No bugs, rats or shared beds Students try to stretch their limited dollars in Vancouver's pricy rental market
Hannah Blazer's checklist is pretty straightforward. "No bugs, rats, mould, disrepair, crumbling ceilings."
For the 24-year-old who starts classes at Langara College next week, cleanliness and safety are the biggest dealbreakers. But her budget, $500 to $600, puts her perilously close to living in a pit.
"You really can't find anything cheaper that isn't a shithole," she says.
In the last few weeks she's seen at least 20 places. "That's just the people that get back to you and the place is still available."
Blazer is just one of the nearly 300,000 post-secondary students who will be hitting the books this fall in the Lower Mainland. For those that haven't snagged a spot in residence or, like Blazer, choose to live off-campus, the quest for affordable housing in Metro Vancouver can be daunting.
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