Student housing costs usually top the list of expenses for college students. This is why many of them try to save money on rent by living off-campus. A shared apartment can be a good choice if you want to live with a close friend or two but with more flexibility and independence than you would have in a college dorm. To find the perfect apartment suited to your specific needs and personal preferences, here are some factors to consider.

Consider the distance to campus

The proximity of an apartment to the college campus is critical. There’s no point in finding a cheap apartment that’s far away and requires you to use expensive transport to get to campus. If you can walk to campus, this is an advantage. If you intend to rely on a bicycle to get to campus, find out whether there are bike lanes. If you have a car, find out whether the apartment has a garage or suitable parking. If there’s public transport close by, it can prevent you from having to find and pay for parking on campus. 

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Get a feel for the neighborhood and its amenities

As a student, living in a peaceful, quiet neighborhood means you can rest and study without too many disturbances. College dorm rooms are often noisy. It is also convenient to have a variety of amenities close by. Are there supermarkets, laundry services, pharmacies, and eateries in the area? Is there some outside area where you can go to relieve stress and get some exercise? Many apartment complexes located in neighborhoods close to campuses offer high-end amenities like on-site fitness centers, study rooms, and swimming pools. 

Check on the security

When you stay off-campus in an apartment, you should have security measures to make you feel safe. Depending on your schedule, you will have to go to campus and leave behind some of your valuable belongings. Check if there are security cameras, security guards on patrol and secure locks on doors. The more security measures in place, the less you will have to worry about safety.

Calculate the costs

It is important to make a budget to understand how much you can afford to spend on accommodation. Find out the asking rents of properties in the area to make sure the landlord isn’t asking too much. Some landlords with apartments close to campus may offer discounts to attract student renters. 

Make sure you know whether utilities like water and electricity are included in the rent or not. You will have to decide with your roommates how to handle bills if utilities are not included in the rent. It goes without saying that an apartment should have fast, secure and affordable internet access. Sometimes this is included in the rent, and sometimes it isn’t. 

Decide to share

If you enjoy living alone, you may decide to rent a single-bedroom apartment. However, most students prefer to share an apartment and will find one or more roommates to share the costs. You need to choose wisely if you’re going to share. You will want to live with people you trust and preferably ones who have similar schedules to you. Respecting each other’s preferences and living styles is important. It is easy for conflicts to arise if one person wants to study and the other roommates want to party or if one roommate has to clean up all the time. 

Read the rental contract

Reading the terms and conditions of your contract can save you from misunderstandings and headaches later on. You will usually need to put down a security deposit, so check on the amount. Make sure the landlord will keep the deposit in a protection scheme. Check that the length of the lease is correct. Read the rules about parking, allowable noise levels, etc. You need to know what you need to do not to violate the lease. 

Conclusion

Choosing the right apartment will make your college life more convenient. Aside from the cost of the apartment, you will need to keep in mind its location, security, and nearby amenities. You can have the best of both worlds when living in an apartment – a chance to be more flexible and independent and convenient access to campus so you can meet people and enjoy new opportunities.