All registered students of the ECIAF Campus are eligible to apply for accommodation in the ECIAF Halls of Residence. First preference for residence accommodation will be given to students pursuing the Diploma in Agriculture and Animal Health and Forestry, as these students have early morning practical sessions throughout the academic year and the distance they live from the campus will be taken into consideration.

Accommodation is also available at the Chaguaramas Campus. All students enrolled at this Campus are eligible to apply by logging on to myPortal and clicking on the Housing Tab.

The Student Development Unit (SDU) maintains a list of rental units for the purpose of assisting students in becoming familiar with the surrounding rental market. The University does not own, inspect, endorse, or recommend any specific unit listed with this service.All information contained in the rental listings is provided by landlords.The University makes no guarantees or warranties, either expressed or implied, regarding the accuracy of the information or descriptions that are provided relating to rental properties. The University will not act in loco parentis, nor will it become involved in the collection of rents.It is your responsibility to determine proper living accommodations of any vacancies you may find.
We strongly encourage students to research and investigate any housing rental listings before signing a lease commitment.Please do not hesitate to contact the Student Development Officer at your respective campuses for further information on apartments/houses for rent. The contact details for the Student Development Officers are listed on the Contact Us link.
We also recommend these sites to GOOGLE:

• Rental Information in Trinidad
• Property law in Trinidad and Tobago

1. Protect your safety. Learn whether your building and neighborhood are safe, and what you can expect your landlord to do about it if they aren't.Check out the property's vulnerability to intrusion by a criminal, and learn whether criminal incidents have already occurred on the property or nearby. If a crime is highly likely, your landlord may be obligated to take some steps to protect you.
2. Review the lease. Carefully review all of the conditions of the tenancy before you sign on the dotted line. Your lease or rental agreement may contain a provision that you find unacceptable -- for example, restrictions on guests, pets, design alterations, or running a home business.
3. Get everything in writing. To avoid disputes or misunderstandings with your landlord, get everything in writing. Keep copies of any correspondence and follow up an oral agreement with a letter, setting out your understandings. For example, if you ask your landlord to make repairs put your request in writing and keep a copy for yourself. If the landlord agrees orally, send a letter confirming this.
4. Protect your privacy rights. Next to disputes over rent or security deposits, one of the most common and emotion-filled misunderstandings arises over the tension between a landlord's right to enter a rental unit and a tenant's right to be left alone. If you understand your privacy rights (for example, the amount of notice your landlord must provide before entering) it will be easier to protect them.
5. Demand repairs. Know your rights to live in a habitable rental unit.The vast majority of landlords are required to offer their tenants livable premises, including adequate weatherproofing; water and electricity; and clean, sanitary, and structurally safe premises. If your rental unit is not kept in good repair, you have a number of options, ranging from withholding a portion of the rent, to paying for repairs and deducting the cost from your rent, to moving out without liability for your future rent.
6. Talk to your landlord. Keep communication open with your landlord. If there's a problem -- for example, if the landlord is slow to make repairs -- talk it over to see if the issue can be resolved short of a nasty legal battle.
7. Protect your security deposit. To protect yourself and avoid any misunderstandings, make sure your lease or rental agreement is clear on the use and refund of security deposits, including allowable deductions. When you move in, do a walk-through with the landlord to record existing damage to the premises on a move-in statement or checklist.
8. Deal with an eviction properly. Know when to fight an eviction notice -- and when to move. If you feel the landlord is clearly in the wrong (for example, you haven't received proper notice, the premises are uninhabitable), you may want to fight the eviction. But unless you have the law and provable facts on your side, fighting an eviction notice can be short-sighted. If you lose an eviction lawsuit, you may end up hundreds (even thousands) of dollars in debt.
9. Moving out of Your Rental. Do not leave without telling someone.It is your legal obligation to give the landlord notice of your intent to leave. This should be in the form of a written notice.If you have a written lease, it will usually tell you when you must give notice (i.e. 30 days in advance of when you plan to vacate).Keep in mind that these periods of time are counted from the day rent is due. Do not forget to contact utility companies to make sure that your phone, cable, etc., have been disconnected if the utilities are in your name or that of a roommate.Furthermore, you should contact your bank, any lenders and companies/organizations that send you regular correspondence and provide them your new address.
10. Cleaning Your Rental. Make sure that you clean your apartment thoroughly.You are required by law to make sure your rental is in decent condition upon vacating. Remove any furniture or other items that belong to you or a roommate.Now is not the time to penalize the landlord for the condition of your apartment when you moved in. Move-in problems should have been dealt with at the beginning of your lease term. At this point you want your move-out experience to be as smooth as possible.
11. Returning Your Keys.Be sure that you hand over the keys by the end of the lease; if you do not the landlord can continue to charge you rent.Also, it is best to give your keys back in person, so there is no doubt that your landlord receives them.

QUESTIONS TO ASK

FOR YOURSELF

1. How much can you afford to pay for rent and other expenses?
2. Do you prefer to live with a roommate(s) or single occupancy?
3. What is the proximity of the apartment/house from your campus?
4. What mode of transportation will you use to get to campus?
5. What amenities will be offered and are of importance to you?

FOR YOUR LANDLORD

1. What is the mode of payment for the apartment/house?
2. What is the duration of the contract?
3. Do you have to make a deposit? If yes, is it refundable and what are the conditions?
4. Are utilities included in the cost of the rent?
5. Is the apartment/house furnished or unfurnished?
6. What are the rules and regulations for use of the apartment/house?
7. Are there any special rules and regulations for your guests?
8. Are there parking spaces allocated?
9. Are you allowed to decorate the walls of the apartment/house?
10. Have you had any incidents of robberies or break-ins by tenants?

If sharing an apartment/house, what does each person (owner as well as tenant) expect of the other with respect to the following?

1. Cleanliness/chores
2. Food and cooking
3. Quiet hours
4. House guests
5. Laundry facilities – restrictions of use?
6. Presence of pets
7. Privacy and rights of entry into certain rooms

Tenants obligations:

• Pay rent in full and on time
• Make sure the house or apartment is used mainly for living purposes
• Keep the property in good order (except for normal wear and tear)
• Inform the landlord if repairs are needed and give the landlord access to the property to carry out repairs
• Give the landlord access (by appointment) for routine inspections
• Inform the landlord of who is living in the property
• Do not cause any disturbance, nuisance or annoyance to neighbours and do not allow visitors to do so
• Comply with any special terms in the tenancy agreement, verbal or written
• Give the landlord written notice when you wish to end the tenancy
• Do not carry out alterations to the property without the landlord’s permission

Tenant rights:

• Make emergency repairs, which are the responsibility of the landlord, and deduct it from the next month’s rent (receipts MUST be shown)
• Break the lease and move out immediately if the dwelling is no longer habitable and the living conditions are unbearable. This can be considered a “constructive eviction” and in extreme cases, can be actionable.

 

Landlord obligations:

• Make sure that the property meets minimum standards of health and safety (lighting, water, sanitation, ventilation, etc.)
• Repair and maintain the interior and structure of the property to the standard it was in at the start of the tenancy
• Repair and maintain the structure of the property
• Reimburse tenants for any repairs they carry out which are the responsibility of the landlord
• Ensure the tenant knows how to contact you (or your agent)
• Give tenants at least a month’s notice for rent increases
• Provide tenants with a valid notice of termination (in writing) if terminating the tenancy.
• To follow the correct legal procedures for eviction
• Return deposits to the tenants (unless they have not paid the rent or have damaged the dwelling)

Landlord rights:

• Enter the premises with the tenant’s permission (usually you have to give 48 hours’ notice) OR without permission if there is an emergency
• Give eviction notice at any time

REPAIRS

Landlord repairing responsibilities:

• the structure and exterior of the property, including exterior paintwork, drains, gutters and external pipes
• the interior of the property other than matters covered under tenant responsibilities
• any installations for the supply and use of water, gas, electricity and sanitation (including baths, sinks, wash-hand basins and toilets)
• any appliances provided by the landlord under the tenancy for making use of the supply of water, gas or electricity
• any fixtures, fittings and furnishings provided by the landlord under the terms of the tenancy
• keeping in good repair any common areas or areas required for access

Tenant repairing responsibilities:

• making good any damage to the property caused by the behaviour or negligence of the tenant, members of his/her household or any other person lawfully visiting or living in the property
• keeping the interior of the property in reasonable decorative order