# Canadian dopers - renting advice/help needed (Vancouver)
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-renting-advice-help-needed-vancouver/662587
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [July 3, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-renting-advice-help-needed-vancouver/662587 "2013-07-03T21:36:47Z")
**Posts on this page:** 5
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-renting-advice-help-needed-vancouver/662587/1 "2013-07-03T21:36:47Z")
I’m an Indian(from India) coming to UBC this September. University residence doesn’t seem like it’ll work out, so I need to rent a place/room. As with all students, low rent and easy access to the university (close to campus, or at least to a direct bus route) are priorities, everything else is secondary. The problem is I know nobody in Vancouver, and next to nothing about how renting works there, especially since I’m in India and will be until the course starts. Any advice/help would be greatly appreciated
Thanks!
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### Author:  [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-renting-advice-help-needed-vancouver/662587/2 "2013-07-03T21:50:11Z")
Wouldn’t it be a good idea to come a few weeks early, get a room in a hotel, consult the university accommodations office, and go flat-hunting?
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### Author:  [@bldysabba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bldysabba)
#### Post date: [July 3, 2013, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-renting-advice-help-needed-vancouver/662587/3 "2013-07-03T22:12:57Z")
> [@Quartz](#):
>
> Wouldn’t it be a good idea to come a few weeks early, get a room in a hotel, consult the university accommodations office, and go flat-hunting?
I wish that were an option. Unfortunately contract obligations at work don’t allow me to get there early.
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### Author:  [@Rain\_Soaked](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rain_Soaked)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2013, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-renting-advice-help-needed-vancouver/662587/4 "2013-07-04T00:01:19Z")
Here is a place to start:
[http://www.housing.ubc.ca/off-campus-housing/looking-for-a-place](http://www.housing.ubc.ca/off-campus-housing/looking-for-a-place)
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### Author:  [@Dr.Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Drake)
#### Post date: [July 4, 2013, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/canadian-dopers-renting-advice-help-needed-vancouver/662587/5 "2013-07-04T02:03:48Z")
When we came to Vancouver, we found what is known as a “garden flat” (=furnished ground-floor suite in a private home but with a separate entrance) on Craigslist as a three-month summer sublet. Costwise, it might be worth just getting one of those so you have a place to crash. We used the time to find a permanent apartment. Ours and similar places were quiet and clean but on the small side for us—as an international student they might be perfect.
In general, there is about a six-week lead time on apartments. The rental market here is brutal. Have you checked out [the page for international students](http://www.students.ubc.ca/international/international-students/)? I have no idea how useful it is but there’s a [housing link](http://www.housing.ubc.ca/off-campus-housing/looking-for-a-place).
For UBC, you would probably like something in Kitsilano or on the 99 bus line (which is crowded but runs every 3–4 minutes).
I work part-time at UBC. PM me if I can be more helpful with specifics.
**Mona Lisa Simpson** is also a friendly local and will have good advice.