Priority for the unfurnished, university apartments is given to student families. Each campus Housing Service maintains listings of available off-campus housing advertised by city landlords and by students seeking others to join them. The Student Housing Service at the Koffler Student Services Centre will provide a list of temporary accommodation on request. Housing is usually advertised about four to six weeks in advance of the date it becomes available for occupancy. At the Student Housing Service, students search by type of accommodation, area of the city, and price range.
Free phones are available for student use to contact landlords.
It generally takes one to three weeks for a student to locate suitable accommodation, depending on the type of housing desired and budget. Since accommodation is not inspected, the quality cannot be estimated or guaranteed. Therefore it is very important for students to meet with the landlord and inspect the premises before entering any agreement. After paying an initial deposit, the balance of fees are usually paid in two instalments at the beginning of each of the four-month fall and winter sessions. Each suite contains bedrooms, bathrooms, a kitchen, and a living area.