Trying to figure out where you want to live after freshman year at college can be challenging. The whole process is foreign, and you may not know what exactly to look for in a new apartment. As someone who has already been in a few college apartments, I’m going to give you the rundown of all the things you need to ask yourself and ask your landlord before you sign that lease.Â
When hunting for a new place to call home, some of the most important questions are the ones you ask yourself first. Think about what you need to feel most comfortable, what you’re willing to compromise on and what your deal breakers are. Is it really important to be right on campus, or is it more important to have good parking and be further from campus? Do you want to live somewhere with an in-house gym, or would you rather be within walking distance of the grocery store? These kinds of questions may seem trivial but can actually be important to narrowing down your options. It’s also important to make sure you inspect the area you are considering to live in. Sometimes it’s easy to get caught up in the thrill of getting your first apartment that you can forget to check for things that may be problematic in the future.Â
Based on my experiences, here’s a list I’ve compiled of questions I think students should be asking themselves before signing a lease:
- Can I comfortably afford the monthly rent with my current income, financial aid, or family support?
- How much will I pay each month after utilities, internet, parking, and other fees?
- Have I compared the total cost with other apartments in the area?
- Â Is the apartment close enough to campus and my classes?
- Is there a convenient bus route, or do I own reliable transportation?
- Will I feel safe walking to and from the apartment, especially at night?
- Is parking available, and can I afford it?
- Are grocery stores, pharmacies, and other essentials nearby?
- Will the location still be convenient during bad weather?
- Have I toured the actual unit I would be renting?
- Does everything work, including the appliances, plumbing, heating and air conditioning?
- Have I checked for signs of pests, water damage, mold or other maintenance issues?
- Is there enough storage and space for my belongings?
- Does the apartment have working locks, smoke detectors and secure entrances?
Something I think a lot of people take for granted when looking for a place to live is whether or not the landlord is actually good at their job and cares about their tenants. Even a great apartment can become a nightmare with a bad landlord. As easy as it may seem, simply looking up the potential landlord online can tell you if there is anything majorly wrong that you should be wary of. I also think that communication with the landlord prior to signing a lease is extremely important and shouldn’t be taken lightly when making those final decisions on where to live. So, as much as making sure a place is up to your standards is important, you also need to make sure that the place is safe, trustworthy, and will be taken care of.
Here’s a list of things I think everyone should ask their landlord before agreeing to live somewhere:
- Which utilities are included in rent, and which must I pay separately?
- When is rent due, and is there a grace period or late fee?
- How are utilities divided if I share the apartment with roommates?
- Am I responsible for the full rent if a roommate fails to pay?
- What happens if I need to move out before the lease ends?
- Is subletting or finding a replacement tenant permitted?
- Can I receive a complete copy of the lease to review before signing?
- Who do I contact if something breaks or needs repair?
- How quickly are routine maintenance requests typically handled?
- Who pays for repairs if an appliance stops working?
- What happens if the apartment becomes temporarily uninhabitable?
- Will the apartment be professionally cleaned and inspected before move-in?
- How are lost keys or lockouts handled, and are there fees?
- Are there any known ongoing issues with security, pests or building maintenance?
Now there is one last thing to consider when finding the perfect college apartment: Roommates. While you certainly don’t have to have roommates, most college students tend to find others to live with after freshman year, and while having roommates can be great, it can also make signing a lease all the more difficult.Â
Thus, the last short list I have is just a few questions you may want to consider if you plan on living with others:
- Is each roommate signing an individual lease or one shared lease?
- If one roommate moves out, can the remaining tenants stay without covering that person’s share?
- Are roommates jointly responsible for unpaid rent or damage?
- When will both roommates receive the keys?
- Am I responsible for the full rent if a roommate fails to pay?