Off-Campus Housing

This guide is intended for students currently living on campus at the U of A to help them navigate the transition to off-campus housing.

Safety Considerations

Living in an apartment for the time can be daunting. Here are some apartment safety tips for living on your own for the first time: 

  • Check the doors and windows for proper locks.
  • Consider buying a Ring or camera system for outside your front door if the apartment complex allows it. This can come in handy when expecting packages, seeing who is at your door, and if maintenance comes in when you're not home. 
  • Consider purchasing a door security bar or door jammer for an added layer of security. If your apartment has a sliding door, place a rod within the bottom door track for re-enforcement.
  • Meet your neighbors and apartment management. It can be helpful to know your neighbors and management if you ever need anything. 
  • Know where the fire safety exists are, and where to evacuate in case of a tornado.
  • Check to make sure the mailboxes have secure locks (in case of communal mailboxes)
  • Consider buying additional window locks and opaque curtains.
  • Consider what floor you might prefer to live on.
  • Learn whether or not the apartment complex student housing only or if anyone is allowed to rent there
  • Learn how you make a maintenance request. Find out if anyone can access the apartment when you're not home.
  • If you have a disability, make sure that the area in and around the dwelling will be safe and acceptable for you to live there.

Questions to ask yourself when looking for an apartment

 

Tours and Walkthroughs

Before you sign a lease, you should always make an effort to tour or walk through the property, in person if possible. When touring a potential living space, ask yourself some of these questions or try to note the following:

  • Drive by the area multiple times, at different times of day and different days of the week as much as possible. Are certain times noisier or more active than others in the neighborhood or building? 
  • Are there locks on all of the doors and windows and do they work properly?
  • Does each room in the space get natural light to potentially lower future electric bills? 
    • Do you also have the option to completely cover all windows and doors for privacy?
  • Are the doors and windows properly insulated (can you see any visible cracks to the outside when they're closed?
  • Are their sufficient outlets and do they work properly?
  • Do all faucets and showers work with adequate pressure?
    • Do they all produce hot and cold water on demand?
  • Check in dark or potentially damp spaces like under the sink or in closets for any sign of mold.