25 Jul Five Alternatives to Thompson Rivers University Housing
Though Thompson Rivers University housing offers on-campus rentals for students, it isn’t always a good fit. While living on campus has obvious advantages, there is a downside:
- There is no guarantee your housing application will be approved
- TRU housing may be noisy and distracting
- Rooms may be cramped
- Housing apartments have far fewer amenities than off-campus apartment rentals
- You have to live by housing terms, which may cramp your lifestyle and limit your independence
- You can’t really choose who you want to live with. You could be living with people you don’t know at all
Rent a Room in a House
House owners sometimes rent small, furnished rooms to students. This option may be the most affordable. Usually, you’ll share common areas such as kitchen, bathroom and living room with other students who rent in the house, or with the homeowner(s).
Share a House
Students may choose to rent a house together. Each student will have their own room while sharing common areas. Renting a room in a shared house is generally more affordable than renting a small studio apartment, but the cost of rent depends on having enough students sharing. Unfortunately, sharing a house can be unstable. A housemate may fail to pay their share, or move out, leaving remaining renters scrambling to find another student to rent the vacant room. A shared house can also be noisy and full of distractions, unless students establish rules that are followed and enforced.
Share an Apartment
Some students share an apartment to save money on rent. Sharing an apartment can be a good alternative to living in university housing. If you know your roommate well, apartment sharing is a good choice that offers more stability and privacy than sharing a house.
Rent a Studio Apartment
Studio apartments offer students more affordable rental costs and independence. Although renting a studio apartment is more costly than sharing an apartment, if you value privacy, self-reliance and personal freedom, it’s an excellent alternative to TRU student housing.
Move Back to Parents
While attending TRU, local students may choose to live with their parents or move back into their parents’ home. A 2023 Ipsos poll estimates that nearly 47% of post-secondary students will choose to live at their parents’ home while in school (up 11% since 2013). The poll, commissioned by RBC, asked 1000 students aged 18-29 about their financial readiness. The poll results reveal that students are more reliant on their parents than a decade ago because of inflation and the rising cost of living.
Resources
The following websites are excellent resources for finding alternatives to on-campus housing:
- Kijiji room rentals and roommates
- Craigslist rooms and shared accommodations
- Zumper apartments for rent
- Facebook Kamloops Marketplace apartments for rent
- Facebook Kamloops Houses/Apt/Flat/Rooms Group
Rent an Apartment in Kamloops at McGill Ridge
McGill Ridge – a student-friendly Kamloops apartment community – is a great alternative to Thompson Rivers University housing. If you’re interested in viewing a studio, 1 bedroom or 2 bedroom apartment, please complete a Request Apartment Availability form. A representative will respond within two business days.