Monday February 14, 2005
Yesterday and part of today the search for housing continued. The place I saw yesterday was odd (and not in a way that brings the word character to mind) and the wiring was known to be illegal: ungrounded but with grounded receptacle boxes everywhere. What it had going for it was that it was on the top floor and had a nice big back deck. Really non-standard doorway openings, too.
This morning I had a conversation with a guy in Carleton Place to where I was willing to move for the great-on-paper 2 bedroom apartment for only $500 a month. I was trying to set up an appointment to view it. He asked a few questions to which I gave honest replies. One of them revealed that I had a cat. "Oh no." he said, "No animals allowed because the staff have to clean sometimes and they are allergic. "
I wasn't sure I had actually heard all of that correctly so I asked: "The staff are allergic? What staff?" To which I was again treated to the explanation above but with a prediction that one of the staff could die because of this allergy. Really.
I considered calling back much later and answering differently just to get a look at the place. But I didn't. I'd still like to, but now I have other things to spend my time on. Still - it is illegal to refuse to rent to someone because they have pets. At least in Ontario it is. Really.
I called a place that had a sign out front saying there was a renovated apt for rent. I'd passed it on the way to the odd place yesterday. Met with the landlord and viewed not one but two apts both of which had been completely gutted and new floors, bathroom fixtures, ceilings, paint all done. I am about to sign a lease tomorrow. Glad this annoying hunt is over.
It's small, but has some advantages, including the facts of it not being in a basement (first time in a couple of years!) and the landlord not being perturbed about my having a cat and being unemployed at the moment. There's laundry equipment being installed in the building and there's space to park my Jeep. I can get the key this week so moving logistics will be less frantic.
Good huh? I just have to check that I can get the cable modem service moved there and I'll have nothing to do but sort out what fits and what goes into storage or goodwill.
Right. The cable modem. Gotta check on that right now.