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Searching for an apartment or house off campus is an exciting step. It’s also a big step (well, many steps) before you actually move in. 

And just so you don’t look back with regret, we’ve got a list of considerations before and during your search. Ohio State’s Student Legal Services (SLS) and the Office of Student Life’s Off-Campus and Commuter Student Services recently put out a great video breaking it all down. 

Those who work in both departments are great resources to connect with and want to help you, according to Molly Hegarty, managing director of SLS. As you’ll see in the video and the story below, staff in these departments help students navigate all the steps of living off campus, illustrating how Ohio State’s community wants to give students all the tools they need to succeed along with protecting their legal rights. 

Of course, the first consideration is are you eligible to live off campus? You can find out on this University Housing Regulations page. Earlier this year, there was also an exemption made for returning second-year students if they applied by June 10.  

If you are eligible, Hegarty suggested students do their homework.

“Don’t feel rushed into the decision,” Hegarty said. “Some off-campus housing issues could be prevented with research on the front end.”

What kind of research? Everything from what you can afford to what you should avoid.

What’s your budget?

Consider how much you can afford and what other costs you may incur.

• Security deposit: You’ll need to give your landlord a security deposit up front, typically one month’s rent. This is so the landlord can recover unpaid rent or damages to the property once the lease ends. The landlord is obligated to return whatever is left after unpaid rent or damages. One tip to receive your full deposit is, “Document (photos, video) the condition of the property using SLS’s move-in checklist,” Hegarty said.
• Utilities: These could include water, gas, electric, trash and recycling, sewer and technology costs. It’s estimated this could be an additional $100-150 dollars per month per tenant for utilities.
• Parking: If you have a car, you’ll also need to pay for parking.
• Renter’s insurance: Your landlord will have insurance for the property but that generally does not cover your property. Renter’s insurance, like car insurance, can cover your potential losses. Premiums are typically as low as $20 a month.  If you have car insurance, you may be able to bundle under your provider. If not, SLS has a list of agents to consider.
• To help with budgeting, schedule an appointment with the Student Wellness Center’s Scarlet and Gray financial coaches.

Roommates

If you don’t already have a roommate or roommates, Off-Campus and Commuter Student Services has resources to help you find roommates. First, a roommate search on the website will help you find posts from people looking for housing or who have housing and need a roommate. You can also add your own post. Off-Campus and Commuter Student Services also hosts roommate fairs throughout summer.

“It’s good to know that many leases contain a joint and several liability clause, which means you and your roommates are liable for rent and damages caused,” Hegarty said. “If one roommate leaves early, the landlord can seek the rent owed from that roommate or any remaining roommates.”

So it’s a good idea to create a roommate agreement, which sets out how much each of you will pay, who will pay which utilities and more. You can find sample agreements here.

Start looking

The best place to begin is the Off-Campus and Commuter Student Services search page. Here, you can type in general information before refining your choice.

If you are interested in a property, the search will include the landlord’s name and contact information. Call the landlord for more information.

Landlords are not endorsed or approved by the university. However, you can find out more information about a landlord by checking out the Undergraduate Student Government’s renter’s guide. The Undergraduate Student Government surveys those living off campus and compiles that data into the renter’s guide.

It’s also a good idea to review the Off-Campus Living Guide for useful information on various areas where students rent and the resources available throughout the university and the local community.

Seriously, start looking

If you’ve started to settle on a place, get to know the neighborhood.

“Take a buddy, visit at different times of the day, get a feel for the place,” Hegarty said. “Talk to the current tenants and ask why they aren’t renewing, what they liked and didn’t like about the experience.”

And of course, try to visit the unit you’ll be renting. If it’s not an option because of COVID-19 restrictions or other reasons, ask the landlord to do a video tour of the premises.

“We suggest during this time to request at least a Zoom or FaceTime walk-through of the property before signing a lease,” Hegarty said.

Signing the lease

A lease is a legal document. Understand that. And before you sign the lease, make an appointment to have Student Legal Services (SLS) review the lease with you.

“We go through it line by line, explain your rights and responsibilities and answer any questions you might have,” Hegarty said. “Leases in Ohio are not standard, meaning that each landlord has a different lease and some landlords have separate leases for different types of properties.

“We assist students with getting repairs, subleasing, lease renewal, lease termination, utilities, security deposits and more.”

To stay up to date on all the educational opportunities, resources and events SLS and Off-Campus and Commuter Student Services provide throughout the year, be sure to follow their social media accounts, which can be found on their respective websites.