By Aaron Swartz
College dorms can be a great place to finally have some space away from your family, meet great people, and have a fun social life. They can also be loud, messy, and more trouble than they’re worth, which is why plenty of students decide to take the leap to off-campus housing sooner rather than later. Depending on your situation though this can be a tricky task, especially if you’re currently unemployed. Landlords are a lot less eager to rent to people without steady employment and there’s a whole host of difficulties that come with finding a place to live without a job. Here are a few tips to make the apartment hunting experience a lot easier and hopefully net you the place of your dreams.
via Pixabay
Check if your college allows off-campus living
First of all, it’s better to cover your bases; many schools actually don’t allow students to live off-campus, especially not off the bat. Some may require freshmen to spend their first year in the dorms, or maybe even their entire underclassman experience. Before you start looking for a new place to live, check and see if your school’s policies give you the go-ahead. If they don’t, contact your administration or the director of student life — they may be able to make an allowance.
Accept that it’s gonna be hard
Unfortunate as it is if you’re apartment hunting without a job you’re already going to be facing a bit of a disadvantage. Renters are often less than eager to take on tenants who might struggle to pay rent on time, so you’re going to have to face that reality. However, there are some things you can do to better your chances and manage to get a place to live even without a steady income.
Know your info
If you’ve never rented an apartment before there’s some information you should have ready to go. Every landlord will have a slightly different process for applying but they’ll all want a few of the same things. You should know your income, your credit score, and your rental history. Your credit score especially can be a big stumbling block, as most renters will require a higher score from someone without a job, but all of these will come up during the application process and you should have the info ready. Additionally, it’s a good idea to gather relevant documents, such as pay stubs, tax documents, a form of ID, and any references, especially from prior landlords if you have any. All of these will be useful in applying for an apartment.
Find a guarantor
A lot of renters may be unwilling to rent to you without job security, but a guarantor can help a lot with that. A guarantor co-signs your lease with you and accepts legal responsibility to cover any payments you miss to your landlord; essentially, it’s a way for your potential landlord to know they’ll still be paid regardless. Good candidates for a guarantor are friends or family, so long as they have the credit score and job history to prove to your landlord that they’re responsible.
Choose non-traditional renters
A lot of apartments are let out by management agencies or public companies. When you’re without an income these renters will often dismiss you out of hand, meaning it’s time to look elsewhere. Private landlords are an excellent alternative. Where the bigger companies have strict standards, private landlords can be much more lax and willing to rent to people without perfect credit or a steady job. Additionally, subletting is also a great choice for similar reasons to private landlords: more relaxed requirements for tenants. Even better, sublets also tend to be cheaper, so they’re another good option for you.
Consider getting a roommate (or roommates)
Housing is expensive, and if you’re diving in without an income of your own it’s a good idea to look for others to help share the load. Roommates are a great way to help with the cost of living, as well as have a good community in your home. Consider advertising that you’re looking for roommates on your school’s social media pages, create posters and put them up on campus, and talk with friends. Plenty of other people are in the same boat as you and would jump at the chance to live off-campus too.
Pay more upfront
Your financial situation is going to have a big impact here, but one good way to get a landlord to rent to you is to pay more upfront. Sometimes that can be a few months in advance or the entire lease if you can afford it. However, this isn’t always a guarantee, as certain states like New York prohibit landlords from accepting more than a certain amount of money. Take a look at your state’s laws to see if this is a good strategy for you.
Know what to avoid
There are a few things you should look out for when looking for an apartment regardless of your situation. Safety, crime rating, and accessibility are all important factors in finding the right place to live and may be deal-breakers you need to look out for.
Apartment hunting is hard. Hopefully, some of these tips will give you the advantage you need to find the right place to suit your needs on a budget you can afford. Good luck and happy hunting!
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