are a University of Guelph student, staff or faculty member, you can change your password and perform other useful functions from the Account Utilities page provided by Computing & Communication Services.

Other users can select the Request new password tab from the login page. You will be prompted to provide your email address. A temporary login link will be sent to this email account. Reset your password after you have logged in to the system.


Plans and Listings

How do I purchase a payment plan in order to publish listings?

To purchase a Rental Listings subscription plan, log in to the system. You should then be automatically redirected to your account on the My Listings tab. At any time you can navigate back to this page by clicking on the grey "My Account" button.

Under the subheading "Purchase a new subscription" you may choose the plan that best suits your needs. Simply click on "add to cart" and carefully follow the on-screen instructions. The Off Campus Living website processes all payments through PayPal, which helps to ensure that your credit card information remains secure at all times.

You may also purchase payment plans by contacting Off-Campus Living at 519-824-4120 x 53357.

What Membership Plans are available?

One-Month Single Listing
The Single Listing One-Month Plan allows you to create multiple listings and have a maximum of one listing published at any given time over the period of one month.
Price: $15 CAD

Six-Month Single Plan
The Single Listing Six-Month Plan allows you to create multiple listings and have a maximum of one listing published at any given time over the period of six months.
Price: $45 CAD

Six-Month Multiple Listing Plan
The Multiple Listing Six-Month Plan allows you to create multiple listings and have a maximum of six listings published at any given time over a six month period.
Price: $90 CAD

Sublet - University of Guelph Student
University of Guelph students can create and publish one free sublet listing.

How do I create a listing and store it in my account?

  1. Log in to your account.
  2. Click on the grey and red button that says "Create a new Listing"
  3. A listing form will appear for you to complete. Fill the information and select Submit. The fields with red stars beside them are required fields – they MUST be filled out.

How do I upload photos?

  1. Click on the Browse button to the right of this field whilst editing the listing you wish to show photos for.
  2. Find the picture file on your computer. The picture that you select must have .jpg or .jpeg or .png or .gif at the end of the file name. Maximum file size for image uploads is 800KB. The dimensions on the "Original" image will be used to resize the images when they are first uploaded.
  3. Click upload. You can upload a maximum of 5 photographs.

After the listing is created, it is saved in your account. A listing has to be published to be visible to the site visitors.

How do I publish a listing for potential tenants to view?

In order to publish listings for public viewing by site visitors, you must purchase one of the payment plans.

If you are a current student with the University of Guelph, you are entitled to publish one free Sublet listing.

To publish listings you must first "login". If you have already logged in, click on the My Account button just below the blue Student Life banner.

Once you have purchased a subscription plan, you can publish previously created listings by clicking on the Publish button under "existing listings" next to the listing you wish to make public.

The number of listings you can publish is dependent on the payment plan you purchased. If you have reached the maximum number of listings allowed under your subscription plan, you must unpublish a listing before publishing a different one.

A listing that says Not Published to the right of your listing menu is NOT displayed in the online listings.


Browsing and Viewing

How are listings designated as "Featured Listings" on the home page?

Featured listings are listings that have been chosen to be highlighted and represent only a select few of the hundreds of currently published listings.

A featured listing must have a photograph as we have generally found that listings with photographs generate much more interest from potential tenants.

In addition, only one listing per landlord can be featured at any given time.

Featured listings are automatically given a priority number based on the date that they were published. This determines the order in which they appear on the home page (newest listings first). Priority numbers can only be refreshed once every seven days.

How do I search through the listings?

Click on the "search listings" button just below the blue Student Life Banner. You can then enter the criteria that are relevant to you, and then click on the "search" button.

You do not need to complete all of the fields, only the ones that are of interest. In addition, once you have searched, you can always refine your search by clicking on "edit search".

You can also search for key words, such as "gay friendly" by typing the words into the "keyword search" field in the green sidebar.

 


City of Guelph

What is a Registered Accessory Apartment?

An accessory apartment may have no more than 2 bedrooms and can make up no more than 45% of the total area of the unit. An accessory apartment can exist only in detached and semi-detached homes. This registration is a one-time requirement.

The City of Guelph requires that accessory apartments be inspected to ensure that they meet the requirements of the Guelph Zoning Bylaw, the Ontario Building Code, and the Ontario Fire Code. Before renting a place you can request that the landlord provide you with a copy of the City of Guelph Approval Letter to prove that the unit has been inspected and approved by the City of Guelph.

What is a Certified Lodging House?

A lodging house is defined as a unit with 5 or more bedrooms (“lodging units”). A lodging house can be a house, a townhouse complex, or an apartment in an apartment building. A “lodging unit” is described as a room used to provide living accommodation without the private use of both a kitchen and bathroom. The certification is an annual requirement.

The City of Guelph requires that lodging houses be inspected to ensure that they meet the requirements of the Guelph Zoning Bylaw, the Ontario Building Code, and the Ontario Fire Code. Before renting a place youcan request that the landlord provide you with a copy of the City of Guelph Certification Letter to prove that the unit has been inspected and certified by the City of Guelph.

What does City Approved mean?

The City of Guelph requires that accessory apartments and lodging houses be inspected to ensure that they meet the requirements of the Guelph Zoning Bylaw, the Ontario Building Code, and the Ontario Fire Code. City Approval means that a City of Guelph staff member has inspected the property, and that it meets the standards for use as an accessory apartment or lodging house.

Even though a property has been approved, you should visit and view the property before renting it because City approval does not reflect damages since inspection, smoking damage, etc.

Before renting a place you can request that the landlord provide you with a copy of the City of Guelph letter to prove that the unit has been inspected by the City.

How do I list certified lodging houses and registered accessory apartments?

If you have an accessory apartment, legal duplex, or lodging house that has been inspected and approved by the City of Guelph, please fax us a copy of your Accessory Apartment Approval letter or your Lodging House Certification from the City so we can indicate the legal designation on your listing.  This makes your listing more marketable!  Our fax number is 519-824-2705.


Information for Landlords

When should I advertise my listing?

Students tend to look for housing in late January, February and March for May 1st occupancy, and during July and August for September 1st occupancy.  There are always a number of students looking at other times of the year.  

How much should I expect to rent my listing for?

Students look for accommodation that is affordable.  Most expect to pay $375 - $550 per month per person for a room with a shared kitchen and bathroom.

What does a housing surplus in Guelph mean for me?

Housing is plentiful! There continues to be an abundance of houses, apartments and rooms for anyone looking for rental accommodation, making Guelph a “Renters Market”.  Generally, this means that rentals stay on the market a little bit longer because there is more housing than demand. 

What kind of insurance do I need for my rental properties?

Insurance is an important issue when renting rooms.  Check with your insurance agent to see that your policy provides the appropriate liability, property and other coverage you require.  You generally will need extra insurance when renting out rooms.  If you are renting out a house or condominium, make sure you have adequate insurance to cover the dwelling as well as sufficient liability insurance.

What is the Residential Tenancies Act? How do I find out more?

For information on the Residential Tenancies Act please visit www.ltb.gov.on.ca.

How do rent increases work?

According to the Residential Tenancies Act, when a rental unit becomes vacant, the landlord may set the rent at an amount which she or he feels is fair market rent.  When at least 12 months have passed since the tenant first moved in or since the last rent increase, the rent can be increased by the guideline set each year by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.  For 2012, the increase is 3.1%.

Busy!  Busy!  Busy! 

During our busiest times, we know you may get our answering machine.  We check and respond to all voice mail.   Voice mail is available on a 24 hour basis.  You can also contact us by e-mail at ocho@uoguelph.ca .   

Disclaimer

The rental information contained on this web site has been supplied to the University of Guelph by others. The University of Guelph has not verified the information and is not responsible for the accuracy of the information or for any liability of any kind relating to or arising out of the information or any use of the information.

A listing displayed on the website is not, and does not imply a recommendation by the University of Guelph. Each user of these listings is responsible for verifying the accuracy of any information he/she may desire to use from these listings.

Use of the information constitutes acceptance of any risk of injury or loss of any kind relating to or arising out of his/her use of the information herein and a release of the University of Guelph, its employees, agents, contractors and representatives from liability of any kind relating to or arising out of the use of the information in these listings.

Off-Campus Housing Services is under no obligation to list accommodations. This service is designed to assist students, faculty and staff members of the University of Guelph, and the listing of properties is at the sole discretion of this office. The University is not responsible for damages, loss of income, or other loss as a result of the listing or not listing of any property.