Moving off campus takes preparation

As students weigh out off-campus living options, they are advised to consider several factors in the housing selection process, according to Mihaela Farcas, director of Off-Campus Living. In order to choose a property that suits their needs, students should immediately evaluate the condition of the property, the provisions of the lease, the security of the neighborhood and the quality of services that the landlord offers, Farcas said. "The better you take care of things in the beginning, the better [it will be] to move out," said Farcas. Students should "document how they find the apartment," she explained, adding that any problems with heat, electricity, leaks or rodents should be reported to the landlord immediately to avoid being charged for them. This should be the first thing students do before moving-in, even though the property owners "already know [the] damages," said Daniel Bernstein, property manager at Campus Apartments, a real estate company that owns 405 housing units in University City. Bernstein said the landlords inspect and detail the condition of the apartments during the window of time between a lease's expiration and the start of the new tenants' lease. Students who document any problems from the previous tenant -- such as physical damages -- should report them to their landlord and will likely have no problem getting back their full security deposit, Bernstein added, stressing that all tenants should be careful not to cause any damage. Farcas noted that students should be aware of whether some utilities -- such as gas, water and electricity -- are paid for by the landlord. She stressed that students should be aware that a lease is a binding document. Students also need to know that if one roommate pulls out of the deal, the other roommates are responsible for their part of the contract, Farcas continued. In general, when dealing with a contract, such as a lease, "what is not written is really not valid," Farcas said.