St. George Housing

[medtes08]

Hi!

Very excited to receive my offer to the St. George Campus. I've started to take a look at apartments on condos/ca/kijiji/padmapper.....to live on your own do you really have to pay 1800-2000/month?? Is there anyone living on their own who pays less?? What would you say standard rent is?

 

If you have any tips on finding housing at all, I'd appreciate it :) 

[Bambi]

If it sounds too good to be true, you are dealing with a scammer. Finding rental accommodation is difficult as there is a shortage, so rents are high.

[MedsHousing.com]

You can try www.MedsHousing.com  as seen in CFMS (Canadian Federation of Medical Students ) "Review" Journal.

Also recommended in the UofT PGME orientation manual and multiple medical schools across Canada and US.

It is a local Canadian startup. The ads are screened as best can be given the tools. You still must do your due diligence. There is also a private FB page " to join "MedsHousing Canadian Roommate Board" . You can post and connect with other medical trainees. FYI: You must answer the screening questions to be accepted..

Re scammers: There are literally hundreds of creative scammers. They are very skilled. 

Here are some tips to ferret out scammers:

ALWAYS Google:

• phone numbers if provided
• email addresses (you may find they have posted on multiple housing web sites in various countries and cities) *Red Flag*
• Google the landlord or contact name
• Ask for a SKYPE or Facetime conversation and tour
• google the text used to advertise. Often it is copied directly from a sales ad or a legitimate rental site.
• use your common sense. If there is a view of the Golden Gate Bridge in the background and the listing is for Edmonton *Red Flag*
• ALWAYS Google the address and see what comes up
• ask for references of multiple previous tenants (medical is ideal)
• ask for proof of ownership or written approval of owner to rent or sublet (often bylaws in condos do not allow for sublet or AirBNB) also a classic scam is as follows: Scammer rents an AIrBNB. They take photos and post on Craigslist and kijiji for an unreasonably low price=encouraging crowds to want the property. (frequent in Toronto and Vancouver)  Scammer offers appointments. Scammers may have friends line up to put pressure on prospects. Prospect feels pressure, fills in lease, pays first and last or a deposit, returns move in date and no such property exists. We have run into many people who have been scammed this way.

Google "Rental scams CBC " Rental scams AirBNB" and you will see the creativity of these criminals.

 

good Luck! Happy to answer any questions.