As fall gets further underway, many people will begin to think about housing for next year. Whatever that housing looks like, there are a few important principles to remember before signing any leases or housing agreements. Below are some important things to keep in mind during any housing search:
- Leases are binding legal documents and you may be legally responsible for rent after you sign. Because of the binding nature of leases, it is important to check them over carefully and make sure that anything discussed with your landlord is in writing in the lease. Verbal agreements are not recommended because they are not legally binding.
- Take things like budget and location very seriously. You don’t want to get in over your head with a rent that is too high or regret your choice of location because of a very long commute. Remember that there is lots of housing out there so don’t rush into anything too quickly.
- Get to know your roommates well! Living with someone is a big commitment and unfortunately sometimes conflicts do arise. Consider meeting with your roommates and discussing important topics such as pets, having guests over, sleep schedules and whose name will appear on the lease and or bills.
- Take your time!! Sometimes the best housing is not the housing that you come across first! Sometimes the best option is to wait and continue your search. Again, remember that once a lease is signed you are legally bound to that property so don’t sign anything that you are uncomfortable with or do not really like that much.
- Do your research! Take things like amenities, location, budget, type of housing and if it allows pets or not and how much pet fees are all into consideration. Also important is if the place is furnished or not, and whether there is a washer and dryer. One way to get started with your off campus housing search is to check out the Beyond the Diag website. Here, you can search for all types of housing and you can search by key factors that matter to you like number of beds and baths, price, and distance to campus.
- Once you have found a promising housing option, request an in-person walk through. It is not recommended to rent a place just based on pictures. Also, if possible, you could speak to current or past residents to get the inside picture of what living there is like.
For more guidance on how to successfully navigate the housing search process, take a few minutes to watch our Take Time Before You Sign videos. This is a series of short videos, made in partnership with Central Student Government, that guides you through some of the key things to look out for and keep in mind when looking for housing off campus.
Fall Housing Fairs
As another important way to gather information on where you’d like to live, consider coming to one of our off-campus housing fairs in October. This offers a great opportunity to meet with housing providers, find out about different properties, and build a full picture of what you’d like, before you decide to sign a lease. Housing Fair details are as follows:
- North Campus Housing Fair: Thursday, October 20th, 12-3pm (East Room, Pierpont Commons)
- Central Campus Housing Fair: on Wednesday, October 26th,12-3pm (Rogel Ballroom, Michigan Union)
- Virtual Housing Fair: Thursday, October 27th, 12-1pm - click here to register