Taking care of your rental property and understanding parking rules in your neighbourhood can help prevent damage, avoid fines, and keep your home safe, especially during winter and summer.
Winter Maintenance
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Check your lease to confirm who is responsible for snow removal.
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In most cases under the Residential Tenancies Act, landlords must clear driveways, parking areas, walkways, stairs, and entrances.
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If you rent an entire house, the law is less clear, so responsibilities should be discussed and written into your lease before signing.
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Tips for winter upkeep:
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Make sure you have snow shovels and de-icing salt if snow removal is your responsibility.
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Keep sidewalks, stairs, and fire escapes clear to prevent injuries.
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Review the neighbourhood safety page for tips on preventing theft and/or damage when your house is empty (e.g., winter break or summer).
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AMS Holiday House Check
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The AMS offers a free service during the winter holidays where inspectors check the exterior of your home and collect mail. Follow @ceaqueensu on Instagram for more info!
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Before leaving for winter break. cancel any meal kit or food box subscriptions to avoid waste and pests.
Summer Maintenance
Whether you're staying in Kingston for the summer or not, basic upkeep is important.
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Check your lease to see who is responsible for mowing the lawn.
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Under the Residential Tenancies Act (ETA), landlords are generally responsible for property maintenance, including lawn care.
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If you rent an entire house, responsibilities can be unclear; make sure expectations are discussed and written into your lease.
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Issues with rats, mice, ants, and/or wasps should be reported to your landlord right away.
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Landlords are responsible for pest control unless the infestation is caused by tenant behaviour (e.g., improper food storage).
Parking
- If you plan to bring a car to Kingston, it's important to understand your parking options both on campus and in nearby neighbourhoods.
- You can apply for an on-campus parking permit through Queen's, but spots fill quickly and you may be placed on a waitlist.
- If campus parking isn't available, many students rent private parking spaces from nearby homeowners. Facebook groups and Facebook Marketplace are common places to find these listings.
- Parking rules vary by neighbourhood, so always check posted signs and follow time limits or permit requirements.
- Important reminders:
- Do not park on your front lawn.
- On-street parking rules change seasonally.
- January and February: No on-street parking is allowed between 1am and 7am anywhere in Kingston.
- December and March: On-street parking is allowed only when weather permits. The City of Kingston will issue bans during snowstorms or when plowing is required.
Temporary Visitor Parking
- Look to the signs in your neighbourhood to determine whether your guest can park overnight.
- If your guest is staying for more than one day, you can obtain a temporary permit for on-street parking by filling out the application, and then making a service request or emailing contactus@cityofkingston.ca .
- If your guest needs parking for only one day you can obtain a parking exemption by submitting a service request, emailing contactus@cityofkingston.ca or calling 613-546-0000.
Residential On-Street Permits
- You may have to join a waitlist for an on-street permit or lot parking; finding a place to park your car prior to move-in will avoid stress and prevent receiving tickets for parking violations.
- Consider renting a private parking space – find these on Facebook, Kijiji, etc.