If you’re looking to find student apartments for rent, there are a few things you should first consider. And once you do move in, there’s even more to keep in mind. But renting an Ottawa apartment while you attend university is a great decision, and if you do it intelligently, you’ll soon come to love your new off-campus home. Keep these things in mind:
GETTING FROM YOUR APARTMENT TO CAMPUS
This goes into your lifestyle and personal preferences. Do you drive to school everyday? Some students like to treat their school day like a full time job – even if they only have two or three hours of classes, they’ll spend their day on campus getting extra work done and studying. When they get home it means its time to relax and recharge in their apartment. If you’re like this, you can get an apartment anywhere in Ottawa.
On the other hand, some people study best at home, and don’t mind walking back and forth between their apartment and class. In this case, you obviously need an apartment that’s right next to your university. Because you might be searching for downtown Ottawa apartments, this might end up being more expensive, but there are excellent student apartments for rent if you keep your eye out.
Finally, there are those who are in between. Perhaps if you have a class you’ll spend an extra hour or two at the library getting some work done, but other than that you’ll get your studying in wherever and whenever is convenient. If this sounds like you, you don’t need to rent an Ottawa apartment right next to campus, but you also don’t want to be too far away. However, you can go farther out if you have convenient transportation – whether you have a bike, a car, or quick access to one of OC Transpo’s bus routes or O-train stations. If you do rely on the bus or train, always keep in mind where you are relative to the major stops and stations.
SHARING YOUR APARTMENT WITH HOUSEMATES
One of the best ways to save money during your time at university (and beyond) is to rent a two-bedroom apartment or a three-bedroom apartment with other people.
However, you should be careful when considering who to live with. If you like to stay up late listening to music and watching TV, your housemate trying to finish his or her PhD dissertation might not appreciate the distraction. Similarly, while you might love nothing more than the look and smell of a clean kitchen, your housemate might like nothing less than cleaning up their dishes.
Once you have chosen your housemates, be sensible and remember that living with other people takes common sense and a bit of patience. You won’t always agree and you won’t always have the same routines. For example, if you have different sleep schedules, try not to place your TV outside your bedroom door.
FINDING A GOOD STUDENT APARTMENT FOR RENT
Just as with any apartment for rent, you’ll want to get a good idea of what’s out there, and when you sign the lease, you’ll want to do it with a reliable company.
But you also have to consider your student lifestyle. Are there other students in the building? And if so, will they be throwing huge parties while you’re trying to sleep the night before your neurosurgery practical exam?
Further, consider cooking. How much do you really cook? Do you enjoy cooking and require a full kitchen to make the most of all the ingredients you’ve purchased on a budget? Or does a “food budget” translate to filling up your apartment with large quantities of ramen noodles and Kraft Dinner? If you often eat out, are you close to affordable restaurants? There are plenty of restaurants and grocery stores all over Ottawa, and depending on your priorities, you may want to keep that in mind.
Contact District Realty today if you’re looking for affordable and convenient Ottawa student apartments for Carleton University and Ottawa University. We have lots of options available for our student tenants.
