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6 Wednesday, March 19, 2014HOUSING
THERES NO
PLACE LIKEHOME
Finding a place to live is no easy task.
Were not in kindergarten anymore you
cant just build a house out of foam blocks
and expect to happily go about your day-
to-day life drinking apple juice out of a
fancy teacup.This is the real world and in the real world,
most people prefer to live in buildings made
out of bricks none of this straw-or-sticks
bullshit. But preferences aside, the search
for an apartment can be overwhelming and
cause unnecessary headaches. At times, opt-
ing for a nice, cozy box on the street may
even seem like a promising alternative.
But have no fear, The Eyeopeneris here
to give you the 4-1-1 on everything you
need to know about finding a place in
downtown Toronto.
Unlike other university towns in Ontar-
io like London or Kingston, Toronto isnt
exactly known for having a lot of readilyavailable housing students can actually af-
ford. This can make the search for a place
that much more difficult, as many build-
ings close to campus come with a price tag
high enough to make your bank account
weep.
But regardless of whether youre a
penthouse-suite type or a dingy basement-
apartment dweller, there is a place out
there suited for your budget and lifestyle
its just a matter of finding it. Lucky for
you, weve got you covered.
Need to know which neighbourhood
best suits your personality? No problem.
Theres a perfect spot for all you misun-derstood hipsters, tortured artists and Jer-
sey Shore wannabes.
Would you prefer not to share your
room with rodents and bed bugs? Well
give you the lowdown on which areas in
the city to watch out for (unless youre a
fan of odd pets, in which case well tell
you where to find them).
Do housing contracts make you want to
put your hand through a paper shredder
We can save you a trip to the hospital and
unnecessary pain by laying out the basics
Have a roommate whos made you con
sider leaving the city to pursue life as a
hermit? Theres an article for that too.We hope that this series of pages wil
make finding an apartment seem a bit less
daunting and prevent you from carving
out your eyes with a rusty spoon.
ByNicoleSchmidt
PHOTO ILLUSTRATION: JESS TSANG
The Eyeopeners guide to finding a placeto hang your hat in the tangled mess that isdowntown housing
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8 Wednesday, March 19, 2014HOUSING
THE WHOS WHO
OF TORONTO
NEIGHBOURHOODSThe EyeopenersArts and Life editor, Leah Hansen, gives you thedefinitive, student-tested descriptions of all the neighbourhoodsyouve heard of but havent been to
1. Church-Wellesley Village
Fondly known as The Village, the area
around Church and Wellesley streets is
home to Torontos LGBTQ community.
The area features a huge variety of inclu-
sive nightclubs, restaurants and arts ven-
ues. Its also the site of the annual Pride
parade, the largest event of its kind in
Canada. The area is popular with students
because of the wide range of housing
available theres a good mix of low-riseapartments, detached or semi-detached
Victorian homes and high-rise buildings.
2. Central Downtown
One of the most in-demand areas in the
city, apartments here go fast. Amenities
are always steps away and the most pop-
ular areas of the city such as the Dis-
tillery District, the Entertainment District
and City Hall are all within walking
distance. The downtown core is also the
hub of Torontos public transport system.
Living downtown is expensive, but if
youre willing to pay for the convenienceor to have a lot of roommates, its well
worth it.
3. Cabbagetown/St. James Town
Cabbagetown got its nickname from
Irish immigrants who moved to the
area in the 1840s and grew cabbage in
their front lawns. Its the largest area
of preserved Victorian houses in North
America and became a heritage con-
servation district in 2004. St. James
Town, while close in proximity to Cab-
bagetown, is actually one of Torontos
economically deprived neighbourhoods.Its the largest high-rise community in
Canada and the most densely populated.
4. The Annex
The Annex has a massive student popu-
lation the rent isnt sky high and its
proximity to big-name schools and con-
venient transit lines make it the best of
both worlds for cash-strapped under
grads. The tree-lined streets and beautifu
architecture dont hurt either. The area is
incredibly pedestrian-friendly, as its many
businesses and amenities cater to the stu-
dent residents. Young professionals andfamilies settle here as well, making the
area one of the trendiest in the city.
6. The Beaches
An incredibly popular tourist destina-
tion, the Beaches is located at the very
east end of Queen Street and is known
(and named) for the one long stretch of
uninterrupted sandy shoreline, which
runs approximately three kilometres. Its
arguably one of the most scenic areas of
the city with tree-lined streets, cottage-
like houses and wide-open views of LakeOntario. Its proximity to public transit
the 501 streetcar runs here all the way
from downtown make it an attrac-
tive option for students on a budget who
dont mind the commute.
7. Regent Park/Moss Park
Regent Park is technically a big housing
project one of Canadas oldest and larg-
est. Originally home to Torontos slum dis-
trict in the early 1900s, the current projects
were built to alleviate high crime rates. The
area is now known for a high rate of pov-
erty and unemployment and above-average
rates of crime and drug abuse. Moss Park is
also home to housing projects. Both areasare almost exclusively rented out. Due to a
city revitalization plan, the area is current-
ly undergoing a massive redevelopment
with the goal of creating a more mixed-
income neighbourhood.
8. Chinatown/Kensington Market
Kensington Market was designated
a national historic site of Canada in
2006. Its a Toronto landmark and one
of its biggest tourist destinations with
its large outdoor market, rich history
and European-esque pedestrian friend-
liness. Chinatown is also one of Toron-
tos most well-known neighbourhoods
its one of the largest ethnic Chi-nese enclaves in North America. Both
areas are incredibly student-friendly,
with their close proximity to ma-
jor schools in the area and excellent
budget-friendly shopping options.
9. Little Italy/Palmerston
Both Little Italy and Palmerston are
famously close-knit neighbourhoods
Theres a heavy Italian cultural pres
ence with numerous Italian restaurants
and businesses and an abundance of caf
patios. Since the 1980s, the area has be-
come popular with students and youth
for its vibrant nightlife many young
professionals have also moved into theareas Edwardian homes. If you like the
small-town feel, but need the conve-
nience of being near downtown, Little
Italy or Palmerston might be right for
you.
5. High Park
Primarily a residential neighbourhood, High
Park makes up in leafy greenery what it lacks
in amenities. Even though its not exactly down-
town, rent can still be fairly high simply because
of its proximity to the very popular park of the
same name one of the largest green spaces in
the city. During the summer, the area is especial
ly crowded with Torontonians looking to escape
the confines of skyscrapers and traffic. Living
near so much nature is sure to have its benefits
but be prepared to deal with the Toronto Transi
Commission on a near-daily basis.
Both Moss Park and Regent Park are dominated by community housing co-ops and row houses.
PHOTO: LEAH HANSEN PHOTO: JESS TSANG
Both Little Italy and Palmerston are known for their wide sidewalks and open-air cafs.
PHOTO: KATII CAPERN
A residential street in High Park.
PHOTO: JESS TSANG
A view of Church-Wellesley Village looking north from Church Street. An aerial view of Cabbagetown and St. James Town looking south toward Lake Ontario.
PHOTO: NATALIA BALCERZAK
5/28/2018 The Eyeopener Housing Issue
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9Wednesday, March 19, 2014 HOUSING
BEFORE YOU SIGN...
A landlord must provide a lease, which is a contract that lets you (the ten-ant) stay in the property for a set period of time. It includes how much your
rent will cost and what it covers. They must fix anything that breaks or does not work properly (for example:
a broken refrigerator, a clogged drain or leaking pipes). Dont forget this bylaw they have to help you get rid of pests like mice,
termites and those dreaded bed bugs.
The landlords responsibilities
You must fix any item(s) you purposely break. Thatwall you punched in a drunken stupor? Better call acontractor.
If you need something fixed, write it down when youfirst move in. Give that sheet to your landlord, so thatthere is proof that you told the landlord of the damage.
CLEAN. Please. You do not want to deal with fruitflies or other pests just because youre too lazy to dothe dishes.
The further away you live from campus, the cheaperthe rent may be. However, that means that you mightneed to take transit to get to campus. A post-second-ary TTC metropass costs $108 and cash fare is $3 perride, so keep that in mind when looking for a place.
Your responsibilities
A landlord is NOT allowed to refuse you their proper-ty on the basis of race, gender, orientation, age, maritalstatus, family status or citizenship. If youre on socialassistance or have a disability, these are not valid rea-sons for a landlord to refuse you the chance to applyfor a lease.
Before you move in to your new crib, your landlordwill ask you for the first and last months rent. You canonly start unpacking after you pay. If your landlordasks you for a damage deposit, you do NOT have togive it to them. That is illegal. Your last months rent
IS the damage deposit. Your landlord will probably ask for someone else, aguarantor, to cosign the lease. This way, if you dontpay the rent, the cosigner has to pay.
If you have a pet, a landlord can choose to not rent toyou. But if your landlord already knew of your pet(s)when you moved in, they cannot evict you on that basis.
Some contracts include utilities, but others dont. Utili-ties include heating, water, electricity, cable and inter-net. If utilities arent included, expect to pay around$200 for a unit per month on top of rent.
When your lease expires, you do not have to renew it.The original terms of the lease still apply, but it willnow be on a month-to-month basis.
Contracts
Sublets? A sublet is when you (the tenant) want to temporarily
lease your place to another person. Your landlord MUST be aware that you are subletting
the property to another person. If the subtenant moves in without the landlord
knowing, thats bad. If the landlord finds out within60 days, the subtenant can be evicted.
The landlord CANNOT deny your request to subletwithout a valid reason, such as a poor credit score.A credit score is a background check to determine howtrustworthy you are in paying back your debt.
The landlord CANNOT charge the subtenant anyextra fees.
Know your rights. For furtherinformation on landlord and tenantrights in Ontario, go to www.ltb.gov.on.ca/en.
Always beware of pests. In residen-tial areas, watch out for bed bugs.If you choose a place in a commer-cial area like Chinatown, the highamount of restaurants may attractrodents and cockroaches. Eitherway, clean regularly and things willbe easier for you.
PHOTO: FARNIA FEKR
By Erin Petrowand Lara Onayak
5/28/2018 The Eyeopener Housing Issue
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ROOMMATE SURVIVAL 101Everything you need to know about coexisting with a roommate
At times, living with another person can be challenging.PHOTO: JESS TSANG
By Olivia McLeod
Weve all heard roommate horror
stories: cruel practical jokes, petty
theft, bodily harm, suspicious dis-
appearances the list goes on.
Although there can be days where
pushing your roommate off a bal-
cony seems like the only solution,
it is possible to maintain sanity.
Valerie Bruce, Ryerson Student
Housing Services communica-
tions and residence service desk
facilitator, suggests creating a
roommate contract (look to TheBig Bang Theoryfor inspiration).
Having a contract, which [may]
sound silly, helps because its very
clear, Bruce said. If you make
that before you move in together,
then when there is a conflict and
a discussion around an issue, you
can use those as statements and ex-
press how youre feeling.
Although it might seem obvious,
being honest and straightforward
is key. Did your roommate eat all
of your cereal? Instead of seekingrevenge by peeing on their tooth-
brush, confront them. In some sce
narios, they might not even realize
they did something wrong. Ad-
dressing the issue (and by address-
ing I mean talking about it, not
leaving passive-aggressive Post-it
notes on the bathroom mirror) is
the best way to solve the problem
[Its like] making mountains
out of molehills. Theres a smal
incident, you could go talk to
them about it and deal with it
quickly. Instead, you leave it
you stew about it, a couple more
things happen and then you explode, Bruce said.
The root of a problem (or a so-
lution) can be dependent on who
you decide to live with. Just be-
cause youre good friends, that
doesnt always mean youll be
good roommates it varies de-
pending on personality type.
Samir Ballou, a second-year
radio and television arts student
lives with a close friend he met in
residence. For him, the experience
has been positive.
We both are very lenient, so
we put up with just about any an
tics, he said. All in all, the key is
sharing and putting up with [each
other] at our worst and being fine
with it.
But others, like second-year
business management student
Fiona Watt have found themselves
in the opposite situation.
Watt lives in a five-bedroom
house. In the past year, four peo-
ple have moved out. She attributes
clashing personalities as the rea-
son behind this.
Dont live with your best friend
because you wont be best friends
by the end of the lease, Watt said
I think it honestly comes down
to how you were raised and howyou lived your life before you met
these roommates.
To find replacements, Watt post
ed ads on websites like Craigslist
and Kijiji outlining the qualities
she wanted in a potential room
mate. After a few weeks, she
found suitable matches.
Finding a roommate and being
able to coexist with them is a chal-
lenge. But if you can make the es-
sential readjustments required to
keep everyone happy, there wil
be no need to curse the day your
roommate was born.
Check out www.theeyeopener
com for more roommate-surviva
advice and additional tips on how
to find a roommate.
10 Wednesday, March 19, 2014HOUSING
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