Student Resources
Getting Started
Are you ready to live off campus, but you're not sure what you need to know? Come to a prospective landlord/property manager with these questions, to put yourself ahead of the game
Costs
1. How Much Is the Rent?
One of the most important questions to ask when touring an apartment is regarding rent. If you found your apartment online and there was a rental price listed, confirm with the landlord that that price is accurate. Often, your prospective landlord will offer this information in the form of a quote when you request a tour. You can also request a quote if you don't receive one. However, make sure you confirm the price for the specific unit you're interested in, and double-check the price you were quoted before signing the lease.
2. How Do I Pay Rent?
Another important question to ask a landlord is how to pay your rent. It's still common for landlords to require a check or money order, especially in . However, more and more apartment complexes accept credit cards or ACH transfer through an online portal. Make sure you know if you need a check, however, so you can order some from your bank if necessary.
3. How Much Is the Security Deposit?
Your is a significant expense and should be addressed before signing a lease. It's often included in quotes as well, though you should ask if it's not. While the amount will vary, it usually lies between one to three months of rent. If you’re trying to save money when leasing an apartment, look for on Apartment List that may include waived or discounted deposits.
4. Do You Charge Other Move-In Fees?
Add move-in fees to your list of questions to ask when looking at an apartment. Aside from your security deposit, you'll need to pay an application fee, first and last month's rent, pet deposits, and a background check. These fees are often rolled into one and may include a utility hook-up fee.
5. What's the Pet Deposit/Pet Fee?
If your , ask about any required pet fees, like monthly pet rent or a pet deposit. According to Apartment List Data as of 2025, up to 40% of pet-friendly apartments require a deposit, and the average pet deposit is $287.
6. Is There an Application Fee?
Apartment application fees are usually around $50 to $74, with an average fee of $51. If you need to move quickly, ask how long it typically takes for an application to be approved.
Some landlords also want references to go with your application. Your previous landlords are the best , but a close friend or colleague will also work if you don't have a rental history.
7. Do I Need a Cosigner or Guarantor?
Depending on your situation, you might need a consignor or a that is legally responsible for paying your rent if you can’t do it yourself. It’s a common request if you don’t meet the apartment’s income requirement or have poor credit. If you need a cosigner or guarantor, ask if you can remove them from the lease once you fulfill the requirements, like .
State Law Varies
Security deposit limits, late fees, and notice periods are regulated at the state level. Many states cap deposits and require written notice before termination, but rules differ significantly. Always review your state’s landlord-tenant law or consult a local housing authority.
Lease Terms
8. Will My Rent Ever Increase?
If you plan to settle in one apartment for the foreseeable future, ask about any potential changes when you .
If you are in it for the long haul, you probably don’t want to live in a place that regularly raises its rent prices. So keep in mind the long-term when figuring out what things to ask when renting an apartment.
9. What Are My Lease Length Options?
A 12-month lease is the standard lease length, but other lease options may be available. Your apartment questions should include info on , such as 6-month or 9-month leases, which could benefit you if you’re moving to a new city and getting to know the area. Remember that short-term and provide the most flexibility but come at the highest price.
10. What Changes Can I Make to My Apartment?
Leasing an apartment should offer some flexibility to make it your own. Ask if you can , from painting to putting up a wall to divide an oversized room. Landlords usually have a list of approved paint colors or changes but may amend your lease if your request is reasonable.
11. How Much Notice Must the Landlord Give Me If They Terminate or Cancel My Lease?
Just like you need to give notice if you move out, your landlord must also let you know if they want to . Ask how much notice they give and how. For example, they may send a registered letter or request a meeting.
12. What Are the Penalties for Breaking My Lease Early?
Even if you love the complex you’re touring, you may need to at some point due to a job change. Most leases will include penalties for breaking your lease early, so ensure this is among the questions to ask when viewing an apartment. You may have to forfeit your security deposit or pay additional fees to break the lease.
13. How Much Notice Am I Required to Give Before Moving Out?
should be included in what to ask when renting an apartment. You may be required to or incur a fee or penalty. Even short-term leases, such as month-to-month, may require a few weeks' notice.
Utilities & Maintenance
14. What Utilities Are Included in the Rent?
Add to your questions to ask when apartment hunting to get the full scope of your expenses. Sometimes all , but you’ll likely pay for electricity, cooking gas, and extras like WiFi and cable. In many cases, landlords do pay for water, waste, and garbage. They may cover these in full or bill you as part of your monthly rent statement.
15. What Utility Companies Service the Area?
Once you clarify what utilities you’ll be personally responsible for when asking your apartment hunting questions, figure out who to pay and how to pay them. Find out what service providers the complex uses for electricity, gas, and internet before you move in to schedule them to be turned on.
can be turned on by calling the company that services your area and letting them know your move-in date. You may be asked to undergo a soft credit check to determine if you need to pay a deposit, and you will be given information about how and where to make your monthly payments.
16. How Do I File Maintenance Requests?
Maintenance requests can be a big headache without a responsive landlord and system. Ask how they’re handled and how long they usually take. Smaller units or private condos may take some time to see repairs, but a larger apartment complex may come with a 24/7 maintenance team.
17. What Maintenance Repairs Are Covered in Lease Agreements?
Which repairs are covered should also be part of what questions to ask when renting an apartment. Most states require landlords to keep a rental unit in a habitable condition, including ensuring your electricity, heat, and water are working. Landlords typically cover wear and tear costs, like broken locks, but don’t pay for things you or your guests break.
Policies
18. What’s Your Late Fee Policy?
During your apartment viewing, ask about the late fee policy. It’s always best to pay rent on time to avoid fees and secure a good if you ever move somewhere else. But, of course, emergencies can arise where you have to pay rent late, so you should know about late fees before moving in.
19. Are Early Lease Terminations Allowed?
Even if you have no plans to move soon, asking about an is wise. You could end up with a new job or decide to live in another neighborhood. In most cases, you’ll pay a penalty for ending your lease early. There are some situations where you may be able to .
20. What’s Your Subletting Policy?
is another one of the things to ask when renting an apartment. If you or a roommate ever want to move without paying a penalty for a lease termination, you may be able to sublet. It’s also a great way to cover your rent if you ever want to travel for a while.
21. Do You Have a Pet Policy?
The should be on the top of your list of what to ask when looking at apartments. Renting with pets can introduce new challenges, and many apartment pet policies can be complicated. First, ask if the building is pet-friendly and what pets are allowed. Many landlords have or weight limits for , so ensure your breed is cleared.
If you're , make sure to select "Dog" or "Cat" (or both) so you can get matched with a place that allows your furry friend. Look at the details of the apartment, visit their website, or reach out using our messaging system to learn more about specific restrictions.
22. Is Renters Insurance Required?
Asking about whether or not you need renters’ insurance is among the most important questions to ask before signing a lease. Your landlord may also require it as part of your to be approved.
You should strongly consider renters insurance, even if it’s not a requirement. It’s a relatively cheap monthly cost that could be lifesaving. For example, renters insurance will cover the cost of your possessions that may have been lost or damaged due to burglary, fires, vandalism, etc., and typically only costs around $15-$30 a month.
23. What Amenities Are Included?
are among the biggest perks of apartment living and should be part of your apartment viewing. Pools and gyms are common in apartment complexes, but can also offer things like co-working spaces and private dog parks.
Amenities may increase your rent, but you can also think about the financial implications, like canceling your gym membership and impacting the question, “?”
24. What's the Guest Policy?
Some apartments have a guest policy to avoid people moving in and staying indefinitely without a lease. Property managers may also want to avoid too many guests taking advantage of communal amenities, like the swimming pool or gym. Ask about any rules relating to guests and how long they can stay.
25. Where Are Guests Allowed to Park?
If you're unsure what questions to ask when renting an apartment, add guest parking to your list. If parking is at a premium, guests can get towed when visiting. Plus, some apartment buildings also have areas reserved for guests away from the premium spots.
Location & Logistics
26. How Soon Are You Looking to Fill the Unit?
Asking a prospective landlord how soon they are looking to fill the unit can help provide you with a timeline you need to start . If a landlord is eager to fill the unit quickly, you might be able to lease agreement terms.
27. Is There Parking Available?
Parking is often challenging for renters, especially when renting in downtown neighborhoods. Your apartment questions should include how much parking costs, the , and if there’s a waitlist. Look for apartments with secured, gated garages and assigned spots to ensure you always have a place to park.
28. What's the Application Process?
Each apartment complex may have a slightly different application process. Ask how long it usually takes to get approved for an apartment, any fees, and the next steps. You can get a full rundown of the process with our .
29. Are There Any Income or Credit Requirements?
Other questions to ask before renting should include income or credit requirements. Landlords will often only consider applicants with a gross monthly income of 3x the monthly rent and require .
Your credit score will likely play a role in your apartment application, and while most landlords require a minimum of 650, it can vary. A is usually a part of the application process, so be sure to ask before signing a lease.
Income Rule-of-Thumb
If a landlord requires 3× rent in gross income: Monthly income needed = Rent × 3 Example: Rent = $1,800 Required income = $1,800 × 3 = $5,400/month
30. Are There Any Plans to Renovate the Building?
It’s never fun moving into a building and immediately dealing with renovations, noise, and construction activity. Ask if there are any plans to renovate the building or individual units. You may decide it’s worth the trade-off if it involves a new rooftop terrace or an update to the pool.
31. Is There Public Transportation Nearby?
Public transportation should always be on your list of questions to ask about apartments. It could dramatically reduce your car or rideshare budget and improve your commute time. Even if you don’t think there’s a subway or bus in the area, you may learn there’s a special shuttle for major stops and attractions.
32. What's the Neighborhood Like?
If you are new to the area, ask about the neighborhood, including the safety ratings, nearby hotspots, and the overall vibe. Then, outside of your landlord’s knowledge, do some research on your own! Check out the neighborhood's popular restaurants, bars, and nearby parks.
33. Would You Live Here?
Lastly, ask your prospective landlord’s opinion on whether they would live there. They’ll probably say yes right away, but you should always ask them to elaborate on why.
Find out what they love about the apartment and what they wished was different. These questions can help provide some honest clarity before leasing an apartment.
34. Is There Storage Space Available?
Your questions to ask an apartment complex should include whether or not storage space is available. Inquire about the storage size, wait lists, how secure it is, and how much it costs. You may be able to rent a smaller apartment with free, on-site storage.
35. What Appliances Are Included?
When figuring out what to ask when looking at apartments, it's not always obvious to think about appliances. Most apartments will come standard with a fridge, oven, and stove. However, not all apartments come with microwaves, dishwashers, or laundry, which could be a deal breaker for you.
36. Is There Apartment Security?
Your safety is integral to your well-being, so make sure to consider it before you move. Ask about any , including in-unit alarm systems, deadbolts, or someone who monitors the lobby. Ask how safety issues are resolved, such as broken locks or poor lighting in common areas.
Note: The information provided above was taken from an article published on March 11th, 2026 on
Additional Considerations
Budget - Before diving into listings, consider your budget for all the , and how you will divide it among any roommates
Furniture - Most housing comes unfurnished. When thinking about how to furnish your off campus home, consider renting. Companies like allow you to rent furniture for the duration of your off-campus stay. You can also check out to buy directly from people in the area
Furnished Living Options - If you have more money to spend, there are furnished living options. Check furnished living options with companies like , , and . These options also provide flexible lease lengths.
Housing Scams
Avoiding Housing Scams
Unfortunately scams can and do arise when looking to rent. Below are a few tips to help you with detecting a scam:
Red flags:
- Rental amount is unusually low (i.e. 2BR/2bathroom apartment for $1,500).
- The Landlord or Property Manager refuses to show you the rental or says they are out of town, state or country and cannot show you the rental. They will ask for the money first and claim that they will mail you the keys.
- There is an unusual sense of urgency and they are rushing the contract signing process.
- Request of advance payment through wiring money order
- Many misspellings in the rental listing or excessive use of capitalization.
- Stock photos used in the rental posting (i.e. Pics of staged house or taken from the internet).
- Inability to find the address of the unit online.
- Being asked to wire/send money for any reason before signing a lease.
- All inclusive (utilities, parking spot, pets allowed, etc.)
- Landlord only communicates via email/text.
Note: Be aware of providing sensitive information (bank account number, credit card information, social security number) without first verifying the legitimacy of the renter/property owner.
Helpful tips to avoid scams:
- Never make a deal with or mail cash/cashiers checks.
- Demand to see a written lease.
- Meet with the landlord in person.
- See the apartment in person prior to signing a lease or transferring funds.
- Speak with current tenants.
- Be aware of the current market rates.
Lease Information and Resources
Below you will find several documents to help with common tenant/landlord concerns and issues. Off Campus Living does not provide legal advice on contracts or leases. For a general overview of your lease, you can reach out to offcampusliving@scu.edu to request support from our Area Coordinator.
For free detailed support from experts on tenant-landlord disputes and housing rights before and after you sign a lease, we recommend connecting with and their services.
-Three day notices come in three options: 3 day notice to quit with no option to correct, 3 day notice to quit or correct, or 3 day notice to pay or quit. This document explains.
-This is a great site for information about Tenant/Landlord Rights. If the answer is not in this document, I would be surprised!
-For official rules and regulations related to tenant and landlord laws
-This is a description of the illegal form of eviction called constructive eviction.
-Here is a list of ways to make sure you get most if not all of your deposit back.
-Neighbors can hold you responsible for various things. See what things you are responsible for.
-When can a landlord enter my home?
-When can the rent be increased? What is the difference from a fixed term lease vs. a periodic rental agreement?
-Habitability and Landlord requirements are listed along with the responsibilities of the Tenant.
-These are the main rules for Security Deposits.
Successful Tenant Guide
-Successful Tenant-Dangers to Avoid
-Successful Tenant Tips Search
-This is a list of ways to protect your rights as a tenant.
-Do you have a lease or a month to month contract?
-This explains 30 and 60 day notices and what is required/allowed in these situations.
-Potential short-term rental regulations and occupancy criteria in single family residences.
ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ Resources
Inventory Checklist – When moving in, make sure you utilize this inventory. This will help you get your money back from your security deposit!
– The Katharine and George Alexander Community Law Center provides pro bono advice.
Leaving For Break Checklist – Short break and longer break checklists. Keep your home safe!
Off Campus Misconduct
University Response to Off Campus Misconduct - This is a quick summary of all rules and regulations applying to Off Campus Students.
City Codes
Santa Clara Police Department: Common Citations - This handout is distributed by the Community Response Team that monitors the ÌÇÐÄ´«Ã½ area.
Do Your Part, Roll In Your Carts - Reminder that all waste carts must be removed from the street after collection and stored in the rear or side yard, §8.25.080(d).
