The best places to live on and off campus
Posted on Tuesday, November 13th, 2018
Thinking about moving to Ottawa for school? Great! …But where are you going to live? Whether it’s our Residence or other off-campus housing, here are a few things to think about.
On-Campus – Residence Life
If the idea of rolling out of bed and into class appeals to you, you can’t get much closer than living in Residence. It’s the most convenient option for students who want easy access to classes, campus living, and friends. You’ll be steps away from the College, transportation, restaurants and shopping.
When you move into Residence, you’re part of a community from day one. You’ll meet lots of new people and some of those friendships will last a lifetime. And there’s always lots going on, too — our Residence Life Team hosts a variety of events to bring students together.
Applications to live in Res are on a first-come, first-serve basis. So if you’re thinking of living there, get your application in ASAP because as soon as it’s full, it’s full!
Off-Campus Options – So Many Choices!
Will you live alone or with friends? In an apartment or house? Which area? Start researching places to live now so you get an idea of the cost of off-campus housing. Ottawa has so many great neighbourhoods and location is a really important factor, too. Do you want to live close to Algonquin so you can walk or bike to class? Or would you rather live downtown? The cost of rent will vary depending on the location. Google Maps is a great tool to see how far a rental is from Algonquin.
Many students opt for something like a studio or one bedroom apartment so they can live alone and avoid roommate hassles. But if you live with roommates, you may be able to rent a house together and have a lot more living space for a similar (or even cheaper) price.
Search Options
If you’re not familiar with Ottawa, starting your search online is usually your best bet. Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji and Craigslist are great resources. Make sure to do your research on the different areas and on each landlord when looking into places to live.
The Students’ Association is another great source to search for student housing in the area. Please note, the SA does not inspect the units and can’t make any recommendations about the rental but does appreciate hearing of any unsatisfactory experiences to avoid future issues.
Once you have an idea of where you want to live, schedule some appointments with landlords and make a road trip to see the places in person! Bring your parents or a friend so they can check out the spaces with you — it’s always great to have a second set of eyes… after all, you’re likely signing a lease for a year.
Moving is always stressful, no matter how old you are or how excited you may be. The sooner you find a place to live and take care of the details, the less you’ll have to worry about when the big day happens. Then you can sit back and enjoy all the fun and excitement that comes with starting your new life at college. You got this!
- Posted in
- Campus & Community College Life