Moving out of college residence and into off-campus housing can be a great decision for many college students. To figure out if this would be the right choice for you, consider some of the main benefits it brings.

1. Choose Who You Live With

Living on campus typically means you’re paired with a stranger with whom you need to share a small room for a year. This can be quite uncomfortable, especially if you never end up becoming friends or you want to keep to different sleep and study schedules. When you live off campus, you can share with whomever you want and decide the number of roommates you want to have — which may well be zero.

2. Regain Your Privacy

You have a minimal say in the level of privacy you receive when you’re living on campus. Some people have no problem with sharing a room and feel that it adds to the college experience. Others, though, don’t even want to share a bathroom. With off-campus housing, you have the chance to decide how much privacy you want.

3. Have Access to Better Amenities

One thing is certain: no one lives in an on-campus student residence for the amenities. You are limited in everything from what you can cook to when you can shower. Renting an apartment gives you a full-size kitchen and a bathroom you’ll share with a maximum of a couple other people. You may even be able to find a building with extras like fitness rooms, study spaces, and outdoor courtyards.

4. Avoid Distractions

Dorms tend to be noisy places, which can make it difficult to focus on your studies. In your own apartment, you’re much less likely to be distracted. You can let your roommates know you want to be left alone and study at your desk or even use the living room or study area (if your housing has one). It’s likely that the building will have fast, reliable WiFi, meaning you can study whenever you choose.

5. Save Money

The average off-campus apartment is less expensive than student residence, despite it being more comfortable. You should be able to find housing that fits your budget, no matter how much you can afford. To eliminate more expenses, search for a full-furnished apartment with utilities included in the rent.

6. Learn to Be Independent

University is the start of your adult life, and it can be a great time to learn about becoming more responsible. On campus, there are rules to follow and a sense that someone is still taking care of you, whereas living in your own apartment means you’re truly independent.

7. Build a Rental History

Renting off campus also has the practical benefit that you’ll start building a rental history. This will be useful when you finish university and apply to live at other apartments. Property owners want to check that you’re a good choice for a tenant, which they do by contacting your previous landlords and finding out if you paid rent on time. If you live in student housing now, there will be no expectation that you have such a history and you’ll avoid the problems many first-time renters face entirely.

8. Stay Over the Summer

Whether you have a job or you’d just prefer to stay in your university town than return to your parents’ home, it will be more convenient to have a lease for a year than the eight months you receive with on-campus housing. Plus, keeping your accommodation will save you from needing to move all your belongings out in the spring and bringing them back at the end of the summer.
For UOttawa student housing just steps from campus, there’s THEO. We offer you the chance to live in a student community with great perks like a basketball court, study lounges, and gym. Book an onsite visit to see the apartments and amenities for yourself.