When Housing Goes Wrong, Know Your Rights
Home is where the heart is… right?
Living in London as a student is not always easy. Whether in residence or renting off-campus, you’ve likely dealt with the hassle of a bad roommate or landlord.
With final exams around the corner, the last thing you want to worry about is the jargon in your lease or the suspicious smell from your shared kitchen.
Fortunately, the USC’s External Affairs team is like the Febreeze to your roommate’s week-old leftovers—they’re here to help!
As you start planning for next year’s housing, here’s what the USC is doing to make life in London easier to navigate.
Housing Rights Fair: Empowering Student Tenants
On November 6, 2024, the USC held the Housing Rights Fair in the UCC Atrium.
Students participated in housing-themed trivia, shared roommate horror stories, and received rave cards detailing their tenants’ rights, tips for utility costs, and a list of resources for housing disputes. A feedback survey booth also offered a $100 gift card prize.
At the center of the discussion was Western’s own Off-Campus Housing Services (OCH), which offers lease reviews and a dispute resolution service, both free of charge.
“Personally, I know my landlord had a bit of a predatory lease,” said Maathangi Rudranantha, the USC External Affairs coordinator behind the planning of the fair. “As a student, I shouldn’t have to deal with that on top of academics and my job.”
Housing rights have unfortunately become an all-too time-consuming passion for Rudranantha, who is now involving the city in her own dispute and found OCH to be an invaluable source of help.
Managing the Housing Rights Fair allowed Rudranantha to spotlight resources she wished she’d known about herself.
“There’s a lot of gaps in transparency and education surrounding this issue,” she said. “That’s why we started this event.”
The USC’s Vice-President External Affairs, Michelle Wodchis-Johnson, has a similar perspective:
“A lot of students don’t know their rights as tenants. By bringing the fair to Western, we’re holding landlords responsible and accountable.”
Leading the USC’s external advocacy, Wodchis-Johnson explained she was inspired by the similar Tenant Support Fair held by the City of London.
“While I was running for this position, housing rights came up as a concern for students,” she said. “Because the event was held at City Hall, a lot of people weren’t aware it was happening. That’s why I’m bringing it to the USC.”
In the case of a roommate conflict or landlord dispute, Wodchis-Johnson recommends students first contact OCH.
“Off-Campus Housing can make sure everything in your lease is legal, which often is not the case,” she explained. “If you need a dispute resolved, they can be really helpful too.”
Where to Find Help
In addition to OCH, some off-campus groups available to support student tenants include the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR) and ACORN Canada, organizations dedicated to fighting for tenants.
CCHR offers free services to struggling renters, including legal representation, which is ideal for students seeking legal advice or support with landlord negotiations.
ACORN Canada is an organization that understands, as Wodchis-Johnson puts it, that “advocacy is a long game.” Joining as a member helps ACORN empower low- and moderate-income renters through ongoing advocacy.
Need help with a housing dispute? Visit:
- Western Off-Campus Housing Services: lease reviews and dispute resolution
- Canadian Centre for Housing Rights: legal services for tenants
- ACORN Canada: community-based housing/tenants’ union
Reflecting on this year’s Housing Rights Fair, Rudranantha has a message for students:
“If you care about issues like housing and want to express your concerns to key advocacy organizations, the USC is here to give you a voice.”
