Off Campus Housing
Off Campus Housing
| Housing Questions to Ask | |
| The Costs of Living Off Campus | |
| Off Campus Housing Workshop | |
| DC Neighborhood Guide | |
| Off Campus Housing Listings |
As you begin your search for housing, realize that all apartment complexes,
houses, and leases are not the same. Some offer one set of amenities, while
others can be completely different. It is important to ask a variety of questions
and search different places before making a decision so that you are well
informed of the advantages and disadvantages of different places.
Here are some suggested questions you may want to start out with when you look for housing off-campus:
| -- | What utilities are included? What am I/are we responsible for? | |
| -- | Is parking included? If not, what is the additional monthly charge? Where is the parking (on street, in garage, in lot)? | |
| -- | Are pets allowed? Is there an additional fee or security deposit? If so, how much? | |
| -- | Are the apartments carpeted or hardwood floors? If they are hardwood, do we need to carpet them? | |
| -- | Are there laundry facilities in each apartment or in the building? | |
| -- | How close to the metro is the building? Is there a shuttle provided by the building? | |
| -- | What is the visitor policy for the building? What is the visitor parking policy? | |
| -- | What type of security does the building offer? How safe is the neighborhood? | |
| -- | If I am receiving a package, what type of service does the apartment building offer? | |
| -- | Is there an application fee? | |
| -- | What is the deposit for this apartment? | |
| -- | Is there a gym facility included? If so, what are the rules around the gym facility? | |
| -- | What special incentives are you offering right now? | |
| -- | Can I renew my lease at the same rate? | |
| -- | What modifications can be made to the apartment (i.e. painting policy)? | |
| -- | When is the space available? Can I see the actual apartment I would be renting before signing a lease? | |
| -- | Is there anything I will need to know about the apartment? | |
| -- | Can I sublet and/or can someone sublet the apartment from me? | |
| -- | Are there quiet hours in the building? | |
| -- | Is there an on-site office with computer/internet access for tenant use? |
Remember that these are just a few suggested questions to help you get started. You may think of other questions as you tour different apartments. Feel free to ask any questions you have - they will never be silly or ridiculous! A question not asked could end up costing you even more money later!
The Costs of Living
Off Campus
Ever wonder why housing can be so expensive? Many off-campus apartment complexes offer deals on their housing by adding the average cost of amenities into their monthly rent, and including those amenities in your housing package.
Many apartment buildings use these bonuses as marketing tools to attract the attention of potential clients and future tenants. Others feel that the amount that the building for these amenities can be reduced by including them in the monthly rent.
The costs that you want to be aware of are: water, electricity, cable, landline telephone, internet access, waste disposal/removal and propane gas. Make sure to ask about these various costs, and find out which you will be responsible for, and which will be provided. On average, the typical Washington, DC resident spends approximately $106.50 on utilities each month.
The mission of Housing
and Dining Programs is to develop a safe, culturally engaging, living-learning
community through high-quality programs and collaborative service delivery.
The Office of Campus Life fosters an inclusive, welcoming, collaborative work
environment and is committed to the recruitment and retention of a diverse
workforce. We comply with affirmative action and equal employment opportunity
laws and regulations.