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Off-Campus HOusing guide

2013

Finding a

Special supplement of

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Where to

StartGet the FactS

Leasing or renting a place to live off campus can be a very exciting and positive experience as well as confusing and overwhelming. This guide will provide you with information and resources to help you successfully navigate your off campus experience.*

*Note: This information was compiled by Off-Campus Student Services and was prepared to give you some general information. It is not intended to serve as legal advice about any particular problem.

4 Common Myths

6 Searching for Housing

8 Transportation and Parking

7 Trash and Recycling

10 Signing a Lease

12 Safety

13 Amenities Chart

15 Moving in

70%66%

99%

95%

74%72%

Just over

of all Columbia campus students live off campus.

of graduate students live off campus.

of the off-campus population attends classes full-time

of undergraduate students live off campus.

of professional students live off campus.

of the off-campus population are in-state students

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Common myths

Contrary to popular belief, most University of South Carolina students live off campus.

While there are benefits to living on campus, not all students will choose to live on campus

during their entire time at Carolina.

The majority of USC students live off campus. Students can be just as connected and be very

involved even if they live off campus. Many students say living off campus has contributed positively to their college experience. It can teach you life skills that you may not get by living in a residence hall.

Living off campus is affordable but will depend on where you live. Sharing an apartment with other students will help keep costs down. Average rent prices for a two-bedroom range $400-650 per

month plus utilities.

The University does not have any housing off campus that is affiliated. Only residence halls and the Greek Village are associated with the University of South Carolina. Because of this, we are not able to make recommendations about where to live off campus.

Students do not have the same college experience living off campus.

Living off campus is expensive.

The University has affiliated off-campus housing.

myth 1

myth 2

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4

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searChing for housing

types of housing starting your search

typical renting requirements

apartment Complex

single unit rental(property management Company)

single unit rental(independently owned)

A community of apartment units or townhomes that is typically owned and managed by a private company.

A property that is independently owned but managed by a company. All transactions are done with the property manager rather than the individual owner.

A property that is owned by an individual and is rented by that individual, also known as a landlord. Landlords in Columbia are not required to have a permit or register in order to rent property.

Are you wondering where to start your off campus housing search? First, you should think of what your preferences are, such as rent price, location, and amenities. Creating a list of necessities will help you in your search. When you call about a place, ask about your preferences before arranging to see it; this will save you time in your search process.

There are many factors to take into consideration when searching for off campus housing. You can find information about off-campus housing on websites, in local newspapers and other publications, local real estate agents, and/or word of mouth.

A searchable housing database hosted by the university in an effort to centralize your search is available online at (https://offcampushousing.sc.edu/).

You may be asked to fill out an application and pay a fee. The landlord may also check your credit report. Some landlords may require a student to have a guarantor on their lease. This is typically a parent and is often referred to as a cosigner.

6

trash and reCyCling

trash pickup —city of columbia

recycling —city of columbia

Pickup in Columbia will vary depending on your place of residence.Most large complexes will have bulk trash receptacles for disposing of trash.

Check your lease for regulations regarding taking out trash and items that may or may not be allowed in the bulk dumpsters.

Warning: many complexes will issue fines for leaving trash outside your door and/or on your balcony.

Depending on the complex, they may or may not provide options for recycling at your residence.

The city has a drop off location, located at 2600 Bull Street, that accepts: newspapers, cans, plastic bottles, jars and jugs, glass, and paper.

If living in an apartment or house located in Columbia, contact the City of Columbia, Sanitation Division (803-545-3800) to begin recycling.

The City of Columbia will issue your residence a roll cart for trash disposal.

Collection schedules should be verified with your landlord.

The City of Columbia has the following ordinances pertaining to trash (these are just some of the codes, this list is not exhaustive)

The above mentioned ordinances are in no way exhaustive. It is your responsibility to verify their accuracy and abide by all ordinances of the City of Columbia.

Please click here for more information on Columbia’s Code of Ordinances.

apartment Complexes/Communities

apartments or houses loCated throughout Columbia

7

Most off-campus housing accommodations are not within walking distance. While there are a few apartment communities and several neighborhoods just off campus, most students live at least three to five miles from campus.

Many students prefer to bring their personal vehicle to campus each day. To park in a university parking lot, you must purchase a permit from Vehicle Management and Parking Services. Go to www.sc.edu/vmps or call 803-777-4209 for more information.

In a health and environmentally conscious world, many students are choosing to ride their bikes to campus. All bikers parked on campus must be registered at no cost with the Vehicle Management and Parking Services office. Registering your bike helps discourage theft and will assist in recovering your bike if it is stolen.

The streets running through campus are lined with city of Columbia parking meters. Many students prefer to park at a meter each day. Just remember that the meters only take coins and if you receive a ticket, it is from the city, not the university.

Motorcycles and scooters must also have a valid parking permit and may only be parked in designated spaces. You may not park a motorcycle or scooter in a regular space in a garage or surface lot on campus.

Don’t have a car? Try Connect by Hertz, a short-term rental car program available to students. Connect by Hertz allows students to rent vehicles on an hourly basis. This is a convenient option for students who do not have a car who might need to go grocery shopping or go to a doctor’s appointment. For more information, visit www.connectbyhertz.com

The university offers a shuttle that goes around and through campus. It does not go to any off-campus apartment communities Several apartment communities. Several apartment communities operate their own shuttle that brings students to and from campus during the day. These shuttles are owned and operated by the apartment community and are not affiliated with the university. They typically run every 30 to 60 minutes and drop students off at various locations on campus.

transportation and parking

university parking lots

bicycling

meters

motorcycles/scooter

connect by hertz

transportation

Cs/gs permits

garage permits

Commuter student or graduate student permits are valid in parking lots on the outskirts of campus. This permit will be your cheapest option, but parking spots are not reserved and may not be available each time you come to campus.

There are several student parking garages that are centrally located. These permits are limited because the garage sells as many permits as there are parking spaces available. Garage permits are also going to be more expensive than the CS permit.

8

signing a lease

Read the lease before signing it. Signing a lease does not just reserve you a place to live, it is a legal document. Once you sign the lease, you are responsible for the provisions of that lease. If there are agreements between you and the landlord regarding changes to the lease or property, do not sign the lease unless the changes are in writing.

According to the South Carolina Landlord & Tenant Law, both oral and written agreements to rent are considered leases. To be enforceable, your lease must be fair, honest, and reasonable to both the landlord and the tenant. The landlord may still enforce the lease without the tenant’s signature if the landlord gives the tenant a copy, then tenant moves into the unit and pays rents, and the landlord accepts the rent.

A security deposit is any amount of money or property provided to the landlord to secure performance by the tenant under a rental agreement. The deposit is usually paid up front and the price is determined by the landlord. Typically, apartment complexes will charge anywhere from $250 to a full month’s rent and individual houses will likely charge a full month’s rent. The deposit is usually refundable if there is not damage and/or unpaid rent at the end of your lease.

seCurity deposit

before you sign

what should be inCluded in your rental agreement?Amount of rent to be paid

The date the rent is due

The date the rent is late and the penalty for late payment

Landlord contact information

Move-in and Move-out dates

Is there a lease renewal clause?

Can the rent amount be increased?

Is a deposit required? If so, how much?

Are pets allowed? If so, is there a fee or additional deposit?

Can the tenants sublease the apartment or house?

Are there restrictions against decorating the rental?

Are there guest restrictions?

Are there conduct rules for the property?

Who is responsible for lawn care?

How much notice is required to terminate the lease?

other faCtors to Consider before signing a lease:

10

safety

Many crimes can be preventable but you must take basic steps to protect yourself and your belongings.

Take a few minutes to review the following suggestions that will help you keep your apartment

and belongings secure.

inside your property

entranCes

outside the rental

Test smoke detectors every month

Purchase renter’s insurance. It is not that expensive and may save you money in the event of an accident or burglary

Know your roommates habits – you can only be as safe as they allow you to be.

Keep your doors locked at all times – even when you are at home during the day, you can never be too careful.

Ask all staff to see an id before entering your home.

Keep the blinds or drapes closed when you are gone.

Use a peephole to determine who is knocking before you open the door. If you are still not sure, question the stranger through the door.

Have someone check on your place when you are out of town.

Get to know your neighbors in case of an emergency.

Never leave your key outside under a mat or in a place accessible to a stranger.

Never leave notes on your door or messages on your answering machine that indicate you are away.

12

This amenity chart will breakdown the communities where the majority of our students live. Please verify the accuracy of this with each property as their amenities can change.

amenities Chart

Furnished

Washer & Dryer

Electricity included

Shuttle

Walking Distance

Internet

Pet Friendly ($)

cable

Lease type

roommate matching

LO FT STH E

at USC

On-siteOn-site

Group Group IndividualIndividual ($)

Individual Individual Individual IndividualIndividual Individual IndividualGroup

13

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moving in

Upon moving out you must provide your landlord with a forwarding address to send your deposit. It must be returned within 30 days of you moving out or you asking for your deposit back, whichever is later.

If you do not receive any or a portion of your deposit back the landlord must provide you with a written list of what is not being returned and why.

If you are going to have a party at your residence, inform your neighbors.

Ask neighbors to notify you if the party has gotten too loud before they call the police.

Remember —your definition of a party and your definition of loud might not be the same as your neighbor’s definition.

Do not provide alcohol to guests under age 21. You can be issued a social hosting ticket and be held liable for their actions even after they leave the party.

Take care of your common space and yard.

Do not leave trash on your front porch or patio.

Bring in your roll carts in accordance with city ordinances.

Become familiar with codes and ordinances about parking and noise, and abide by them.

Get to know your neighbors. The may not be students, but they can be good allies.

Office-Campus Student Services:803-777-3366, www.sa.sc.edu/ocss

USC Police Department803-777-5160, www.les.sc.edu

Parking Services803-777-3175, www.sc.edu/vmps

before moving in

after moving in

being a good neighbor

being a good neighbor

resourCes

Before you move into your apartment or house, inspect your rental and record anything that is in need of repair, damaged, or hazardous. Most landlords will provide you with a checklist, if not you should create your own.

Be sure to be as specific as possible, nothing is too small to indicate on your sheet. Ideally the landlord should be present when you inspect your property but this is often not the case.

After the inspection, be sure your landlord signs the checklist and provides you with a copy that has all signatures on it.

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15

No Matter If You Live On-Campus or Off-Campus Next Semester:

Office of Pre-Professional Advising Is Here To Help You With Your Future Goals!

Drop - In Hours: Tues. 1 - 4 p.m. Wed. 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Sumwalt Building, Room 208 (p) 803-777-5581

Or Email an Advisor! Eileen: eileenk@mailbox.sc.edu

Sydney: botelhos@mailbox.sc.edu