LEASE INFORMATION
Whether it's your first time living off-campus or you're a seasoned pro, students are strongly encouraged to thoroughly assess a property before signing a lease. We also encourage you to have someone familiar with the leasing process or an attorney review the lease before signing. General lease information can be found below. Please
Don't forget to utilize our monthly budget calculator and view our checklist of items you may need prior to moving in!
LANDLORDS AND LEASES
HELPFUL TIPS
- Create and maintain an in-person or video relationship with your landlord.
- Be sure to get a phone number, email and mailing address for your landlord in order to communicate effectively.
- Ask questions! Don't be afraid to ask for clarification if you are confused about terms of your lease or are not comfortable with it.
- Read through the entire lease before signing. We know it's long, but it's important to know what you are committing to.
- Know your rights before signing and maintain positive relationships with your landlord, neighbors and roommates.
LEASE INFORMATION
- Your lease is a legally binding document. Be sure to read through the entire document and ask questions of your landlord.
- Most leases in this area are for 12 months with rent usually due on the first of the month.
- The timing of payments can be negotiated. Your landlord may be willing to agree to quarterly payments.
- Many landlords want one payment each month, rather than individual payments from each roommate.
- Many leases in this area will ask for the last month (or two) of the rent to be paid in advance as a security deposit, prior to the beginning of the lease.
- The landlord is supposed to deposit this money into an escrow account to return to tenants if there are no damages when the lease ends.
- Choose your roommates carefully. The landlord cares only that the rent is paid in full. For example, if one roommate moves out and stops paying rent, the landlord will likely look to the two remaining roommates to pay the full amount.
- When the lease ends, the tenant needs to provide the landlord with a forwarding address to which to send the deposit and leave the premises vacant, clean and free of items.
- The landlord has 30 days to assess the premises for any damages and then is obliged to return the deposit or offer an accounting of the damages in writing for the amount withheld.
- If the landlord does not return the deposit within 30 days, the landlord loses the right to do so.
MOVE-IN CHECKLIST
While this is not an all-encompassing list of what to bring, this checklist provides a great place to start to make sure you are move-in ready!
- Mattress
- Bedding (mattress pad, sheets, pillows, comforter, etc.)
- Dresser, nightstand, desk
- Fan, additional lighting (not all residences have overhead lighting)
- Trash bins
- Hangers, shoe racks, mirror
- Laundry basket (detergent, quarters for coin-operated machines, if needed)
- Towels
- Shower curtain
- Toilet paper
- Bath mat
- Other accessories
- Water filter
- Pots and pans
- Plates, bowls, glasses, cups, mugs
- Cooking and eating utensils
- Kitchen appliances (microwave, blender, coffeemaker, etc.)
- Tupperware
- Trash bin
- Dish soap or dishwasher pods
- Coffee table, end tables, TV, TV stand, chairs
- Cable/WiFi router, extension cords
- Cleaning Supplies
- Vacuum, Swiffer, cleaning products
- First aid kit (bandages, alcohol wipes, Advil/Tylenol, etc.)
- Fire extinguisher, carbon monoxide detector, replacement batteries
Additional Resources
We want to provide the best experience possible for our students and community members. Below are helpful resources and tools to get started with off-campus housing needs.
