Living off campus gives you the freedom to make your own decisions on how and where you want to live. But with freedom comes a whole new set of responsibilities – to your housemates, to your neighbours, and to the community. Humber is serious about its responsibilities both for and to its students in the wider community.

Introduce yourself

Make a point of meeting your neighbours. Be friendly, wave and say hello when you see them, stop to say a few words. It will go a long way and make for a comfortable atmosphere for everyone.

Look out for each other

You are now part of a community. If you see someone that may need some help (clearing snow, lifting something into the house, etc..) offer to help.

Pay attention to the details

The look of your home will have a big impact on how your neighbours react to you. Simple things like taking in the garbage pails, properly recycling bottles and not placing banners in windows. Talk to your landlord to be clear on your responsibilities for mowing grass, raking leaves, and shoveling snow.
**Toronto by-law requires that snow and ice be cleared from sidewalks within 24 hours of a snowfall.

Follow garbage/recycling schedules and rules

Your neighbours can tell you what day garbage is picked up or you can find your schedule here. Only put out your garbage on those days.

Save getting charged - know the by-laws

• Snow and ice must be cleared from sidewalks within 24 hours of a snowfall.
• Grass and weeds cannot exceed 20 centimetres in height / 8 inches.
• Watch the bass settings on your speakers and use headphones where you can. Noise by-law states - No person shall make, cause or permit noise or vibration, at any time, which is likely to disturb the quiet, peace, rest, enjoyment, comfort or convenience of the inhabitants of the City.
• Liquor License Act prohibitions mean that you can be charged for having open alcohol in your possession while on your front lawn or in the stairwell of an apartment .
• If you plan to serve and exchange alcohol for money in any way - through ticket sales, admission at the door, passing the hat, or whatever, this is illegal and you could face charges.

Renting with Pets

• Ontario’s Residential Tenancies Act does not permit landlords to include “no pet” clauses in rental agreements. The only exception is if the property is a condominium and the condominium corporation’s declaration prohibits pets.

• A landlord can refuse to rent to a person who has a pet. It’s unfortunate, but true. The protections provided to pet guardians apply only to tenants. Until a person actually enters into a rental agreement, there is no tenancy; the person and their pets are not protected.

• A landlord cannot evict a tenant simply because they were unaware of a pet, or because the pet was adopted after the tenant moved in. A tenant can only be evicted if a pet is making too much noise, damaging the unit, causing an allergic reaction to others, or is considered to be inherently dangerous. Even then, the landlord must apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board for an order terminating the tenancy before kicking people and pets out.

• A landlord is not allowed to charge a pet deposit. A landlord is allowed to ask for a last month’s rent deposit, as well as a key or pass card deposit. Notably, the rent deposit must be applied to a tenant’s last month’s rent, and the key deposit must be given back to the tenant upon the return of keys. It is illegal for the landlord to use these deposits for anything else, such as to pay for damage caused to the unit by people or pets.