Saskatoon rent prices add to student stress ahead of school year

Rent prices are just one more thing adding to students’ stress levels as the new school year starts.

Shaelynne Zyznomirski entering the graduate program in clinical psychology at the University of Saskatchewan. When Zyznomirski moved to Saskatoon from her home town of North Battleford for school, she found an apartment in Stonebridge for $1,275 a month, and hoped to stay there throughout her studies.

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But Zyznomirski said her rent has increased by $300 over the past three years, without any changes or upgrades. She said her property manager explained to her that the hike in rent was intended to align with rental prices for similar apartments in the area.

Anticipating further rent increases with each lease renewal, Zyznomirski said she began searching for a new place, hoping to move before the next semester starts. But the process has been a challenge.

“One-bedroom (apartments) are, for some reason, the same price as two bedrooms,” she said, noting many places are in the same price range all throughout the city.

“I was looking at basically paying just under $2,000, just to live in an apartment.”

With only around $500 a month remaining from her student loans after tuition, Zyznomirski said it’s not enough for students like her to cover their expenses, especially when considering the cost of vehicle payments, internet, and utilities.

“The government is not increasing what you get for a student loan, so it’s diminishing our power to find a place,” she said.

Zyznomirski explained that many program supervisors and instructors expect students to focus solely on their heavy course loads, leaving little room to earn extra money. But despite the added challenges, she said she also works part-time as a server to help cover her bills.

Having a pet can add to financial pressures around rent, Zyznomirski explained, saying pet owners can face nearly $1,500 in additional annual costs. She said it was “terrifying” trying to find a place to live and seeing the costs.

“I was considering not going to school because of the cost of living here,” she said.

Thanks to a generous landlord who is a University of Saskatchewan alum, Zyznomirski said she was able to find an apartment at a price similar to what she originally paid when she first moved to the city. She advised other students to seek out individual landlords instead of large property-management companies when looking for rentals.

“Lots of landlords understand that the cost of living is going up, and for students their financial situation doesn’t change,” she said.

“This city flourishes because of that university, so our students should be taken care of while they are here,” Zyznomirski said.

Student Union advocates for affordable housing

Krunal Chavda, president of the U of S Students Union, said he has seen a substantial increase in rent over the past two years.

“When students are not able to find housing, it creates housing insecurity,” he said. “When you do not have a roof over your head, no education can happen.”

Chavda noted that international students often face the greatest challenges, as they are burdened not only with higher tuition fees – more than four times the average cost – but also face additional financial challenges.

The university’s campus residence aims to provide affordable housing for students, Chavda explained, with rent capped at 90 per cent of the area’s market value.

The university has around 2,500 beds, with the cheapest living option being $590 a month. While there has been an increase, Chavda said this year it has only gone up between $20 and $30 for a suite.

For students seeking off-campus housing, Chavda said the union offers a housing registry, with listings. Additionally, the student union provides emergency housing as a temporary solution for those in urgent need.

Chavda said his union is advocating for more affordable housing within the city, particularly around the university.