Student Housing Accommodation
Are you looking for student accommodation, student housing, student flats or student houses?
Students have a great many housing options (the kind of housing you want and where you wanted to be located) while attending a college or university
in the US.
Almost all US colleges and universities offer residential housing or dormitories to full-time students and some even offer off-campus apartment housing.
If your college or university offers these accommodation, they will likely send a description of the on-campus and off-campus options that are available,
as well as the housing application form.
The housing application form should be submitted
early since most campuses have limited on-campus housing, including selection. Old residency halls can be dull and depressing, while new or renovated
facilities usually offer very high living standards.
Off-campus student housing can be anything but cheap, and in the big cities there is little difference between student housing and regular rentals.
In most areas accommodation aren't hard to find, but in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, or San Francisco, where property demands are high
due to space and intense competition, it can be very expensive.
The number of rooms as advertised, usually includes bedrooms, living rooms and dining rooms, and should exclude kitchens and bathrooms. However, some
owners', can be creative, i.e. single-room accommodations go by a variety of names, such as 'studio', 'bachelor' or 'efficiency'. Also, higher floors
in an apartment block will cost more, as you pay for cleaner air, increased light, isolation from street noise and a pleasant view.
Unfurnished accommodation includes a stove, refrigerator, air-conditioning, and sometimes a dishwasher. Furnished apartments, in addition to the above,
have furniture, light fittings, curtains and basic kitchen fixtures and fittings. Most apartment blocks have a common laundry room, while apartments
in some modern developments have their own washer and drier.
If your colleges or university is based in a large metropolis city, like New York, Los Angeles, or San Francisco, you might have a hard time finding
an affordable place. You may have to choose between a tiny apartment in the city and a more spacious accommodation in the suburbs (longer commute).
Also, avoid poorer neighborhoods due to high levels of crime and substandard public services.
The 'Apartments for Rent' section in a newspaper classifieds offer useful advertisements. Also, refer to local publications like For Rent, the Apartment
Guide or the Rental Guide Magazine. There are numerous websites, which offer apartment classifieds, such as www.apartmentguide.com, www.forrentmag.com,
www.homes.com, www.rental-guide.com and www.aptforrent.com.
Rents can vary from state to state. The approximate annual living expenses are about $10,000, which includes accommodation as well as other
daily expenses. However, the expenses are different for different people depending on the lifestyles and this is just a rough idea. The main expenses
can be split up as:
- Rent $ 400 per month
- Groceries $ 100 per month
- Utilities $ 100 per month
- Phone $ 100 per month
- Sundry $ 200 per month
So, about $1000 per month is a good estimation. Most people can survive with $700-$1000 a month. The key here is to share apartments/houses
so that you save on utilities, fixed charges for the phone and to some extent on groceries. Rent can include gas and hot water, while electricity is
usually billed as extra.
