Living off Campus Next Year: What to Consider

By: Kharisma Montes De Oca – Marketing and Development Coordinator, Off Campus Housing.

The chances that a student will live off-campus at the University of Arizona some time in their college career is almost guaranteed.  Keeping that reality in mind, there are a few things to take into consideration before that day arrives.  The most common issue students bring to Off-Campus Housing Services is conflicts resulting from verbal agreements between roommates or a tenant and their landlord. 

One of the many ways that we help students is by encouraging them to practice using written agreements as opposed to verbal agreements.  We consider this one of the first steps towards self-advocacy and have listed some additional steps for students and families to consider when moving off campus or changing off campus residences.  Whether you are looking for an apartment to rent, a house to buy, or a roommate to live with, taking precaution and making rational decisions during this process is highly encouraged.   

Step One: The Search
Looking for a place to live before classes start can be an overwhelming task.  We recommend working backwards from the desired end result.  First, make a list of everything you are looking for in a home off-campus.  Separate those wants and needs into different categories according to priority.  This process is important because it helps to keep from making an impulse decision based on stress or fatigue.  There are many resources on campus that can guide a student when making critical decisions.  Once you have made a list of priorities in what you want in a home, you then determine what kind of transportation is available to you.

Step Two: The Commute
It is a common myth that when you live off-campus you need to have your own vehicle.  We encourage students to seek out and plan their schedule and determine their off-campus lifestyle without the necessity of a vehicle.  There are many different transportation options that are much more cost effective and friendlier to the environment.  Other great ways to live in Tucson without a car include:

• Buying a U-Pass and riding Sun Tran (City Bus) - When you buy a U-Pass, you get unlimited rides, and the University will pay up to 50 percent of the cost.
• Ride Cat Tran - the UA Shuttle - Cat Tran offers both on-campus and express service to off-campus lots and runs from 6:30a-6:30p (academic year).  Some of the routes run outside of the campus perimeter, up Mountain Ave and over to UMC. 
• Ride a Bicycle -  Be Sure to Register Your Bike!  Registration acts as documentation for your insurance carrier and aids authorities in locating owner of stolen bike.  There is also a free lock cutting service for UA-registered bikes on campus.  Registration is FREE through Parking & Transportation. 
• Carpool Parking Pass Information (no waiting list!) - With three or more UA-affiliated people sharing one permit, the cost of participating is 1/3 or ¼ of the permit cost (depending on how many people are in the carpool)

Step Three: The Roommate
Once you have established where you are going to live and what your transportation will be, you might want or need a roommate.  Some things that you MUST do before living with someone:

1. Decide what kind of roommate will go best with your lifestyle.
2. Write an appropriate ad.  The way in which an ad is worded can attract or repel different kinds of roommates.  
3. Make a list of questions for potential roommates.
4. Interview potential roommates.
5. Look for “red flags” such as dishonest behavior, irresponsibility, how they speak of previous landlords and roommates.
6. Check their rental and criminal background. This is free and you do not need permission to check criminal background.  This is public information.
7. Have everyone sign a roommate agreement.

Step Four: The Rental Scam
If you decide to place a wanted ad for a roommate, whether it’s on the internet or in a newspaper, it’s important to be cautious of two different types of scams that target renters and roommates.

Scam “A”
In this scam, a victim is the person looking to rent an apartment or house.  The scammer is the person placing a classified advertisement offering a high-standard place for a low cost, even showing pictures of the rooms. The victim is required to pay a deposit, but once the scammer has received the deposit he/she will disappear taking the security deposit with them.

Scam “B”
In this case, the victim is the person who posts an ad on a communal website (e.g. Craigslist) stating that he/she is looking for a roommate to share a rental unit (or is a landlord looking to rent a unit).  The scammer is the person who poses as an interested party and sends a check to hold the room. The check will usually originate from overseas. The victim receives the check and deposits it into his/her bank account, and that amount of money will temporarily appear as having been added in. Within a few days the scammer will contact the victim and advises that he/she cannot move into the rental unit due to an illness. The scammer will even provide what appears to be medical documents indicating this state of ill health. The scammer then asks the victim to immediately wire transfer the money from the check back to him/her. After a few days pass, the victim will find out from his/her bank that the original check has bounced.

Investigate these Resources!
Off-Campus Housing Services - 520) 621.5859 or email us at housing@u.arizona.edu or visit us on the web at www.union.arizona.edu/offcampus/online.
The Housing Guide - http://www.union.arizona.edu/csil/csa/housingguide/index.php
ASUA Legal Services is a free service provided to University of Arizona students.  The attorney can help you interpret your lease, advise you on landlord-tenant conflicts, as well as give you information about a wide variety of legal issues.  If you have questions about your lease, be sure to consult the legal counsel BEFORE you sign it, because once you do, it is a binding contract.  Call (520http://www.jp.pima.gov/ ) 621-ASUA (2782) to make an appointment.
Pima County -
Arizona Attorney General - http://www.azag.gov/

Kharisma Montes de Oca can be contacted via email at kmontesd@email.arizona.edu