Tips for beginning next year’s housing search
It’s about that time to start thinking about where you’d like to live next year. As you begin your search, here are a few tips and resources from Off-Campus Housing & Neighborhood Relations (OCH&NR).
Prepare for the search
First, do some research. Create a budget that includes what you can afford for rent, utilities, internet, etc. Look at public transportation options. Check out the crime rates, and ask other students about their experiences living in their neighborhoods.
Research properties and commutes
Search for available student apartments, townhomes, condos and houses in the Boulder area with Ralphie’s List, CU’s official rental database. Popular Boulder neighborhood areas for students include The Hill, Martin Acres, East Aurora, Goss Grove and North Boulder. You can search by neighborhood, price, number of rooms and other filters. Ralphie’s List also has a feature to find roommates based on a variety of different criteria.
In our current environment, it is important to take extra safety precautions when viewing properties. Many vendors offer virtual tours of apartments and homes. If you are going to see the property in person, be sure to wear a face covering at all times and maintain physical distance. You can also contact the landlord to make sure they agree to wear a face covering and physically distance themselves during your visit.
Many students commute to campus with their free student bus pass, and RTD public transit has routes that serve all of Boulder and nearby communities. With many transportation options available, consider researching properties throughout the Boulder area. You could even look at neighboring communities such as Longmont, Superior, Louisville or Lafayette. Ralphie’s List postings can provide you info on which bus lines you could use to get to campus, along with how long it might take to walk or drive from your potential new home to campus.
Attend a CU Virtual Housing Expo
Attend the free upcoming virtual CU Housing Expo to meet with off-campus property managers, city offices and vendors. The Expo will be available online starting the week of Feb. 15. Landlords and vendors will have videos and presentations pre-recorded that students can watch, and will have scheduled times to meet virtually with students and share information about their respective properties.
Understand lease agreements
When you find a place you are interested in renting, get legal advice on any rental concerns you may have. Students can make an appointment with attorney Bruce Sarbaugh through OCH&NR to get a free lease review before signing or for any questions or concerns you may have regarding your housing situation.
Roommates
As you consider who your roommates will be next year, make sure you’re aware of the city of Boulder occupancy limits, which states a maximum of three or four unrelated individuals living together. Both tenants and property owners can be subject to violations of over-occupancy and up to a $2,000 per day fine. Remember that you can use Ralphie’s list to search for roommates - just create an account with your colorado.edu email address, and fill out your profile. Then you’ll be able to search through other profiles for people with similar interests, living styles or housing preferences.
Take the online Off-Campus Living Orientation
Take the Off-Campus Living Orientation to prepare for life off campus, learn about city ordinances and find ways to get involved in the Boulder community. This online course takes about 15–20 minutes to complete. Remember to talk to your potential roommate(s) about what expectations each of you might have. For examples of what these conversations could look like, check out the roommate agreement on the OCH&NR website.