Western Off-Campus Housing Service
230 Sarnia Rd. N6G 0N2 London, ON, Canada

Getting ready to rent next year? We've got you covered. Our Housing Issue covers all the vital points you need to know as a tenant and more. Read it on our website now: https://westerngazette.ca/features/special_editions/housing/

If you are covered by Ontario rental law (called the Residential Tenancies Act), your landlord cannot show your rental to prospective tenants until ALL tenants on a joint lease have submitted written termination notice. Contact us if you have questions: [email protected] or 519-661-3787

If you are covered under Ontario rental law, you need to give 60 days’ written notice at the end of your lease term to terminate your tenancy. If you want to stay, simply do nothing and you will automatically become a month-to-month tenant. Contact us: https://offcampus.uwo.ca/contactus.cfm

Join us for a musical journey around the world with our "Songs of Many Lands" virtual concert! Enjoy songs from China, Italy, Spain, Brazil, Argentina, the Unit...ed States, and Canada, performed by our students, as part of @westernuIntl International Week Monday, Nov 16 to Friday, Nov 20. https://music.uwo.ca/events/international-week.html See more

As the temperature is expected to drop in the coming weeks, make sure you are aware of London’s heat bylaw! From September 15 to June 15, the heat must be at a minimum of 20C during the day (between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m.), and a minimum of 18C overnight (between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.).

Meet Serena, who is enjoying her first year on the Off-Campus Advisor team: Being my first year as an OCA I was super nervous, especially giving advice about rental law. Being surrounded by such great people has really helped me learn as I go and has pushed me in the right direction in achieving my goal of helping people. My knowledge of rental law and London bylaw has really shown itself to be useful in both my life and in pursuing my goal of helping people both through the Off Campus Advisors’ office and in my personal life! This year I’m definitely looking forward to doing residence presentations because I remember being terrified of house hunting and rushed into signing a lease myself, and I want to help someone have a better time with their first house hunting experience than I did!

#MLHU has declared a COVID-19 outbreak in a residence Western University. At this time, eight individuals within the same residence have tested positive for the... virus. These individuals have been contacted by the Health Unit and are currently self-isolating with the support of Western’s administration. The Health Unit is also following up with all close contacts of the cases to ensure that they are tested and quarantined. Declaring an outbreak is an important step in order to limit further spread of the virus within the student community, says Dr. Chris Mackie, Medical Officer of Health with the Middlesex-London Health Unit. This outbreak highlights the need to limit close contact to only those within your dorm room, maintain two metres physical distance from all others, wear a mask in all indoor public spaces and stay in your room or suite if you feel unwell. The Health Unit is working with Western University to support these individuals as well as any other students who may need to seek testing or quarantine as a result of contact with these cases. In addition to getting tested at one of London’s COVID-19 Assessment Centres, Western University also offers testing on campus at the Western Student Recreation Centre for students, faculty and staff. For current hours and additional information, visit the Western COVID-19 Testing Centre: https://www.uwo.ca/coronavirus/testing.html. . . How to prevent the spread of COVID-19 infections: Limit interactions to only those who are part of your household, room or suite. If you live alone, consider having close contact with only one other household. Avoid non-essential travel to COVID-19 hot spots. Maintain two metres physical distance from anyone who is not part of your household, room or suite. Wear a mask whenever outside of the home or your room; including visits to the store and interactions with colleagues at work or in breakrooms. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 15-20 seconds or use a waterless hand sanitizer with at least 70 percent alcohol content. Cover coughs and/or sneezes with your sleeve or cough into your elbow. Clean high-touch areas, such as doorknobs in public spaces, frequently. Download the COVID Alert mobile app to be notified if you may have been exposed to COVID-19, and to let others know if you test positive for the virus. Visit https://covidtestinglm.ca for how to get tested at a London Assessment Centre. For more information about COVID-19, please visit the Middlesex-London Health Unit’s website at www.healthunit.com/novel-coronavirus. #WesternU #TakeCareWesternU #LdnOnt

Today, the Ontario Government announced the Middlesex-London region will be moving into the protect (yellow) level of the COVID-19 Response Framework on Monday,... November 16 (more details to come over the weekend). #LdnOnt #Middlesex Learn more: https://bit.ly/3noaFna Read the framework: https://bit.ly/3eZCgZ1

If you’re looking for a house this year, we have some helpful tips to simplify the process! Given the uncertainty of COVID-19, we recommend waiting to sign a lease until you are certain you will live in London despite classes be online or not. When you are ready to search for housing, we suggest visiting at least five places and completing our checklist to compare the properties and make sure all your living and financial needs are met. Once you’ve decided, we also suggest booking an appointment to have your lease reviewed before signing it! You can book an appointment here: https://offcampus.uwo.ca/appointment.cfm

Already feeling the pressure to re-sign your lease? Don’t worry! Tenants who do not share a kitchen and/or bathroom with a landlord or their immediate family have until 60 days before the lease ends to decide if they will terminate the tenancy or not. Questions? Contact us at [email protected] or 519-661-3787. https://offcampus.uwo.ca/contactus.cfm

Do you have questions about searching for off-campus housing? Want to know more about living in London? We’re here to help! Virtual presentations are available for Western student groups and clubs. Ask your leader/exec to book a virtual presentation for your next meeting: https://rb.gy/93ffwn Contact us at [email protected] or 519-661-3787 with your questions!