When your son or daughter goes off to college, the transition can be hard. Each year brings different “firsts.” When it’s time for the first off-campus apartment, a lot of moms and dads panic.
On one hand, it’s exciting to see your college student venturing off into a more independent living situation. On the other hand, the issues of leases, roommates, safety and security can leave you lying awake at night.
The best advice for moms and dads of first time college apartment renters is this:
- Make sure you, and more importantly your student, are comfortable with the safety and security of the off-campus housing. Many campus apartments are really nice, but you’ll also find the “student slums” surrounding many campuses.
- Make sure you’re okay with your student’s college apartment rental. Sometimes your student doesn’t know what to look for when inspecting their first college apartment. As a mom or dad, you have probably had your fair share of apartments. Help them out by making sure there are no broken appliances, outdated fire alarms and leaking ceilings.
- Find out whose name is going to be on the lease. Many college apartment complexes will require the lease holder to be 21. If a parent’s name is on the lease, the parent is legally responsible for the rent. Decide how you want to handle that. Will your child be responsible? Will you pay the rent? Will roommates pay you or the landlord?
- Find out which amenities the apartment complex has to offer. Some students might get distracted with the community events, pool, lounge areas and game rooms. You, as the mom or dad, know your child’s personality. Will they succeed with those distractions? Do they need a quieter location that allows them to focus on their studies?
Once you have the safety and financial issues figured out, you’ll be ready to help your son or daughter move into their off-campus housing. Do any other parents have any suggestions or tips for parent’s helping their child with finding their first off-campus apartment? Share your suggestions or tips with us in the comment section below.
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Many college rentals that are off campus have their own security patrol… I made sure mine did because that was important to my parents. I would definitely recommend finding off campus housing that offers individual leases because situations where one person is responsible for collecting and paying rent for every roommate can be tricky.
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