How to Identify Bad Student Housing


When looking for housing near McMaster University, your main concern should be in finding a place that feels like home. Unfortunately, many places advertised as student apartments are in bad condition or are poorly run. An on campus McMaster residence isn't your only option if you want to avoid your own personal horror story — just be aware of the warning signs.

Search for Reviews

If you’re considering an apartment community, you may be able to find reviews online. This is also possible if the owners have multiple properties. You shouldn’t be too concerned by a single negative review along with a number of positive ones (after all, people are more motivated to leave reviews when they’ve had a less-than-great experience). However, a large amount of negative feedback for an apartment is definitely a warning sign.

Research the Neighbourhood

In the case that you’re unable to find reviews about housing, you should at least be able to read about the neighborhood. Plus, just walking around and getting a feel for the place can tell you a lot about safety. Signs of crime can include graffiti, unkempt landscaping, and bars on windows.

Talk to Current Tenants

If the current tenants are present when you receive the viewing, talk to them about their experience living in the apartment. In fact, you should try to talk to as many people in the building as possible to gain different viewpoints.

Check for Damage

Turn on all the lights, try out all the appliances, and test the electrical outlets. Everything should be working. Promises that things will be fixed is not good enough — they should have already been repaired. Also look for dirt and damage (especially water damage) in less-obvious places like inside cabinets, behind closets, and to the flooring.

Trust Your Gut

You must feel that you can trust the property manager or landlord. Whoever shows you the place should be willing to answer your questions and give you sufficient time to examine the place. Furthermore, you should never feel pushed into signing a lease. Lastly, if a price seems too good to be true, take this as an indication that it probably is.
Places like West Village Suites, which is run by a professional property management company, are more accountable and therefore more likely to provide you with a better experience. West Village Suites is a particularly excellent option, as it is designed just for students and has many extras on site, including a recreation centre, a yoga studio, and study lounges.

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