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Guide to Living Off Campus

This information has been provided by the Office of the First Year Experience.  It is maintained by the Rensselaer Union.  If you have questions, please send an e-mail to offcampus@union.rpi.edu

The reasons why students choose to live "off campus" are many and varied.  Some students believe they will have more freedom to do as they want, some want a change in surroundings, and some believe that it is more economical to live off campus.  Others want to live with or near friends who have chosen to live off campus in apartments or in fraternity or sorority houses.

No matter what your reasons, the choice means living in one of the Troy neighborhoods surrounding the campus.  All of Troy's residents, including you, are obligated to abide by certain laws, ordinances, and rules to support a reasonable quality of life and to protect the rights of all citizens.  The very basic information provided here will help you make informed decisions on where you will enjoy living, what you need to do to live peaceably in the neighborhood, and where to go for assistance if you have problems.

Where should I live?

In the case of living in a fraternity or sorority house, the decision of where to live is already made, and it is up to you to abide by the house rules, the Greek Relationship Statement, and the laws governing the City of Troy.

If you are not Greek affiliated and have the option of living anywhere off campus, then there are several choices you may want to consider in Troy. There are several apartment complexes which are comfortable and provide a number of amenities that may be appealing to you. Typically, apartment complexes manage the facility to assure that the property maintains its value. There are also a number of apartments in houses in the neighborhoods around campus. One advantage of this option is neighborhood associations. These organizations exist for all the residents who live within set boundaries. They meet regularly and provide a voice for residents.

How do I find a place to live?

Traditional methods frequently used in apartment hunting are word-of-mouth and apartment listings in local newspapers.  Rensselaer students are fortunate to be able to access the recently updated Off-Campus Housing Web site, online at http://offcampus.union.rpi.edu.  In addition to accurate rental searches, the Web site features information on students' rights and responsibilities, advice for selecting rental property, and tools to list/search for roommates and furniture.  To search for an apartment, please click here.

How do I choose a place to live?

Each property is different. The bottom line is you want to be happy, so a good way to start looking for an off-campus apartment is to consider a checklist of questions. To make an informed choice, you may want to ask yourself, landlords, owners, and neighbors the following questions:

1. Rent: What is the rent per month? Is a security deposit required? If so, how much is it and under what conditions is it held? Does the landlord require payment of the last month's rent in advance? Does the lease indicate that the rent can be increased if real estate taxes are raised, sewer and water assessments are increased, or for any other reason?

2. Other Costs: Do you pay extra (and if so, how much) for utilities (electricity, heat, gas, etc), storage space, air conditioning, parking, late payment of rent, etc.?

3. Maintenance: How is maintenance performed? Is there a resident maintenance superintendent? Are maintenance hours restricted? How is emergency service handled? How is garbage disposal handled? Who takes care of leaf raking and snow removal for the street, the sidewalk and the steps leading to the apartment?

4. Safety & Security: How clean and well lit are the building lobby, fire exits, entrances and exits, elevator, stairwells, hallways? Does the apartment door have a dead-bolt lock? A security chain? Is there adequate lighting outside the apartment in the evening for you to be safe going and coming? Is there a recent history of crime near the property?

5. Insects & Rodents: Are there signs of critters present?

6. Bathrooms & Kitchens: Are the bathrooms clean? Is the plumbing for the sink, toilet, and tub in good working order, and are the tiles sound? Is the kitchen sink in good working order? What about the stove and refrigerator? Is there adequate cabinet space in the kitchen and bathrooms?

7. Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning: Does the heating system seem to be in good working order? If there is a fireplace, check it to see that it is clean and operates well, especially if the warmth of the apartment depends on it. Is the apartment ventilation adequate? Is there an exhaust fan in the kitchen? Is the air conditioning in good working order?

8. Wiring: Electrical: Are there enough electrical outlets and are they in good working order? Telephone: How many outlets are present, and are they convenient? Cable/Internet connections: Are these present? Will the landlord mind if you add them, and if so, who will pay the cost of this structural improvement?

9. Structure: How many bedrooms with windows are in the apartment? Windows, storm windows, and screens: Are any broken? Do they all open? Do they have locks? Floors: Are they clean? Ceilings: Are they clean, cracked, water stained? Walls: Are they clean, is the plaster cracked or paint peeling? Lighting: Is it adequate and are fixtures in good working order?

10. Household & Neighborhood Livability: Does your lease permit smoking? Are there secure laundry facilities in the building? Is the storage space adequate? What is the noise level in the area around the rental unit?  Is there much traffic on the street? Who are the neighbors; do small children or retired citizens live nearby and what might be their needs and expectations? Is there off-street parking or will you need to park your car on the street?  How far away is public transportation?  Does the landlord allow pets?

What is a lease?

A lease is a legal document stipulating the conditions under which a tenant may live in a certain property, stating the rights and responsibilities of both the landlord and the tenant. It is advantageous to have a lease in order to protect your interest in the property. It is equally advantageous to make sure that the document that you sign does just that.  Through the Rensselaer Union, students are able to access the Student Legal Services for a free legal consultation on leases.

Now that I'm moving, what do I need to do?

There are a number of things that you, the new tenant, will want to establish before you move into your apartment so that you will be comfortable and successful. Below are a few critical services you should consider. Providers offering these services at competitive prices are listed in the phone directory.

• Phone Service: Is your cell phone enough, or do you need to set up local service for the phone or for Internet access? Set this up as soon as you sign a lease, because it takes a while for the service providers to schedule installation.

• Internet Provider: Will you need to access the Internet from your home? If so, will this be through a phone line or through a high-speed Internet provider? Depending on the time of year, it can take up to a month to schedule installation, so make arrangements as soon as possible if you need this service.

• Power: Are your utilities provided for with your rent or will you need to arrange for them yourself? You will need to make sure that the electricity and gas are turned on when you move in. If you are responsible for purchasing oil for your heater, check the level in your tank and find a service provider you will be able to call when you need one.

• Renter's Insurance: If your laptop is stolen, do you have enough money on hand to replace it; or if a fire breaks out and all your belongings are lost, will you be able to replace everything you need to continue your studies? These are relevant concerns that can be addressed with renter's insurance. The time spent researching to find the policy that is right for your needs is a valuable investment for your future.

• Change of Address: Each time you move, it is very important to submit a change of address to the US Postal Service as soon as you know you are moving. You can do this at the Postal Substation in the Rensselaer Union . Equally important is immediately notifying the Registrar of your change of address so that you can receive campus communication.

Proactive things to keep in mind

A number of campus and community initiatives have been implemented in the last year to positively impact the quality of life in the surrounding community for everyone. Students in particular have much to gain from these initiatives. The Rensselaer Union improved the Off-Campus Housing Data Base. Over 100 local landlords underwent intensive training to become better landlords. Rensselaer began offering a limited number of grants for the purchase of property around campus.  Students became active participants at Rensselaer Neighborhood Renewal meetings and at neighborhood association meetings. The Office of the First Year Experience is developing useful resource materials and a tenant training program for students living off campus. Aside from these initiatives, there are many things students can do to be good tenants and neighbors.

• Know the rules: Every community has rules designed to establish and maintain a certain quality of life. The city of Troy publishes the "Comprehensive Directory of Community Services and Information" to assist residents in getting answers about the community and its services so that they can be responsible citizens.  An electronic version is coming soon to this website.  It contains most of the issues that students need to be mindful of when living in the community, including property maintenance, dogs, noise ordinances, parking regulations, abandoned vehicles, building permits and nuisance abatement.

• Know your rights: Students have the same rights to a decent quality of life as every other citizen of Troy.  Becoming informed empowers students to more fully embrace and enjoy these rights.  Students should also be mindful that they are in Troy because they are Rensselaer students, and that the Dean of Students Office supports and assists students in achieving personal and academic success, whether they live on or off campus.

• Stay informed: Although students tend to use the internet or a national paper for world news and the Polytechnic or Campus.News as their information sources on campus, they soon learn that most of the community outside the campus walls is not connected to the Internet or to the campus.  Neighborhood residents get news and information through local television, newspapers, or neighborhood newsletters. Rensselaer helps the local neighborhood associations publish the quarterly "Neighborhood Newsletter."  Electronic copies of this publication are also found at this website in the Neighborhood Newsletters section.

• Meet the neighbors: The best way to get the neighbors to be your advocate is to let them get to know you! Being on good terms with the neighbors will go a long way when you need help in the future. Lend a hand when you can, and share information about campus events and activities your neighbors might be interested in.

Problems

Invariably, on occasion, problems arise.  Being an informed citizen and knowing your rights will help you resolve issues more quickly.  Should you need assistance, the organizations listed to the right are more than happy to help you.