As the fall semester comes to a close, a lot of landlords are starting to post listings for apartments for next school year if they haven’t done so already. Whether you want to move off campus to save money, have your own space or live with friends, here are some six tips to consider so you don’t get screwed.
1. READ THE LEASE!
I know this may seem obvious but there can sometimes be hidden fees or exclusions. Read the lease before you sign and get clarity on any issues you may have. Know your rights as a tenant and the rights of your landlord. What sort of issues can have you removed from the premises? What effect will this have on your payment (i.e. Are you still legally required to pay rent or will you lose your deposit)?
Making sure you understand your legal boundaries are extremely important! Small aggravations like noise level, putting holes in the walls, having pets, etc. can potentially affect your chances of paying additional fees or even prevent you from re-signing your lease for additional years.
Additional questions you should ask your landlord or take into consideration are: can you sublet? Is there free parking available? How do you make payments—via check or online? Are all the appliances, faucets, switches and smoke detectors fully functioning? What are your property maintenance responsibilities?
2. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!
Now, some of y'all might be wanting to get as far away from campus as possible but trust me, the closer the better. When looking for an apartment, make sure you take into account how far you might need to walk to class or to the shuttle stop— if your school has one. If you live in a city, also check the city bus schedule to see if your apartment is on the city line.
If you have a car, you should know where the parking locations are and the prices as well.
It’s best to do a dry run to each location you’re seriously considering as well as taking the shuttle or city bus to and from the location. You may need to add on 10-15 minutes to your trip as well in case of bad weather or traffic. In order to avoid any mishaps, make sure your apartment is within walking distance.
Also, check the internet to be sure that the area you want to move into is safe. Living off campus for most students means that they are leaving the “relatively” secure buildings that most on-campus housing offers. Not only be sure that the area is safe but the apartment as well—windows, doors, and locks!
*Special note: Ask if laundry services are on the property site. Traveling to a laundry site can be time-consuming and costly, not to mention questionably sanitary if it’s a public laundromat.
3. FLAT PRICE VS. UTILITIES
Make sure you ask your landlord the cost of rent as well as the estimated cost of ALL utilities. If your landlord seems shady, ask the current tenants what their monthly bills are like. Cable and Internet are not usually included in apartment cost since there are different companies and plans to choose from—call the cable company you are interested in and get an estimate.
4. MORE PEOPLE, LOWER COST
For most students, living off campus is SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper than on campus. As much as you might be yearning to get some privacy, just remember that the more roommates you have, the more people there are to split the costs of everything which means you are paying less in your monthly bills. Depending on where you want to live, the cost will vary. Having more roommates can help alleviate the costs putting a less financial strain on you.
5. RENTER'S INSURANCE
Renter’s insurance is a policy that is HIGHLY recommended for renters because it covers the cost of any damaged or stolen property for a variety of reasons. Depending on your parent’s insurance, you may be covered under them or at least for a small price. There are also independent policies that you may be eligible for as a student, but be smart and get covered.
6. FURNISHING YOUR APARTMENT
Most apartments don’t come with furniture. This may not seem obvious at first because most of you might be used to already having your basic furniture installed in on-campus living. To avoid the high cost of buying new, check out any university-based Facebook groups that sell or rent furniture or websites like Craigslist or eBay. Make sure to request or ask if the seller delivers or if you have to pick your purchases up. In the event that you may have to pick up the furniture yourself, you may also have to consider the costs of rental vehicle services like U-Haul if you or your friends don’t have transportation.
Living off campus can be really fun or an absolute nightmare—especially when you are living with friends. No matter if you are living with friends or by yourself, make sure you set living boundaries to better organize your life.
Living off campus is a great way to transition into adulthood because you are forced to confront more financial responsibilities like bills and maintenance of property. Have fun, but make sure you can financially afford to live there.
