
A lot of students ask if properties can be rented for May 1 or September 1, which different groups having specific preferences on when they want the lease to begin. (i.e if a group already has a lease until Aug 30 on a house down the street, they will not want a May 1 lease on a house as they will pay rent at 2 homes. They will be looking for a September 1 lease). The difficulty is organizing a group of friends, and figuring out when the ideal start date and duration of a lease makes sense for your Fanshawe College or Western University student rental.
Fanshawe College
Fanshawe College students usually rent May 1 or September 1. In the past, there was a stronger focus on the September 1 rental, as students were already locked into leases that ended at the end of August. However, in the past while more students at Fanshawe College are preferring signing leases on student rental properties starting May 1, on a 12 month lease. This is especially true for students who are in residence at Fanshawe College for two reasons. The first reason is that the May 1 lease allows the Fanshawe students to move into their student rental property once they are done exams, and before they leave London, so they can store all of their belongings in their rental property for the upcoming school year. The second reason for students preferring a May lease at Fanshawe College directly from residence is that most programs at Fanshawe are 2 year programs, and with already one year completed in residence a May 1 lease will end 12 months later, which coincides with the students graduating from Fanshawe College and usually leaving London, Ontario.
Western University
Western University students almost exclusive rent from May 1 on a 12 months lease. There are several exception such as transfers, post grads, teacher's college students, students who were on a September lease, etc. However, typically groups start renting May 1 on a 12 month lease around the Western University campus in London, Ontario. This probably has to do with the same reasons above from the Fanshawe College students. However, there has been no definitive change and the renting cycle around Western University. The May 1 lease also extends to the downtown London area, and Masonville area where students are also renting out apartments and homes in the area. Students tend to starting looking very early (lat November) for May 1 rentals around Western although some groups look as late as a couple weeks before May 1 to secure their accommodation.