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Landlord Information

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is rentingspaces.ca?
  2. Why should I advertise with rentingspaces.ca?
  3. How much does it cost to advertise? Do you have any discounts?
  4. How do I set up an ad?
  5. I don't have a credit card. Can I pay with a cheque?
  6. What should I include in my ad?
  7. How can I make my ad more effective?
  8. How much should I charge for my property?
  9. Does the listing fee go to students?
  10. Are the ads only viewable on the internet?
What is rentingspaces.ca?

This site is a national, on-line student housing service that aims to provide extensive and accurate listings of off-campus housing and of other people looking for roommates.

Non-students can also use our listings to find a good place to live.

Rentingspaces.ca is a joint venture between participating student associations, Campus Advantage, and whitematter development. Profits go to students.

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Why should I advertise with rentingspaces.ca?

We're cost-effective. Our rates are low, and give you exposure to thousands of students every month. And if you advertise a lot, you can get bulk rates. We also don't charge by the word, like newspapers do, and we give your ad exposure to students from multiple local schools.

In Edmonton, our housing database is searched between 8,000 and 30,000 times a month, depending on the time of year.

It's easy. Once you've set up an account, you can easily add and cancel ads, and you can leave your unit information in the system to make placing a new ad faster and easier. Re-advertising a unit, once it's in the system, takes less than minute.

Not comfortable with placing ads on-line? You can also call us. We'd be happy to help you.

Your ad helps support student services. After deducting operating costs, the remainder of ad fees are returned to student associations. Your money helps support student services such as walk-safe and orientation programs.

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How much does it cost to advertise? Do you have any discounts?

Ads cost $25 per month. GST is extra. Rates are subject to change without notice.

If you advertise with rentingspaces regularly, you can purchase 'ad credits' at a discounted rate. Each credit can be used to advertise a unit for one month, and credits never expire. When you purchase 10 to 19 credits, you receive a 10% discount off the regular $25 price (a $2.50/ad saving). When you purchase 20 or more credits, you receive a 20% discount. To purchase bulk ad credits, contact our office.

Students at participating schools may receive special rates on roommate and summer sublets.

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How do I set up an ad?

Listing is as easy as 1, 2, 3!

  1. Create an account (or log in if you already have one).
  2. Click the "Add a New Unit" link to add your rental unit to your account. You will then be able to enter information about your property. This does not post yoheaur ad, it merely adds your unit information to our system. There is no charge for this.
  3. Click the 'Advertise Unit' link to purchase your ad. Most ads cost $25.

If you would prefer to talk to someone in person to list, you can call 1-866-432-6610 between 9am and 5pm, MST. If you are in Edmonton, you can call locally 780-432-6610.

We also have a listing form you can fax to us at (780) 665-6089.

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I don't have a credit card. Can I pay with a cheque?

Yes, you can pay with cheques or money orders.

If you pay with a credit card, your ad gets posted right away. If you mail us a cheque, however, your ad will not be posted until we receive your payment. Information on how to send cheques is provided when you place an ad.

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What should I include in my ad?

Our system will prompt you for all the essential information - location, rent, size, etc. Some of this information is required, and some is optional. You can also add your own descriptive comments to your ad. In those comments, you could note any nearby amenities, any special considerations, and so on.

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How can I make my ad more effective?

Several things can make your ad more effective:

  • Be accurate and honest in describing your unit. The reason our system tracks so much information about your unit is to help better match renters with landlords. The more accurate your listing, the more likely the calls you get will be solid prospects.
  • Add your own comments. Tell people why your unit is special! Notes such as "big yard with firepit", "close to park", and "shops nearby" tell users a bit more about the place and give them an extra reason to check you out.
  • Add a photo. Our system allows you to include a photo of your unit.
  • Reach out to particular groups. In your comments, notes such as 'international students welcome' or 'apprentice students welcome' can help appeal to particular sub-groups of students with special needs. (International students have little or no household items and often like board situations; apprentice students are often seeking short-term, weekly accommodations.)
  • Consider your policies on smoking and pets. Many landlords prefer no pets and non-smoking tenants. But if you are flexible on either of those points, we provide a range of options for describing your policy. Being flexible about pets will increase the response your ad receives.

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How much should I charge for my property?

That's up to you. To figure out what's a fair price, have a look at what other places are going for. Pricing depends on the size of the unit, the location, and how well-kept the unit is.

This summer, we'll be adding a statistics section that will provide information about what other landlords are charging in your city.

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Does the listing fee go to students?

Yes, through their student associations! Ad fees first go to pay for the cost of operating the service; remaining fees are distributed to participating student associations.

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Are the ads only viewable on the internet?

It depends on the school. Individual student associations may or may not choose to periodically print up the listings and post them. The vast majority of students, however, have access to the Internet and view our listings on-line.

For those stuck without internet access, we will also fax listings out to students who request it.

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