Service
Description
1)
Who is Entitled to this Service?
| IMPORTANT
: Please
note that this service is offered exclusively to the
HEC Montreal’s exchange
program. It is not available to your friends
or relatives, nor is it available to students enrolled
in other universities accompanying you during your stay.
|
International Exchange Students at
HEC Montreal - Autumn 2008
2)
What Service Do we Offer?
- We make sure that you will have a furnished room in
a shared apartment starting Thrusday
January 5th 2012.
- All reserved apartments are near the university campus or
close to a bus and/or metro services taking you
directly to HEC Montreal (within a 30 minute ride).
- Each student will have his/her own private room.
- The apartment will be shared either with other exchange
program students at HEC Montreal or with young working adults
or graduates or with a small family (1 child).
- Exceptionally for the winter 2012 semester we will allow
you to reside with other students from your university of
origin.
top
of page
3)
May I Have a Description of the Rooms Offered?
The number of rooms in our possession fluctuates
according to supply and demand. Thus, even if certain rooms
offered renew their lease from one term to another, other
units are necessary durin the Fall semester. Ongoing research
is carried out to complete the number of required rooms. Under
these circumstances, it is impossible for us to send you detailed
description or photos of reserved rooms. Please note however
that all accomodations are non-smoking. If you smoke,
you will have to do so outside.
Since we offer individual accomodations, we do
not take into account decoration, furniture and accessories.
However please be assured that we have high standards regarding
the quality and cleanliness of the apartments we reserve.
Each room is visited by our company and we meet with the tenants
and have them complete a detailed questionnaire regarding
their demands and lifestyle.
top
of page
4)
What is the Duration of the Contract?
The duration of the contract is spread as follows:
Winter
2012:
from January 5th to May 31st 2012.
IMPORTANT : This period
is non negotiable. If you plan on arriving before
these dates, you must reserve a temporary accomodation (consult
the HEC Montreal student guide for addresses).
top
of page
5)
How Much Will I Pay for the Term ?
The total price per student for the term fluctuates
between 2250 $CAN and 2900 $CAN all included. Price
varies according to location, the size of the room and services
included.
The apartments are fully furnished and heated.
Hot water, electricity, local telephone calls and Internet
access (basic service) are included in the price
of the rent. Dishes, kitchen pans, pillows, a warm blanket
(duvet) are also included. However, bed sheets (plan for
twin bed) and towels are not furnished. Most accomodations
also offer access to laundry machines.
Some landlords reserve the right to hire a cleaning
service, in which case costs will be divided by roomates.
top
of page
6)
When and How Do I Pay?
For all rooms, the total amount for the term is payable as follows:
- The first payment of 1000$ CAN in cash or traveler's
checks is to be made to you roommate (or landlord) upon
signature of your rental contract (Thursday 5th of
January,
2012). This payment is obligatory. Failing to make
this payment, your keys will not be given to you.
- On Wednesday 1st of February 2012, the balance must
be paid to the landlord (Students staying 2 semesters,
please refer to dates indicated on the home page).
- 1 month prior your departure, we will pay the landlord
with the 500 $ deposit that you made.
top
of page
7)
How are students paired up?
Once all the reservation questionnaires have been
received and that proof of deposit payment has been sent to
us, we begin reserving the rooms (the number of rooms reserved
corresponds precisely with the number of reservations).
It is important to answer the questions very
honestly, to ensure that the person with whom you
are paired best matches your character traits. However, because
the number of spaces is limited and varies between terms,
we cannot guarantee that you will find a place that
meets all of your preferences.
Throughout the room reservation period, we visit
the rooms offered and meet with at least one of the residents.
If the unit is reserved, each person living there must complete
a reservation questionnaire similar to the students’
questionnaire.
When all the rooms are reserved, we perform the
matching--a very complex, painstaking process. Rooms are attributed
according to the date we receive
payment of your deposit (first come, first
served) and your questionnaire. Then according to specifications
of each student and person renting the room (future roomate
or landlord), each of the questionnaires is reread, annotated
and sorted by sex, smoking preferences, allergies, lifestyle,
specific requirements (proximity, nationality, age), etc.
The questionnaires are then matched with a housing offer,
on an individual basis.
top
of page
8)
How Will you Distribute the Rooms?
Room distribution will be done on
Thursday 5th of January 2012 at HEC Montreal during
a meeting prepared for this purpose. Location to be
announced 2 pm.
Room distribution will be carried out according
to the date that we received your deposit along with your
completed reservation form. It is important to clearly state
your preferences on the reservation form since no preliminary
visit will be granted and no room changes will be permitted.
The number of rooms being limited, we will do
our best to take into account most of your preferences but
we cannot guarantee 100% that we will be able to offer your
first choice. Rental contracts and appendixes will be given
to your landlord to that they may be signed between parties,
once you take possession of your unit.
top
of page
9)
What does GIA-Gestion inc. do?
Our role is to search for and reserve
apartments, mainly shared, before the students arrive.
This service ensures that students enrolled in exchange programs
at HEC Montréal have a place to stay throughout their
studies and that they need not worry about finding housing.
Our mandate does not consist of answering
specific requests or specific needs or to research apartments
on an individual basis nor to search a room for individual
students nor to offer temporary housing other than for the
entire length of the exchange at HEC Montréal.
top
of page
10)
What if a problem arises during the contract?
The first step is to assess the problem.
In most cases, problems reported to us are minor and can easily
be solved by contacting the person concerned. For example,
you might be annoyed if dishes are frequently left unwashed
in the sink, garbage is not taken out regularly, etc. First,
discuss the problem with your roommate and
try to find a fair solution. Remember that while living with
a roommate requires compromises by both parties,
it is generally an enriching experience.
top
of page
11)
If I find another apartment, can I cancel my contract?
If you wish to withdraw your reservation
after November 21th 2011, your full deposit will be kept.
Once cancelled, the contract which binds both
parties can only be ended if the landlord agrees. If
the landord agrees, you have to find someone else to take
the room under the same conditions you initially had yourself.
The new roommate must be accepted by the landlord and sometimes
by the other roommates, if applicable. By signing the contract,
you become responsible for the commitments you make,
and the landlord will naturally expect you to abide by them.
top
of page
12)
Why does the price of housing very?
Housing reserved by our department is priced based
on a predefined scale that takes into account the
neighbourhood, the size of the room, services included and
the fact that the lease covers less than 12 months. The
landlord, in contrast, pays all of the costs an annual basis
(rent, expenses, etc.). We cannot analyze housing case by
case or consider all the decorative elements of the premises,
because each dwelling belongs to a different owner, and is
decorated in keeping with that person’s tastes. However,
we do require that the apartment be clean and furnished,
and that accessories such as dishes, cookware, pillows and
comforter be supplied.
Some students prefer to search for their own housing
even if this takes time and energy. When they arrive in Montreal,
these students have no guarantee that they will find suitable
housing. In the meantime, they must stay at an inn, hostel
or hotel. Most probably, if they share an apartment they will
have to compromise on the proximity and quality of the apartment,
the price, etc.
top
of page
13)
Do I need insurance for my personal belongings?
Although Montreal is a safe city, we strongly
recommend that you purchase insurance for your personal
property because in case of fire, theft or vandalism,
your property will not be covered by the landlord’s
insurance. In addition, the landlord cannot be held responsible
for damage to your property.
top
of page
Reservation
Policy ==>
<==
Home Page Housing Help Service
|
Service Description