Listing Your Property with Off-Campus Living

Interactive Rental Listing Website

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 per day.  Promotional descriptions and photos are included in all payment plans.

When to List & How Much                                       

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.  

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.

Rental 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. 

Insurance

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.

Residential Tenancies Act

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

Rent Increases

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 2010, the increase is 2.1%.

 

City of Guelph Regulation Highlights

Windows in Bedrooms

All bedrooms must have windows large enough for escape to the outside during a fire or other emergency.  As an owner, you have a responsibility to ensure the safety of the accommodations for your tenants.  Please visit www.guelph.ca for more information on building and fire code regulations.

Provide Adequate Heat

The City of Guelph Property Standards By-law states that every building shall be provided with a heating system capable of maintaining an indoor ambient temperature of 21 degrees Celsius in all occupied areas.  No portable heating equipment shall be used as the primary source of heat in any room.

Lodging Houses & Accessory Apartments

The City of Guelph has zoning bylaws that apply to lodging houses and accessory apartments. A lodging house is defined either as a dwelling with 5 or more “lodging units” (type 1) or a townhouse complex or apartment building where one or more dwelling units are used to provide 5 or more lodging units for rental purposes (type 2). A lodging unit is described as a room used to provide living accommodation without the private use of both a kitchen and bathroom.

Accessory apartments can exist only in detached and semi-detached homes. These apartments may have no more than 2 bedrooms and can make up no more than 45% of the total area of the unit to a maximum of 80m2.

There are also specific parking regulations for these types of units. 

It is important to know that while the municipal definition of a lodging house has changed, there are still fire regulations that apply to houses with more than 4 occupants. 

For more information please visit www.guelph.ca.

Listing your Certified Lodging Houses & 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.

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

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.