So you’ve decided to move off campus. Awesome! Good-bye, roommate! Adios, Commons food! And so long, intervisitation hours! You’re striking out on your own and becoming a full-fledged adult! You couldn’t be happier!
That is, until you come face-to-face with the nightmare of finding an off-campus house.
Current off-campus dwellers love to regale house-seekers with their own traumatic tales of finding a place to live. True, it’s hard to find a house, but it’s not impossible. No matter how many horror stories you’ve heard, don’t lose heart in your own house-hunting battle.
Here are some steps you should take:
Research Money: Most college students receive some financial aid from their parents for living expenses. Have a frank discussion with your parents about how much they’re willing to give you on a monthly basis, then use this figure to determine the price range of the room you’ll rent.
People: You have a group of close friends you desperately want to live with. Or you’re alone, wondering if there’s an open spot somewhere you can take. Whatever the number you’re dealing with, use that to narrow down your options.
Availability: Houses disappear fast. However, there are still spaces available, and a couple of resources exist to help you find them. One common tool is the UP Housing group page on Facebook. If you haven’t yet, ask to become a member, and then scour the page for available houses. Daily. (You’ve gotta be relentless through this entire process.) There’s also a UP housing page on the Pilots UP portal. But the most common tool is simply word of mouth. Ask around. Chances are someone you know knows someone who knows someone else who knows about a house that’s available, or has several rooms available.
Distance: When researching, keep an eye on the address of each home. Don’t assume each listing is walking distance from campus. If you’re comfortable with living a ways from campus, make allowances for extra expenses, like gas money, a bike or a bus pass.
Options House: This is what most students choose—their own house, rented from a landlord.
Extra rooms in a house: If every desirable house is already taken, this is the next best option. Many houses have mixed years living in them, and the seniors there now will be moving out.
UP rental: These are University-owned houses right across from campus, paid for through Student Accounts.
Apartment: Located farther away from campus, but offer benefits like on-demand maintenance and sharing spaces with fewer people.
Sublet: If you want to live in a furnished room, subletting from someone who is studying abroad next semester is a good route to take. You’ll have to move to another sublet in between fall and spring semesters, so it’s a good idea to book them both as soon as you can. If you are studying abroad and looking for someone to sublet, post on the UP Facebook Housing page, or see if a friend of yours is studying abroad an alternate semester, and the two of you can switch off.
Rent a room: Many families in the immediate area offer rooms in their homes for students. These rooms are sometimes furnished. Craigslist or the bulletin board in the lower level of Franz Hall will help you find these places.
Common Problems
Money: If money is an issue, and your parents cannot help you out, a UP rental is your best option. These are paid for via student accounts, so your loans, grants or scholarships can cover rent.
Furnishing: Many students want to avoid the hassle of furnishing their place. For this situation, subletting or renting from a family are certainly options, but not your only ones. Many seniors also want to avoid the hassle of moving their stuff out, and will gladly sell you their furniture along with their room.
Lack of availability: If you feel like you waited too long to find a place, don’t panic. Just keep looking at UP’s Facebook housing page and asking around. There are last-minute openings every year. Chances are, you’ll soon find a place to call home.
