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If you cannot find accommodation in university
dormitories, you may have to look for housing off-campus.
In particular, students with families may need to look off-campus.
While university-subsidized housing is often less expensive
than housing off-campus in large U.S. cities, that is not
always the case in smaller cities and towns. Types of accommodation
include furnished and unfurnished apartments and houses, privately
operated dormitories, cooperative residence halls, and rented
rooms in private homes.
To find off-campus housing, ask the university's housing
office or consult the classified advertising section (also
called "want ads" or "classifieds") of
the local newspaper. Many U.S. newspapers are now on the World
Wide Web so you may be able to explore off-campus housing
opportunities while you are still at home. Check campus bulletin
boards for notices of students who are looking for roommates
to share an apartment. Seek the help of someone who knows
the community or ask the international student adviser for
suggestions.
In general, the amount you spend for housing should be limited
to one-third or one-fourth of the total amount you have planned
to spend on living expenses. If the cost is one-half of your
budget, you may be spending too much. If the costs are unusually
inexpensive, it is possible that your living quarters are
substandard. U.S. Cities have local housing rules, called
"ordinances" or "housing codes," that
specify certain standards that must be met to ensure that
houses and buildings are safe and sanitary.
Making arrangements for housing off-campus can be quite challenging.
For example, if you do not have a car, location is important.
If an apartment is farther than walking distance from the
campus, it may prove to be inconvenient unless it is close
to public transportation. Gas, electricity, and telephone
services, known as "utilities," usually are not
included in the rent and must be paid by you, the tenant,
each month. You must make payment arrangements directly with
each of the utility companies. Get an estimate of monthly
utility bills from the utility company or previous tenants
before you sign a lease. Heating can be expensive in colder
parts of the country, and gas and electric bills should be
taken into account in determining monthly costs. Heating,
electricity, and telephone can add from $75 to $200 or more
(much more if you make long-distance or international telephone
calls) to the rent each month. Water and garbage collection
costs are usually included in the rent.
Sharing an apartment with a roommate can keep costs down.
If you do not know anyone to room with, it is appropriate
to ask another student who is also looking for a roommate
to consider sharing an apartment with you. Often students
advertise for roommates. If you respond to one of these ads,
you will probably be asked to visit for a personal interview.
These interviews are an excellent way to determine if it would
be a mutually agreeable arrangement to room together. Never
room with someone until you have discussed issues such as
smoking, study habits, cleaning arrangements, parties, overnight
guests, food, cost sharing, and so on.
If you decide that you want to live alone or if you have
a family, bring someone who is familiar with the local community
and with rental procedures with you when you go apartment
hunting.
When you find an apartment you want to rent, you must enter
into an agreement with the landlord. This is called a "rental
agreement" or a "lease." A lease is a contract
that legally commits the renter (the lessee) to rent a specific
apartment or house for a specified length of time. It also
commits the landlord (the lessor) to rent that house or apartment
to the lessee for that specified period of time. Do not rent
an apartment with a lease unless you plan to stay the entire
time period stated on the lease.
Many landlords require payment of the first and last months'
rent before the tenants move in. This is known as "advance
rent." It ensures that the tenant notifies the landlord
at least 30 days before moving out. Many landlords also require
a security deposit (also called a "cleaning deposit"),
which usually equals one month's rent. This is the landlord's
assurance that the renter will do no damage and that the apartment
will be in good condition when the tenant leaves. If the tenant
leaves the apartment in good condition, the landlord returns
the security deposit. You should obtain a receipt for the
security deposit as proof of payment.
Before you sign the lease agreement, go through the apartment
with the landlord or manager and make a list of imperfections
that you should not be held responsible for when you move
out. Examples include nail holes where pictures were hung
by a previous tenant, chipped tiles, damaged woodwork, or
soiled spots on the carpet.
It is important that you understand your rights and responsibilities
as a tenant and your landlord's obligations. Before you sign
the rental agreement, ask about rules and restrictions. Your
responsibilities include paying your rent on time, keeping
the apartment clean, repairing damage you cause, and telling
the landlord if something does not work. You must not disturb
the peace, that is, you must not be excessively noisy, and
you must comply with the terms of your rental agreement. The
landlord's obligations include repair and maintenance of the
apartment. The landlord must not interfere with your use of
the apartment, nor enter the apartment without your permission,
nor remove any of your property. The landlord must notify
you if the building where your apartment is located has been
sold.
Only accept rental agreements in writing, with all the terms
and conditions set forth in detail. Before signing any kind
of rental agreement, be sure that you understand it clearly
and completely. It is quite acceptable to ask the landlord
if you can take it away for a few minutes to examine it carefully.
You do not have to sign it immediately. If you have any doubts,
consult with the appropriate office at your college or university.
Many schools offer advice to students planning to live off-campus.
As a tenant (renter), you should be given a copy of the rental
agreement.
Off-Campus Dormitories
Sometimes there are privately owned dormitory complexes near
the campus. These are designated for students and are run
like university dormitories, but privately owned. Usually
the costs are comparable to living in an on-campus dormitory.
Cooperative Residence Halls
("Co-Ops")
A co-op is usually a large house in which a group of students
lives together, sharing the costs and chores. Residents take
turns cooking meals and work together to clean the house and
take care of outside maintenance. Because they are generally
less expensive, rooms in co-ops may be difficult to find.
Rooming Houses
These are dwellings in which rooms are rented usually to individuals,
but occasionally to two roommates. Cooking facilities are
often provided. It is probably cheapest to live in such a
room, but sometimes there are problems with human relations
(sharing the bathroom, kitchen, and so on). If you consider
rooming in a house, be selective and ask many questions.
Living With a U.S. Family
Sometimes international student advisers have listings of
families in the community who would like to have an international
student live in their home. Sometimes the family expects the
student to perform certain services, like baby-sitting or
household chores, in exchange for free or reduced rent. Living
with a family can be a warm and enriching experience, but
consider the family and the arrangements carefully and be
sure that you understand what is expected of you. Check with
the international student adviser to determine if services
are expected in exchange for room and board. This might be
considered employment by the U.S. Government and therefore
subject to certain regulations.
"I was on a two-year study program in the USA, and I
spent my first year living in the university dormitory. Even
if I enjoyed living on campus, I wanted to have something
a bit more private and personal in my second year of study.
With two friends I had met in my faculty, we decided to rent
an apartment near campus. We went to the university's housing
services, where they keep a list of available housing off-campus.
By looking through this list, we eventually found a three-room
apartment, which suited our needs. We divided the costs by
three, which ended up being almost the same price as living
in residence. The only problem was that I had to take public
transportation for 20 minutes to and from school every day.
We also had very little furniture, since we could not afford
full kitchen or living room sets, for example. We bought beds,
a table, a few chairs, and an old sofa in garage sales and
discount stores. It was fine for our needs! We sold most of
it to friends at the end of the year. I enjoyed having a place
of my own which I could call home, even if it did require
more commitment and responsibility."
— Shareen, Tanzania
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