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Housing and Accommodations in Vancouver
On
Campus
Students and faculty have a couple of options for
housing when they arrive. One important fact to
note is Vancouver is one of the most expensive
cities to live in North America. For this reason
the University offers on campus subsidised housing
for faculty, post-doctoral fellows and students.
Faculty are eligible to apply for The
University
Apartments
which range from one- to three- bedroom apartments.
However, because of the large demand, the lease
agreements are limited to a three year stay.
Students and post-doctorates with or without
families have a variety of different types of
on-campus
housing
to choose from. There are dorm rooms, shared
apartments, individual apartments, private studios
and townhouses. One drawback to living on campus is
the distance between UBC and downtown Vancouver.
Downtown and the rest of Vancouver is a good
bus-ride away from UBC. Still, many people prefer
to live on campus for convenience, cost and the
added benefit of being close to a beach and the
large cedar forest which borders UBC. For this
reason there are many waiting lists so it is
important to apply as soon as possible for
housing.
Off Campus
housing is not hard to locate but acceptable ones at a reasonable price
can be hard to locate, particularly in the weeks before academic school terms start.
For anyone who is considering buying a house or apartment which has been constructed in
the last twenty to twentyfive years it is absolutely
necessary they do extensive research into its
construction as there was a rash of very poorly
built and leaking buildings raised. For those who
are planning to rent the most common type of
accommodations are basement apartments. In most
cases a family has decided to renovate their
basement as an alternative source of money. The
amount of renovation varies greatly so it is
imperative to check them out first to determine if
they have basic necessities (i.e. stove, bathroom
etc.) and that they do not leak. There are many
advantages to living closer to the city and its
centre, i.e in Kitsilano if you want to live close to waterfront.
Vancouver's urban districts differ from each other
a lot it terms of price and quality of the residential environment.
(The personal insiders' tip of the
webmaster
is the neighborhood of Sorry-Not-In-Service
due to its apparently best
bus
connection at night; )
When hesitating to rent a basement place,
joining a shared place may be a cost and time effective housing option
that typically includes access to a fully equipped kitchen, a living room,
and sometimes a garden. Sharing places may be particularly interesting
for those who are moving to Vancouver from overseas with minimal luggage
and perhaps some shortness of financial funds at beginning.
You also may consider renting a full house to share with class mates and friends.
One good place to start looking for apartments and houses to rent is certainly
the local newspaper. Increasingly popular however are the webpages of
AMS
or
Craigslist
that both list different types of housing for
rent. In addition, AMS has also set up a very useful phone line (604.714.4848).
If on campus find in the
Student Union Building
the noticebord in basement that is dedicated to accommodations.
More detailed and useful information can be found at the website of
UBC Student Housing and Hospitality Services.
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