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Houses in a neighborhood near UB's South Campus called University Heights

Off-Campus Housing

Tips for International Students, Scholars,
and Employees

Will you look for off-campus housing? By doing a thorough apartment search and being very selective about both the apartment and the landlord, you can prevent many potential housing problems.

Here are some helpful steps to follow as you search for off-campus housing:

Step 1: Make a budget

Remember that you will have to pay rent and, possibly, additional costs every month for utilities (e.g. heat, electricity, trash pick-up, water). You might incur transportation costs as well. Please visit the following link for help in making a budget: www.student-affairs.buffalo.edu/offcampus/budgetp.pdf

Step 2: Find out what's available

By consulting the following resources, you will be able to find advertisements (“ads”) for apartments and learn about potential places to live:

Online Apartment Listings:

Newspaper classified ads:

City websites:

Other resources :

  • Campus bulletin boards
  • Other UB students, scholars and employees
  • “FOR RENT” signs in potential neighborhoods

To understand the abbreviations in apartment ads, read “Deciphering Rental Property Ads”.

To find how close or far apartment listings are to UB’s North or South Campuses, visit:

Step 3: Visit and inspect potential places to live

Once you’ve located a potential place, visit and inspect the apartment carefully. Ask yourself the following questions:

  • Does the neighborhood seem safe?
  • Is the apartment clean and well-maintained?
  • Are the doors, windows and locks sturdy?
  • Are the appliances (stove, oven, refrigerator, washer, dryer) in good condition?
  • Do the smoke detectors work properly?

For a checklist of what to look for and other apartment-hunting tips, visit the Off-Campus Student Services website: www.livingoffcampus.buffalo.edu.

WARNING #1: DO NOT RENT an attic or basement apartment. They are dangerous and in violation of the fire code. Tenants can be required to vacate an attic or basement apartment immediately and landlords can be fined.

WARNING #2: DO NOT tolerate situations that jeopardize your health (e.g. no hot water, inadequate heating, dangerous wiring, mold). Unlivable conditions may be grounds to break a Lease. Additionally, if you live in bad conditions for too long, it becomes more difficult for you to argue that the apartment is unlivable.

Step 4: Find out about the landlord

It is a good idea to check with other students to see if they have had problems with a particular landlord. You can do so by contacting members of your International Student Club. UB’s Off-Campus Housing Office also maintains a “complaint book” in which fellow UB students write their opinion of a particular landlord or property. To find out if other students have had a problem with a landlord or property you are considering, visit the Off-Campus Housing Office, 253 Harriman Hall, South Campus (Tel. 716-829-2224, sbi-och@buffalo.edu).

Step 5: Get your lease checked before signing it

UB students can take their Lease to SubBoard Legal
Assistance for review before signing it (UB North Campus, 377 Student Union, Tel. 716-645-3056, www.subboard.com/gls/) . All Leases can be modified if both the landlord and tenant agree. Anything that the landlord and tenant agree upon verbally should be written in the Lease. This includes repairs which the landlord promises to make, arrangements for snow removal and lawn maintenance, etc. Be sure that your landlord’s address and phone number are in the Lease and that the length of the Lease corresponds to your time frame. If you will only be in Buffalo for nine months, but you sign a twelve-month Lease, you can be held responsible for the remaining three months.

WARNING: Before moving in with roommates, understand that all tenants are each responsible for all of the rent (not just their part of the rent). This means that, if your roommate moves out, you will be expected to pay the full rent. You might consider signing a roommate agreement with your roommates. For a sample roommate agreement, visit www.student-affairs.buffalo.edu/offcampus/agreementp.pdf

REMEMBER: The landlord values you the most when you’re about to sign the Lease and pay a lot of money. If the landlord isn’t willing to commit to a repair in writing at that time, it's unlikely s/he will become more trustworthy over time. Respect yourself, have high standards and be firm.

Step 6: Document the condition of your apartment when moving in

Since you will likely have to pay a security deposit when you move in and will not get it back if there are any damages to your apartment, it is a good idea to take photos of any existing damage in your apartment when you move in. Fill out an “Apartment Inventory and Condition Report” as well.

Step 7: Pay your rent and security deposit

Do not pay cash and don't pay too much in advance. If you pay cash, there will be no record of your rental payments unless you get a receipt. Therefore, it’s better to pay your rent by personal check. And, while it is typical for a landlord to ask for first and last months' rent plus a security deposit, never pay more than that amount in advance.

Step 8: Purchase renter's insurance

Since your landlord’s insurance will not cover your personal belongings, you should consider purchasing renter’s insurance in case of theft, fire, loss or damage to your personal effects. For more information about renter’s insurance, visit http://wings.buffalo.edu/intlservices/pdf_files/RentersInsurance.pdf.

Step 9: Document any complaints you make to your landlord

If you have a complaint, call your landlord, but be sure to follow up your phone call by sending him/her a letter in the mail (Don’t forget to keep a copy for yourself.). If you have to go to Court, written evidence is the best kind, and the Court will accept such letters as evidence that the landlord was informed of the problem.

Step 10: Seek help from UB if you have a serious problem with your landlord or housing.

If you have a serious problem with your landlord or housing, you may contact Mary Clare Fahey, Off-Campus Services and Relationships Coordinator, 102 Harriman Hall, South Campus (Tel. 829-2493, E-mail:  mcfahey@buffalo.edu) or SubBoard Legal Assistance, 377 Student Union, North Campus (Tel. 645-3056, www.subboard.com/gls/)

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