From right to left (Will Lyons | THE BEACON)
By Will Lyons, Staff Writer lyons14@up.edu
For students ready to brave the world off campus and move into a house, it may be harder than they think.
The window of opportunity to find an off - campus house is quickly closing. With 45 percent of students living off campus in 2012 and some freshman seeking their first opportunity to live off campus next year, competition for houses in the University Park neighborhood is increasing.
The deadline to apply for University - owned houses is Feb. 15, and homes owned by other landlords are filling up fast. With many students still searching for housing, students and landlords agree that applying early is the best way to secure a residence.
Director of Residence Life Mike Walsh won't know how many UP - owned houses will be available until current residents decide whether or not to stay.
"The biggest perk of renting through the University is having your rent linked with Student Accounts," Walsh said. "And we have an army of P-plant workers to fix your toilet."
Currently, 95 students live in University houses off campus. Walsh said all students have an equal shot at renting a home from the University.
Juniors and seniors can apply for a University-owned house before Feb. 15 with a $100 down payment. Students seeking a University-owned house are invited to a series of open houses on Feb. 16 before the Feb. 20 housing selection day.
Students make connections for non-UP houses
In terms of finding a house not owned by the University, who you know is key.
Sophomore Alex Douglas is struggling to move from one off-campus house to another because of his need to rent May to May.
"When you're looking so far ahead, you're not taken seriously," Douglas said. "As a college student you're almost neglected."
Douglas hopes he can find a new residence before the end of the school year.
"The fallback is to wait until summer," Douglas said. "Something will come up in the next couple months, I'm sure."
Some students said the best way to find a house is to get in early with seniors who will be graduating in the spring. Junior Jessica Heitman knew seniors and got into her off-campus house simply by asking.
"It kind of fell into my lap," Heitman said. "I asked for it in September and everything worked out nicely."
'Hands on learning'
Contacting a landlord early proves to be one of the best ways to get a house.
Bob Kessi, a UP alum who has 40 properties in the University Park neighborhood, gets calls as early as August for houses in May.
"It's a balancing act between letting current residents re-rent and letting new students in," Kessi said. "I always appreciate students looking out early."
Kessi recognizes the struggles and benefits of renting to University students.
"Renting to University students results in more hands - on learning," Kessi said. "I have to let them know what to call for, what I'm responsible for and what they're responsible for."
Kessi believes the neighborhood benefits as students continue to move off campus.
"University students bring vibrance and security from what the neighborhood used to be 15 years ago," Kessi said. "New houses and fixed up old houses have improved the neighborhood."
Even if it can be a struggle to find off - campus housing, many students, like junior James Lange, believe living off campus affords the opportunity to learn valuable life lessons, including how to care for pets. Lange adopted two feral cats once he moved off campus.
"I feel like I'm moving out of student-hood and into the real world," Lange said. "Yes, paying bills and cleaning is a huge pain, but it hasn't been that bad, especially when you have housemates you can work together with."
