I am not from the GTA and so before I started at York, I knew I’d have to find somewhere new to call home for the next four years. Rather than live in a different part of the city and commute (topic of next blog post), I wanted to find accommodation as close to campus as possible. As a mature student, I was not so keen on the traditional university residence lifestyle. I soon found out that York offers on-campus apartment-style living, specifically for mature students!
The Benefits
York’s mature student housing options offer:
- Independent living with more personal space and less noise
- Full kitchens and private bathrooms
- Choice of furnished or unfurnished units
- On-site daycare
I especially love the fact that I can be in any of my classes within 10 minutes of stepping out the door!
The Buildings
There are 3 different mature student housing complexes at York:
- Building #44 on your campus map
- Townhouse-style living, with courtyards and balconies
- Bachelor and 1 bedroom units, furnished
- Buildings #45-48 on your campus map
- 4 high rise-style buildings
- Bachelor, 1 and 2 bedrooms units, furnished and unfurnished
- Building #33 on your campus map
- Bachelor, 1 and 2 bedrooms units, unfurnished
- This building also houses the York University Co-Operative daycare.
For more information or to apply for tenancy, visit York’s Housing Service website.
The Village
Another popular option for housing is “The Village” – a neighbourhood located just south of the Keele campus. Many of these privately-owned houses have been converted into “rooming houses” by property owners who rent to York University students. It is important to note that The Village is off-campus and York University has no ownership or legal jurisdiction within this community. Please refer to the article About “The Village” from Student Housing. I would like to highlight the following tips for off-campus housing found in this article:
- Know your rights
- Ensure your living quarters are safe and secure and meet fire standards
- Know your neighbours
- Know your responsibilities (noise, cleanliness, garbage, etc.)
- Attend to your own personal safety, including locking your doors
- Make use of York’s Campus Shuttle (where available) or the TTC
- Program Emergency Services 911 and York Emergency 416.736.5333 on your cell phone
- Read the article, Good Neighbours Guide for Student Tenants
Whether you live on-campus or nearby in The Village, I’m sure you’ll enjoy the benefits of more frequent trips to the university and avoiding the commute!
