If you’re a student whose house has a mouldy tub, cracked walls and Ghettobugs, you’re not alone. Fortunately, you don’t have to take it. But it’s your responsibility to do something about it.
Many students believe they need to settle for dilapidated houses—either fearing that they won’t find anything better, or believing that it’s part of the Queen’s experience. Well, delude yourselves no further. There isn’t a housing shortage, and—as tenants—students have more power over their landlords than they may think.
This may be your first time renting, which makes it especially important not to rush into any decisions. For those who know nothing about signing leases, now is the time to learn about the process.
Just because you don’t have a signed and sealed deal by Reading Week doesn’t mean that all of the clean, affordable houses close to campus will be taken. By September 2006, there were 400 rooms still available for rent. There’s no need to panic, or to allow a housing shortage “myth” to rush you into a decision you may soon regret. Taking the time to make informed decisions now will save a ton of time, energy and stress in future years.
For those upper-year students who have already decided to forgo the house hunt and remain in their Ghettohouse for another faithful year, it’s important to make use of the resources available to help you
enforce property standards and ensure your landlord is held accountable. One useful group available to assist students is the AMS’s Student Property Assessment Team, who will visit houses, upon equest, and ensure living conditions are in accordance with the city’s bylaws. It’s important that students take advantage of this (and other) free resources if they feel their house is not up to the city’s—or their—standards.
Out of all the complaints the Kingston property standards office receives, the fewest for a house’s interior come from the Ghetto. Other Kingston residents are taking initiative, and students can no longer expect landlords and the city to enforce property standards for them—if you’re unhappy, be pro-active and take charge of your living arrangements.
Students can often be heard complaining of the city’s property standards, but the standards aren’t the problem; the standards are there, and so are the means of enforcement—students simply aren’t using
them. Landlords will only stop exploiting students when students demand otherwise. Your choice in a house, landlord and housemates can have a significant effect on your social and academic life, making it even more important to take your time and choose wisely.
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