Off Campus Housing FAQ

ON LANDLORDS …………

Is this Site for Anyone? Do I have to be a Student to List my Rental Property?

The SU Off-Campus Housing site offers services for two types of landlords wishing to list a rental property:

Current Students within Calgary and Surrounding Areas

  • If you are a student and hold a current student identification card from a recognized post-secondary institution you are entitled to list your rental property free of charge.

  • To list a rental property you must first register to receive a username (your email address) and password to use the site.

  • You must register in person at the SU office so we may verify your current student ID. After registration you can login to the site to manage/post your listing(s).

  • The SU office is located at MacEwan Student Centre, Room 251 - directly across the hall from Campus Security.
     

Landlords Who Are Not Students

  • If you are not a student but a landlord looking to rent to a student, you must first register with the site to receive a username (your email address) and password to use the site. Registration on the site is free.

  • Once you are registered you may list your rental property for a minimal fee of $ 15.00 (GST incl.) per address for a 2 week period.

  • This fee covers the administration costs of maintaining this free service for students.


ON REGISTERING …..

How Do I Register with the Site and/or Post a Listing?

  • You can create a user account by visiting the online registration page.  Once registered you can manage your listings through your online account.

  • You can also register and/or post a listing by:

    • Calling (403) 220-6553 to use our automated voice messaging system.

    • Calling (403) 220-6553 and providing your fax number (option #4 on our automated system). A form will be faxed to you. You may then fax your completed housing form to (403) 284-1653.

  • You may also wish to visit the SU office at MacEwan Student Centre Room 251, 2500 University Drive NW, to register and/or provide a listing in person.
     

As a Non-student Landlord, How Do I Make Payment to Post my Listing?

To make payment to post your listing ($15 per listing):

  • You may pay online. Our website is secured for online credit card payment (VISA, Mastercard).

  • You may visit our office during regular office hours (Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) to pay in person (cash, debit, or credit card).

  • You may phone our office at (403) 220-6551 during regular office hours (Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.) to provide your credit card information.
     

I Have Registered for an Off Campus Housing Account in the Past. Do I Need to Register Again?

In July, 2007, the SU improved the administrative component of its web site including introduction of a new username and password process.

If you have registered with the site since that date and received a username and password, you do not need to register again.  Your original username and password are still active. If you registered before and have not used the site since July 2007, you will have to re-register to receive a new username and password.

 

ON USERNAMES & PASSWORDS …..

What Do I Do if I Can't Remember my Username?

Your username is the email address you used to originally register for an account. If you have forgotten or no longer have access to this email address you will need to create a new account.
 

What Do I Do if I Have Forgotten My Password or Need a New Password?

To receive a new temporary password click Reset Your Password. This link can be found on the front page of the site. To receive a new temporary password you must know your username (your email address) and send the request from the same email address you used when you initially registered. Once requested, a new temporary password will be emailed to your email account.

Once you have logged in using your new temporary password, you have the option to change your password to something more relevant to you.

 

ON POSTING LISTINGS …..

Can I Post More Than One Listing?

  • If you are a current student listing a rental property or seeking a roommate there is no limit on the number of listings you can post.

  • If you are a non-student landlord you must pay a fee of $15 for each rental listing you wish to post. However, you may offer multiple accommodations  (e.g. bedsitting rooms)in one listing  if they are all located at the same address.

  • There is no limit on how many listings a non-student landlord may post provided the $15 administration fee per listing is paid.
     

Do I Have to Include my Personal Contact Information on my Listing?

  • When you place your listing you will be given the option of how much contact information you wish to include (e.g. first name, phone number, email address etc…). We recommend using only your first name and an email address in your listing.

  •  Please remember this site is an open site and anyone can view the rental listings;
     

ON DE-LISTING …..

What Do I Do if I Decide to End or Postpone my Listing or I Have Rented my Property Before the Two Week Listing Time Period has Ended?

  • Through your account you can manage your listings.

  • The site gives you an option to “activate“ each of your listings.

  • Your listing will not appear on the site if you have not chosen to “activate” the listing.

  • You can also choose at anytime to “de-activate” the listing. Again, your listing will not appear on the site if it has been deactivated.
     

ON SITE SECURITY …..

How Can I be Sure my Personal Information and Credit Card Information is Secure on this Site?

  • The Students' Union uses secure, encrypted web connections via Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) to protect your information.

  • If you notice that your web browser does not show the 'lock' icon anywhere on the bottom of your browser window or the web address on the page you are visiting does not start with “https:// “, then you should return to the homepage to ensure your web session is secure and encrypted.
     

ON SCREENING & ISSUES …..

Are Students or Landlords Screened?

  • The Students’ Union does not screen landlords or potential renters. This site is designed for students to search for available accommodations and for landlords to advertise rental properties available for student renters.

  • It is the responsibility of the landlord and the renter to determine the “best fit”. Students and landlords should use their own judgment before entering into a rental agreement. The Students' Union is not responsible for the rental properties that appear on this site and does not provide mediation between landlords and tenants.

  • Student renters and landlords should take it upon themselves to be informed about provincial/municipal standards and landlord/tenant rights.

  • Please visit our external links page to learn about municipal and provincial resources available for landlords and tenants.

Can the SU Help Me if I am Having Difficulty with a Landlord, Renter or Rental Property?

  • No. This site is not an advocacy or referral site and the SU does not participate in landlord/tenant issues including quality of property, missed rent, unreturned damage deposits or other issues.

  • Please visit our external links page to learn about municipal and provincial resources available for landlords and tenants including municipal guidelines for a legal suite, tenant/landlord grievances and mediation and your rights as a renter or landlord.
     

ON TYPES OF RENTERS ……

Am I Able to Specify the Type of Renter to Whom I am Wishing to Rent (e.g. male/female, age etc…)?

  • For safety and security reasons, roommates or landlords looking to share their homes are permitted to state whether they would like a specific gender or personality type.

  • If an accommodation is an entire separate unit, gender preferences are not permitted under discrimination laws.

ON OUR FEES …..

Why Does the Students' Union Charge for Posting a Listing?

  • The SU Off-Campus Housing Site is a free service for current University of Calgary undergraduate students. Current students can not only browse the site but also list their own accommodations for free if they are looking to rent or hoping to find a roommate.

  • For landlords who are not students of the U of C, a minimal fee of $15 allows the landlord to list rental properties on the site for a time period of two weeks. This fee covers the administration costs of maintaining this free service for students and is small compared to the cost of classified advertising in newspapers.