Apartment prices online are just absurd.
And even when you find something, it's rarely a dream come true.
For me, it was never an option to live in a gloomy, cockroach-infested apartment that also costs a fortune.
Sure, there are a few decent places out there.
When I was living in Mascouche, I actually had a nice apartment.
But it was expensive, and I could only afford it because I was working full-time.
I knew that starting my Bachelor's in Kinesiology at the Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR) would change everything. With five courses a semester, I can only work 20 hours a week.
Moving in with roommates just to cover rent wasn't something I was willing to do. At 26, I wanted to live on my own.
When my acceptance letter arrived, the thought of having to search for an apartment was so stressful that it almost made me reconsider going back to school altogether.
On the university's website, there was a section recommending a few housing options. That's how I found UTILE’s apartments.
My first reaction was a genuine WOW.
It seemed too good to be true. I told myself there was no way it could cost me only $668 a month for a studio with wifi, electricity, a stove, and a fridge included.
The only problem: no spots were available.
So I moved into a university residence for a year while waiting for a spot to open up at UTILE.
But I hated my experience there:
- I didn't have my own kitchen. It was a shared kitchen. I felt like I was eating in a cafeteria.
- I wasn't free to have people over (even though it was supposed to be my home. After all, I was paying for it.)
- It was noisy, with people running through the hallways or partying 24/7.
- The residence was 45 minutes on foot from the university, which is pretty strange when I think about it.
- And on top of that, it was more expensive than UTILE.
The moment a spot opened up, I applied.
I’ve now been living in an UTILE apartment for a year and I finally feel at home.
It's a studio a 15-minute walk from the university, and I don't need anything more. I have everything I need.
I've created a warm and personal space with my plants, my candles, and so on.
My girlfriend loves it. My sister loves it. My godfather even borrowed my keys for a weekend!
Unlike the university residence, I can choose when I want to be alone at home and when I want to socialize. It's the best of both worlds.
I could have chosen to live in a 2-bedroom apartment like some of the building's other tenants but I wanted to live alone.
I never feel isolated. There's a real sense of community in the building, and that’s largely thanks to Christine, the building manager.
I think of her as the tenants' den mother because she looks out for us.
She recently organized a backyard barbecue, and I remember seeing her flipping burgers while everyone got to know each other. It was fun!
Beyond those special events, I can also go to the common room on the ground floor to chat or watch TV with other tenants when I feel like getting my social fix.
And if I need motivation to study, I go to another room to study in a group with other tenants in the building.
My grades have actually gone up since I moved in.
Even though I’ll admit, they could be a bit higher still, but that one’s on me!
After my bachelor's, I plan to do a master's in physiotherapy. I don't know yet whether that'll be in Trois-Rivières or Montreal.
Wherever I end up, I already know I want to live in a UTILE apartment.
Apartment hunting is the last thing I need weighing on me when I'm juggling school, work, and everything else.
UTILE gives me peace of mind.
If you're looking for student housing without the stress, explore UTILE apartments available now in your city.
I hope you find your home the way I found mine with UTILE :)
Joël de Blois
Tenant, UTILE Apartments — Trois-Rivières (Jean-XXIII)
Bachelor of Kinesiology student, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières
