First Time Looking for Off-Campus Housing? Check Out These Tips:

1. First Time Looking for Off-Campus Housing? Check Out These Tips

2. College is full of firsts, which can include moving away from home and finding your first rental. While moving on campus can be a big step, moving off campus can be an even bigger step. Plus, for many, it’s considered the first step towards adulthood. However, off-campus living can be rife with new information and experiences.

3. Foresight of new information and experiences can help make your off-campus life successful. And there are a few tips that can help you gain this foresight, including: understanding lease contracts, looking for safety, and searching in the right area.

4. Understand Lease Contracts For new renters (and some experienced ones), little is more confusing than the lease contract. However, little is more important than reading and understanding this contract. Leases can be confusing, but there are some basic elements they all contain. Identifying these basic elements is the key to understanding the entire lease. This can also make the lease easier to read. When going over the contract, just look for the lines that explain:

5. Maintenance rules, schedules, and guidelines • Duration of the lease • Penalties for breaking the lease, as well as possible violations • Additional fees you may incur • The rental rate, payment due date, fees for late payments, payment options, and where and how the rent should be paid

6. Contact information for the landlord and/or property manager, as well as communication guidelines • Guidelines for obtaining roommates, having overnight guests, and subletting • Regulations for parking, including fees associated with parking or violating these regulations • Guidelines for altering the rental’s appearance (i.e. painting, changing window coverings, etc.)

7. Information about what your deposit covers, how it can be recouped, and what violations could lead to revocation • Rules and fees associated with pets • The grounds for eviction and how the eviction process works

8. This may seem like a long list, but each of these elements are important and can prevent you from experiencing rental hardships. However, if you're searching for apartments for rent, Peterboroughoffers Severn Court Student Residence, where you will receive the quality housing and most comprehensive lease out there.

9. Look for Safety Surprisingly (or unsurprisingly), apartment safety is major selling point for many property managers. It should also be a major concern for all renters, especially new renters. Before signing a lease, make sure your apartment or room is in a safe neighborhood and offers standard, high-quality safety features.

10. Some safety features to look for, include: fire extinguishers and/or sprinklers, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, designated fire routes or exits, basic security (e.g. security officers, cameras, alarms, security doors or gates, a secure lock or intercom system), functioning locks on all doors and windows, and basic safety procedures.

11. Additionally, ask to have the door locks changed before moving in. And ensure your apartment is free of potential hazards, as well as safe inside and out. Finally, any rooms to rent Peterboroughoffers should also be rodent, insect, and mold-free.

12. Search in the Right Area Location matters, especially when you’re searching for student housing. An off-campus apartment should be as close to the university as possible. It should also be close to public transit and amenities, like grocery stores, banks, restaurants, laundromats, etc.