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Housing at Champlain College
Saint-Lambert
Our Student Services Department maintains a Housing Registry that
will assist you in locating apartments and rooms in the vicinity of
the college. The facilities in the Registry are not inspected by Student
Services although a general screening is maintained. Be sure to read
all the "hints" in this brochure before you go apartment
or room hunting. The lease that you sign or the arrangement that you
undertake in the case of a private home is your responsibility. Your
comments on the facilities listed in the Housing Registry are always
welcome.
Types of Housing
Apartments:
Most apartments are not furnished, but they will often
have a refrigerator and stove. However, utility costs
(e.g. heat and electricity, etc.) may or may not be
included in the rent. Students should be very cautious
before signing any lease and inquire about any "extras"
that may cost more.
In the newspaper, an apartment
will be described as 1-1/2, 2-1/2 etc. The "1/2"
usually refers to the bathroom. For example, a 2-1/2
room apartment would include a bedroom, living room
with a small kitchenette, and bathroom. A 3-1/2 would
be the same, but would have a separate room for the
kitchen. The rent will vary according to the size of
the apartment, the building, the area it is located
in and the facilities offered.
Rent & Prices
Prices vary according to location, demand and facilities
offered (e.g furnished or not). Approximate costs vary
between $400 a month to $750 a month depending on the
size of the apartment (1-1/2, 2-1/2, 3-1/2 and 4-1/2).
Private
Homes: Room with
Kitchen Privileges
This type of accommodation has proven to be popular and
is most affordable. The student prepares his or her meals
in the home at a lower cost than restaurant or cafeteria
dining.
Rooms with Meals Provided
Depending on the arrangements made with the family, this
type of accommodation allows for two or three meals a
day included in the rent. This can be quite a handy situation
providing that it is convenient for you to be home for
all of your meals. If not, perhaps you should stick to
a room with kitchen privileges.
Rent
& Prices
With kitchen privileges
$60 - $80 per week (room and board)
With meals
$80 - $110 per week (room and board)
Tips & Pointers
when
you're looking for a place to stay, keep these points
in mind...
Owners
of a private home are reluctant to rent early because
a student may not pass his or her final high school
exams, might not be accepted to the College, might
change his or her mind, etc. August is usually the
best month to look for a place to stay because, by
then, most of the above facts are known. Neat
appearance helps to make a good impression. Use
the Student Services Housing Registry, but remember
that there are other resources available. Speak
to other students. Remember, word of mouth can get
you a great apartment or room. Check
the classified ads in the Montreal and South Shore
newspapers. The Courier du Sud is a good source of
information. Check
the bulletin boards in the local shopping centres,
grocery stores, etc. Sharing
an apartment with another student can be cheaper than
renting on your own. If you are interested, stop by
Student Services and place an announcement in the
Housing Registry.
once
you've found a place, ask youself...
Do
your appliances work? Nothing can be as frustrating
as a stove that does not work, clogged drains, leaky
faucets, etc. Are
the rooms well heated? How? How
clean is your building? This will give you a clue
as to the type of service that you will receive. Is
your room soundproof? Remember, living near a nosiy
areacan be irritating and can cut into sleep and study
time. Is
there enough storage space and closet space? (For
example, where will you put your bike for the winter?)
How
big will your apartment be after you move in your
furniture if it is not furnished? How
many electrical outlets are there? Are
they located in convenient places? Are
there any laundry facilities in the building? If not,
how far away is the nearest Laundromat? How
far away are you from shopping centres, grocery stores,
banks or a credit union? What
is the route to school? To downtown? Will you have
to pay two or more fares to get to your destination?
Is
there access to a telephone? Are
pets allowed? If
you own a car, are there proper parking facilities?
Do you pay extra? Are
blankets and linen provided with your room rental?
Is
there a secure lock leading into your apartment or
room? If
you rent a room, what are the expectations about having
friends visit, the sound level of your music, etc.?
Living Expenses
Food
On average, a student who cooks his/her own meals can expect
to spend $250 per month on food, just for the basics. However,
this does depend on the individual and on budget planning.
Meals are available in the campus cafeteria: The following
are approximate prices per meal:
Telephone
For a standard telephone, Bell Canada charges an installation
fee of $55 plus a charge of approximately $25 per month.
This does not include taxes and long distance calling.
Transportation
Public transportation is an economical way to travel. See
Student Services about bus routes and fares and whether
you are eligible for a student pass. Information on the
local South Shore bus routes, fares, etc. is available on
the Réseau de transport de Longueuil web site www.rtl-longueuil.qc.ca.
Students who choose to drive to school can park their vehicles
at the college. Parking fees are $125 a year, $25 a month,
$75 per semester or $2.50 a day (subject to change without
notice).
Incidentals
Do you need pots and pans, dishes, towels, blankets, sheets
or small appliances...? All this can be costly if it’s
not provided or if you do not bring your own.
Housing Registry
Looking
for a place to stay? Search and browse through the Housing
Board listings that we have received through Student
Services. This list may not contain all of the listings
that we have. Be sure to stop by Student Services and check
out the Housing Board for a comprehensive listing of what's
available.
Also, be sure to check out the local newspaper which also
has an extensive listing of available lodgings. Le
Courrier du Sud'shousing
list can be found
here.
Important Note:
Before signing a lease, you should consider important information
which is available from Student Services at (450) 672-7360,
extension 355. If you encounter problems with your lease,
you can contact:
Régie
du logement / Rental Board
201 Place Charles Lemoyne, 6th floor, Longueuil
(514) 873-2245 or www.rdl.gouv.qc.ca
There is no charge
for this service. If you have a room in a private home where
three or more rooms are rented out, or if your room has its
own bathroom and a separate entrance, you are eligible for assistance
from the Rental Board. Student Services is also available to
give you a hand with any housing difficulties.
The housing information is general and subject to change. Statements
concerning rights obligations, deadlines, etc. should be carefully
reviewed with the Rental Board before taking any action.
About
Champlain 
Owners
of a private home are reluctant to rent early because
a student may not pass his or her final high school
exams, might not be accepted to the College, might
change his or her mind, etc. August is usually the
best month to look for a place to stay because, by
then, most of the above facts are known.
