Everything You Need To Know When Moving Off-Campus

By Joshua Green

Updated: Nov 18, 2019

5 min read

Fact-checked by Martin Panayotov

Reviewer & editor

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Moving off-campus can be a truly liberating experience!

Living off-campus – a genuine opportunity or a real challenge?

For those of you willing to give it a try, we have prepared the following complete moving off-campus guide. The benefits of moving off campus are plenty and you are probably very excited about the upcoming change. And you should be!

But before you plunge headfirst into these unknown waters, make sure that you move off-campus for the right reasons and that you know how to swim.

What You Must Know Before Moving Off-Campus

The decision to exchange the routine, familiar and largely care-free dorm dwelling for a more independent off-campus life should never be made lightly. There are a score of important factors to consider before taking the relatively risky yet hugely rewarding step of living off-campus.

Are you eligible to move off-campus?

This is the very first question whose answer you need to find before thinking about whether you are financially and mentally ready to move off-campus. Different higher education institutes have different policies when it comes to living on and off-campus.

Generally speaking, college or university freshmen are only allowed to reside on-campus until they meet one of the eligibility criteria for living off-campus: entering their sophomore year, completing a specific number of credit hours, reaching a certain age (usually 20), getting married and so on. Therefore, the best course of action for you is to contact your school and get more detailed information whether you are legible to move off-campus or not.

Are you ready to move off-campus?

Finding your focus? Even the brilliant detective skills of Sherlock Holmes would be put to the test in a typical dorm life!

Provided that you have received the green light to move and live off-campus, the next issue you must address is whether you can afford such a drastic change in your lifestyle and if you are in the right mindset to handle all the responsibilities that surely come with living away from the dorms.

You should be well aware of the usual risks involved in an off-campus move and be fully prepared for the additional financial burden it will most likely bring about – you don’t want to suddenly realize mid semester that you can’t survive financially. Sit down with your parents and conduct a cost comparison between living on and off campus and get a much clearer idea of what the price difference between the two lifestyles will be.

Although on-campus life is universally considered to be the cheaper option, it is not always the case. Most colleges or universities charge the respective housing hosts at the start of each semester with the future utility costs included in the bill and the transportation expenses are minimal, or none at all. But as good as it sounds, when you take into account the expenses for the meals at the university dining halls, the total sum can end up being roughly the same or even higher than renting a place away from the school campus.

How to set your off-campus budget?

Without a doubt, the only way to know for sure whether you will be able to respond adequately to your financial responsibilities when you move to an off-campus residence is to try to figure out how far your preliminary budget will take you. Make sure you factor in all of your future expenses of living off-campus:

the monthly rent + the security deposit;
the utilities, such as electricity, water, cable TV, Internet, delivery services, etc.
food;
transportation;
furnishing and decorating costs if your rental place is unfurnished.

It’s a great idea to speak with students who live off campus about what you should expect as far as monthly expenses are concerned and whether there are any hidden costs that you need to know about.

Tips On How To Move Off-Campus

More space, privacy and freedom, enhanced safety, better food – what you are waiting for?

Having discussed in detail the undeniable pros and cons of moving off campus with your parents, you should be able to see the larger picture more clearly now. The creation of a preliminary off-campus budget should indicate indisputably whether renting a property away from the university grounds will make sense for you or not, and if it does, then begin the hunt for off-campus housing by observing the following tips on moving off-campus:

Searching for an off-campus rental property

If possible, initiate your search 1 to 2 months prior to the date you’re supposed to move in. Have in mind that June and September are the months when the most rental units become available.
Arrange a date and time to inspect the rental unit before committing to it. Pay special attention to its current condition – how clean and maintained is it? Watch out for any signs of infestation or fire or water damage.
Does the apartment meet all safety standards? You need an easy access to the fuse box and the water supply stop valve. Moreover, you should feel comfortable in the neighborhood even for a midnight walk back home.
What about your future neighbors? How do you think would they react if you organized a party in your place?
How far is the rental from your university? Think about the commute time both ways and the transportation costs per month.

Understanding your rental agreement

It’s of paramount importance that you understand and agree with all the clauses of your lease agreement before you sign it.

It’s your obligation to understand fully the terms and conditions of your lease before signing it. Discuss with your landlord any clauses you fail to comprehend or terms you are not comfortable with. Alternatively, you can get assistance from a lawyer, a university official or even your parents in deciphering the rental lease.
Besides knowing how much you will have to pay for the rent and the security deposit, be sure to ask your landlord about the specific conditions under which the rent can increase and if there will be extra charges for late payments.
If not specifically mentioned in your rental contract, remember to ask your landlord about important issues, such as: availability of storage and parking space, trash disposal, laundry services, possible maintenance hours, deliveries and so on.

Finding the right roommate

A strategic move you can take advantage of in order to actually afford a potential move off-campus is to share your rented apartment or house with a responsible roommate. It is an option that you need to think through really well. The decision to share your living space and expenses can take your off-campus experience to any of the both extremes – shared happiness or individual misery.

Sharing is a rewarding experience – your roommate may become a good friend of yours for life.

Pick the right person for your off-campus life. Your best friend is your safest bet, a good friend is a good choice, an acquaintance is a calculated risk and a stranger could be a total disaster. Be mindful that your best dorm buddy may not be a suitable candidate for an off-campus roommate.
Discuss with you future roommate how the monthly expenses will be divided and decide who will be responsible for actual payment of the bills.
It’s important to work out with your roommate a cleaning schedule and a fair distribution of the other household chores.
Also, it’s a good idea to come to an understanding with your friend about the food: how will you be sharing it and who’s going to be the primary cook?

What To Do When Moving Into Off-Campus Housing

Once you have successfully moved into a rental unit away from the dorms, there are a number of fundamental guidelines you need to observe so that your off-campus life is filled with nothing but happy experiences and enjoyable moments.

The safety of your off-campus dwelling should be one of your top priorities.

The moment you move into your newly rented home, make sure you take out your dedicated or smartphone camera (or borrow one for the day) and take a walk around the entire residence to make photos as proof of the current condition of your place. Pay special attention to areas that are damaged in any way. Document everything, even with minor defects. If possible, turn on the camera’s function to automatically imprint the current date on each photograph. Keep the photos someplace safe – this way, when the time comes for you to leave the place, you’ll have undeniable proof that you’re not responsible for any pre-move damages and the landlord won’t have a good reason to withhold money from your security deposit.
When any home repairs become a necessity, document them fully in writing and present the document to your landlord or property manager for approval.
Do your best to avoid any direct confrontations with your landlord and work with him or her to find the best solutions under the presented circumstances. Even the toughest issues can be resolved peacefully if both parties are willing to show some understanding.
Observe the laws of your new neighborhood and apartment building, and respect your neighbors as well. Breaking the rules would only get you in trouble and eventually scar your rental credit history if you got evicted from the property.

Why Moving Off-Campus Is The Better Choice?

Moving off-campus can be one of the best decisions in your life so far. Why? There are many good reasons to move off-campus and we’ll cover only the most widespread ones. The personal reasoning to get away from the university dorms will only be known to you, your parents and your friends.

Privacy

An off-campus life will enable you to have a quiet environment where you can study, think and grow. The never-ending noise and constant distractions of college dorms usually make it very hard for students to find their concentration and complete the single mission they are supposed to execute – to study.

Complete privacy in the bedroom and the bathroom? You got it!

Freedom

Most dorms have too many regulations which can have a restrictive effect on you. Living off-campus will enable you to have your own comfortable set of rules and be the sole master of your space. The liberating feeling to control your time and finances will enable you to take a big stride towards an adult life full of endless responsibilities.

Safety

Let’s be honest – some dorm residents have no respect for other students’ personal space and private property. For some reason or another, they get tempted to push the boundaries of normal behavior. By living in a residential complex away from the dorms, you get an elevated level of safety and no unfortunate instances of theft or assault, or at least very rare ones.

Food

Shared cooking in a shared apartment equals shared happiness.

Living off-campus gives you the excellent opportunity to decide what kind of food to prepare and when to enjoy a deliciously cooked meal. The kitchen you will have only to yourself, or share with your roommate, will be the center stage where you can show your gourmet abilities. If you don’t know how to cook, then moving off-campus is the perfect opportunity for you to master that life-saving skill.

Yes, leading an off-campus life is a thrilling prospect that will surely help you grow into an independent and responsible adult. And now that you know all the great things about living away from the college dorms, it shouldn’t be too hard to convince your parents to let you move off-campus. After all, they’re probably the ones investing in your bright future. So, try not to disappoint them.