This month, the AMS Municipal Affairs Commission (MAC) posted a new online housing guide to aid Queen’s students with the house-hunting process.
One of executive Team CYZ’s six campaign promises, the guide outlines strategies on things like choosing housemates, viewing properties and signing leases.
MAC commissioner Libby Shaker said the AMS also plans to establish an online chat forum for students to share information about specific houses in the Ghetto.
The new online housing guide is a combination of various tips and factoids from existing resources rather than a reservoir of original material, but it is nonetheless a great tool for students looking to conduct a successful house hunt.
Faced with new decisions of great financial magnitude, first-years embarking on the house hunt will especially benefit from the MAC’s guidelines. The new housing guide’s easy accessibility and unified approach should ensure that most students who consult it are equipped to make informed decisions.
The MAC’s plans to add a discussion forum to the website by the end of the school year are promising. Dialogue among students is the most effective way to share the inside scoop on local accommodations.
The housing guide contains information on how to best choose your housemates, but it’s unlikely most students will take this advice. Discovering the types of people you are best suited to room with is more a question of living and learning than it is a fact that can be gleaned from a website.
The idea to develop a housing guide was one of Team CYZ’s best, but their promise will not be entirely fulfilled unless the site is properly promoted and maintained. The MAC should continue to update the housing guide so it remains relevant and should also advertise it widely.
One of the most important things to highlight for new house-hunters is the importance of being a good tenant and treating local properties with respect. Queen’s students should think of themselves as residents of Kingston rather than just visitors, and prioritize good relationships with neighbours and landlords. This is an area of tenant education the MAC would do well to target in the future.
First-time house-hunters shouldn’t let the January housing hype fill them with a false sense of urgency. With no discernable housing shortage in Kingston, house-hunters can approach the MAC’s new guide knowing there will be a place for everyone.
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