College Living Arrangements Part II: Apartments and Rooms

Life in a college town tends to be pricey, and at some urban colleges and most two year and technical colleges, on-campus housing is not an option. So that leaves you either living at home with family or finding your own place. While staying with the 'rents is not glamorous, it might sound more appealing than living off of Ramen noodles because renting is expensive and can be really involved.


If you plan to rent a place, here are a few things to keep in mind:

• How much can you spend on housing every month?
• This includes rent which may or may not include:
• Parking fees
• Utilities: water, trash, gas, and electricity
• Cable
• Renter's insurance
• You usually need to put down a lot of money up front for the security deposit and the first and last month's rent
• Plates, cookware, and furniture
• Do you need a pet-friendly apartment? If so, what are their requirements/limits on size and number of pets?
• In markets where college apartments are in high demand (basically every area near a major university), you need to find a place to live for fall by mid-spring.

Renting a room in a house has some advantages over an apartment. Typically, a house is nicer to live in than an apartment, overall. Also, rooms are often available on short-notice. The downside is you will probably have more roommates than you would in an apartment. Additionally, unless you get a terrific deal on the lease, a house is going to have more expensive utilities.

A few things to remember about utilities and appliances:

• Try to find a place that uses gas heat and a gas stove. Electric heat is incredibly expensive. Oil heat is also pricey and the cost can fluctuate dramatically over the course of the winter. The good news is that oil heat isn't that common in rental properties unless you are living in a really old house.
• New appliances are more energy efficient. So, if you are responsible for the gas or electric bill, that makes a huge difference.
• If you are responsible for the water bill, be sure to report any leaks or drips as soon as possible. This is a good idea in general, but paying for water you aren't even using is probably the last thing you want to do.

If you have roommates:

• Everyone living in the apartment or house must be on the lease. If not, all of you could get booted out.
• Don't let anyone move in until they are approved by the landlord to be on the lease.
• Have an agreement from the start on chores, use of common areas and overnight guests. It's really hard to negotiate all of that after bad habits have already set in.