While many Penn students living off campus will never experience the numerous horror stories they have heard from friends, those still skeptical about the quality of off-campus housing may have a new online resource at their disposal.
A new website — CollegeHousingReview.com — now offers students the opportunity to browse, post pictures and evaluate nearby residences all in one stop.
The website, founded by Miami University of Ohio senior Ben Philabaum, allows students to assess new off-campus residences, listing the problems and perks of each location.
Given those reviews, prospective tenants can use the information to either quell their concerns or become aware of new problems.
While Philabaum was unsure how he was struck with the idea, he admitted that he heard many stories from friends who were unhappy with their living situations.
“There is no reason for that to happen in this day and age,” Philabaum said. “Students should have more information before committing to something like that.”
He also noted the surprise amongst students at Miami University that the website didn’t already exist.
Landlords also have the ability to post comments on the site, a feature Philabaum views quite favorably. “I think it’s a great opportunity for them,” he explained. “If you have a good property — and I think most of them are — having a good testimonial like that can push someone over the edge.”
He pointed out that those landlords unaware of a problem can learn about them, resolve them and post a response.
Although the website has only been operational for about a month, and only properties in Oxford, Ohio, are currently on the site, Philabaum hopes the popularity of the site will expand widely. “The goal is for it to be at every campus across the nation,” he said. “Everyone has a need for it. I don’t think it should be just for Miami students.”
