The Campus Press survival guide to living off campus
So, you no longer have to cram all of your belongings into a tiny dorm room. Doesn’t that feel great? Don’t get too far ahead of yourself. Living in an apartment or a house off campus isn’t as easy as one might think. Here are a few things to know.
Shop around
It’s important to really look around before committing to a place to live off campus. There are so many options – you just have to decide what the most important factors are. Cost, location and a private living room are things to consider. Make sure to factor in all the conditions that matter to you when looking around for housing. Also, compare rent prices. Boulder real estate is not inexpensive by any means. Living in a choice location, like the Hill, isn’t always worth it — if you’re choosing between two apartments at $1200 a month and one has two tiny bedrooms and a floating wall separating them and the other is a two bedroom, two story, one and a half bath apartment, choose wisely and get your money’s worth.
Read the lease
It’s exciting to live in your own place, but truly reading the lease is very important in order to be successful living on your own. Don’t sign the lease until you know exactly what everything means. Ask questions. Don’t be mistaken for an ignorant college student. Make sure to find out exactly what you’re signing up for.
You can also have a member of the Student Union Legal Services look over your lease. The Student Union Legal Services can be reached at (303)492-6813 or in UMC 311.
Know your roommates
Roommates are one of the biggest issues of living off campus. It’s much easier living with responsible people you know. If you sign a lease with other people, they are responsible for their portion for the rent, bills and condition of the apartment or house. Room with people you know will pay their portion of the rent and bills on time so you’re not left high and dry.
Take pictures when you move in
Most landlords give you the opportunity to record any visible damages to the apartment or house prior to moving in so you are not held responsible. Fill out the forms from the landlord, but also take pictures. If the landlord tries to blame you for damages later on, it’s easy to pull out the photos and prove it was already there. Taking photos is a good way to ensure getting at least some of your security deposit back.
Follow the rules
It’s tempting to break the rules of a lease, but try to follow them in order to gain the trust of the landlord. Living off campus will be much easier if you build a good relationship with your landlord.
For any additional information or questions, you can visit the Off-Campus Student Services office in UMC 313 or reach them by phone at (303)492-7053.
Contact Campus Press editor Lauren Friedman at lauren.friedman@thecampuspress.com
