OLA in the news across Canada: Student Housing

[Marc]

This is going to become a hot topic for undergrads. They will find out they can't do anything if in residence and start going after the private providers.

Can you elaborate about the undergrads? Are they different from the 2nd or 3rd year students? Also, the schools know this is a problem. They could educate their students by providing some kind of rental info/rental kit. The schools could make their concerns known to the landlords.

If one of these homes had a fire, the schools & city would then start to make changes...and quickly. The landlords that need to worry about this are the ones who are being greedy & unresponsible. No us.

Rusty I manage a lot of rentals marketed to students. What I mean about undergrads are years 1-4. Most of the places I manage are nice. The ones that could use upgrades are cheap, and they are cheap because they need upgrades. Students are told about the LTB from the school housing departments. Most don't care and want a carefree lifestyle. It's the non-student neighbors who are the ones with complaints, not the students.

[Rusty]

Hi Marc,

Thanks for your response. You must have some interesting stories to tell. I only have one student who is living in a very comfortable 1 bdrm condo. Our intention was to rent to students only but I inherited some tenants at another property & it's ok except for the one I'm working on evicting now...that's another story. Actually, we're going to change our strategy & future rentals will be higher end, cost more & possibly furnished.

According to the article, imo, the conditions that these students are living in is unacceptable. I find it hard to believe that all of these students understand that they have rights they can exercise. It makes me mad when I see landlords treating people like this & only adds to the negative stereotype. I certainly hope that someone is advocating for them. I am pleased when my tenant's say to me that their friends wish they had as nice a place that they have.

Also, in the article it's the students who are complaining not the neigbours. Once they do get more educated on their rights there's going to be a whole lot of renovations or fines being paid. I have no empathy for this type of landlord.

[Hawk]

Allow damage deposits, and the quality of 'student landlord' will rise fast.

[rcole23]

I take offence to this article and the "oh poor me" bias attitude conveyed in it by students.

The only reason everything is "deteriorating at an extreme rate" is because the general populous is allowed to destroy it without consequence.

As for thrifty landlords, if anyone here follows my other posts I ask the question, how long are we suppose to just keep paying for other individuals living accommodations? The "they destroy it we fix it" cycle gets old pretty fast.

Give me the ability to conduct a proper business and I will provide you with a proper home.

The only way to make money w/ students that destroy property is to leave the home as they left it and keep renting it out.

Give me an enforceable action and stop blaming me for the consequences tenants cause. Again an instance where we have all the responsibility but none of the power to act.