We strongly recommend that international students live on-campus for at least their
first semester, because acclimating to a new community can be challenging when you
are also getting comfortable at a new school.
Staying on campus gives you the opportunity to spend time focusing on your classes
and on meeting other new students, rather than worrying about how you'll get to class
each day, and whether or not your rental property is safe and legal.
You should not assume that just because a landlord, website, or agent speaks your
native language, or are originally from your home country, that they have your best
interests in mind. Build a rapport with a prospective landlord, review the property, advocate for your
needs and concerns, and arrive at lease terms that are legal, reasonable and comfortable
for both you and the landlord.
Social Host Law
It is illegal for anyone over the age of 18 who owns or rents a home to "knowingly
allow the consumption of alcohol or alcoholic beverages by any minor" on the premises.
The law also punishes any homeowner or tenant who learns that alcohol is being consumed
by minors there and fails to take corrective action.
"Red flags" are warning signs that a rental property may be unsafe, or that someone
may be attempting to scam you. If you notice any of these signs, the rental unit in question should be avoided.
More than 3 non-related people living in a rental home is not legal in the local
area. Furthermore, accommodating more people than one individual in a permitted bedroom
is unsafe.
It is fairly standard to be asked to provide one (or two, at most) month's rent plus
the security deposit (typically equaling one month's rent). If you are asked to provide
additional months in advance you should consider if that arrangement is in your best
interest.
Cameras inside the house are NEVER acceptable. If you see one you should not rent
the property. It is illegal to monitor tenants this way!
Asking for any form of payment before meeting or signing the lease or telling you to wire money is never safe. Do not send money to someone you have
never met for an apartment you have not yet seen.
It is strongly advised that you DO NOT sign a lease without viewing the property first.
If a landlord will not give you a tour of the residence prior to you moving in, this
is considered a red flag. Additionally, flyers or ads for housing in your home country
or native language may seem safe but the homes can be illegal, unsafe, or even occupied
by too many students.
Some scammers hijack rental ads by changing the contact information and can effect
even the most reputable rental websites. For this reason, we encourage you to look
at our listings exclusively and only look at outside websites if you take caution.
Blocked exits and lack of smoke detectors are very concerning fire hazards. See our
Safety page for more details about Fire Safety.
Make sure to look at the electrical system in the home to check for faulty or unsafe
wiring. If someone does not look right, it probably is not!
Turning a living room, garage or basement into a bedroom is illegal unless properly
permitted by the town.
All listings options provided on our website are legal and properly permitted but
if you choose to search through other sites, please be cautious to ensure the rentals
are safe and permitted.
All tenants have the right to protect themselves through a written contract. If your
potential landlord insists on not having a binding contract, find a new rental!
What is Legal Housing?
A rental dwelling unit is considered legal when it has been inspected by the Chief
Building Inspector or a designated employed by the town, and meets all applicable
housing, sanitary, building, electrical and fire codes, rules, and regulations. Upon
receipt of the approved Inspection Report, the Chief Building Inspector shall issue
a rental registration valid for 15 months from the date of issuance of the temporary
rental registration.
A House Rental License is required of any entity that rents any type of housing unit.
Similarly, an Accessory Apartment License is required of any entity that rents a self-contained
living area within a single-family home. These licenses are issued to a landlord when
the town deems that the house or apartment has met all applicable housing, sanitary,
building, electrical and fire codes, rules, and regulations.
Please contact your local township to learn more about whether licenses of this nature
are required to legally rent out a property. Furthermore, each township's license
may look different from the sample above.
Accessory Apartments: A dwelling unit which is subordinate to a permitted principal one-family residence
use in terms of size, location and appearance and is located within the principal
structure. A self-contained living area within a single-family home. It is a separate
housekeeping unit, usually with its own kitchen and bathroom, either within or adjacent
to an existing one-family house. In some areas, the apartment may be in a structure
that is physically separated from the house.
Amenities: The conveniences offered by a landlord to a tenant, including but not limited to:
laundry, kitchen, smoke-free, porch, fireplace, tub/pool, private entrance, dishwasher,
microwave, and extra storage.
Rental Registration: A rental registration is issued upon application to the Chief Building Inspector and
shall be valid for 15 months from the date of issuance of the temporary rental registration.
Temporary Rental Registration: Upon a landlord properly filing a complete application with the Building Division,
the Chief Building Inspector shall issue a temporary rental registration valid for
90 days. Having a temporary rental registration means that the town either has not
inspected the property yet or has not yet approved the Inspection Report.
Utilities: A general term that refers to such basic services as water, heat, and electricity.
This includes, but is not limited to: electricity, water, oil, Internet, and cable.
If you are looking for guidance and best practices when approaching living off campus,
we have tools that can help your search.