May 3, 2005

McMaster launches off-campus housing review program

McMaster University today launched an off-campus housing review program. McMaster is one of only a few Ontario universities to operate such a program to improve living conditions for students who live off-campus.

Hamilton, ON - The conditions in which some off-campus students live continues to be a concern for both McMaster University and community members. The Off-Campus Resource Centre (OCRC) at McMaster is tackling this issue with an off-campus housing review program.

Under the program, interested landlords will contact OCRC staff and will be put in contact with a third-party home inspector. If the property passes the review, the OCRC will be notified and the landlord's advertisement on the OCRC web site will receive a special notation indicating that the property meets either the basic or enhanced criteria.

Jennifer Kleven, manager of the OCRC, hopes that listing reviewed versus non-reviewed properties will result in some healthy market competition. “If the reviewed properties get rented first—as we anticipate they will—this may encourage those landlords whose places have not been reviewed to improve their properties in order to remain competitive.”

“McMaster is one of only a few Ontario universities to operate an off-campus housing review program, and we are proud to make the commitment that we believe is in the best interest of the students and the local community,” says Phil Wood, associate vice-president, student affairs.

"Under the review program students will have access to a higher quality of accommodation by having the option of renting reviewed dwellings," says Rob Payne, president of the Ainslie Wood/Westdale Community Association of Resident Homeowners Inc. "Local residents are pleased to see McMaster's proactive interest to improve living conditions for students who live off-campus."

McMaster University, named Canada’s Research University of the Year by Research InfoSource, has world-renowned faculty and state-of-the-art research facilities. McMaster's culture of innovation fosters a commitment to discovery and learning in teaching, research and scholarship. Based in Hamilton, the University has a student population of more than 23,000 and more than 112,000 alumni in 128 countries.