The housing fair is over, now what?

On Jan. 27 and 28, over 5,000 students, parents, family and staff visited Penn State's Housing Fair looking for a place to live. Many of those individuals have made a decision as to where they want to live. Others are still looking and deciding. The staff of Off Campus Living would like to share some basic information about apartment hunting before you commit yourselves financially. We have listed below a few basic tips to be used when looking for a place to live. Take your time choosing a place to live. You are the customer, it's your money. This is a financial commitment that is legally binding. Where you live and who you live with over the next 12 months can have a profound effect on you positively or negatively. In this type of situation haste does make waste.

Applications. Do not sign anything, or fill out any applications until you are certain you have identified the place you want to rent. Some applications will automatically legally bind you to the lease. Don't sign anything unless you can afford to pay for it.

Talk is cheap. This is a business arrangement between you and the landlord. Get everything in writing and document conversations so there are no misunderstandings by you or the landlord later on during the lease.

Know what you are signing. There are two types of leases commonly used in this area. Joint and several and individual leases.

With a joint and several lease you are responsible for your portion of the rent. If, however, your roommates are unable to pay their portion of the rent you will be expected to make up the difference. If you don't pay their portion of the rent, the co-signer (parental guarantee) will get a bill requesting them to pay the difference. Essentially you are your brothers'/sisters' keeper with a joint and several lease.

With an individual lease you are responsible for paying only your own portion of the rent. If your roommates do not pay their portion of the rent, the property owner manager goes after them and not you.

Now you make the decision which lease is better for you.

Before you move in. Do a damage checklist, document the condition of the apartment and make sure the landlord signs it. Take pictures of the apartment, give the landlord a copy and keep a copy for yourself. The damage checklist lets the landlord know what needs to be repaired in the unit and it provides you with a record of the condition of the unit upon move-in. Most landlords want to know what is wrong with the unit so they can repair it.

Repairs/Maintenance. Help the landlord an yourself by reporting all repairs to management immediately. Always ask for the name of the individual you are speaking to when reporting maintenance problems and note the date. Document the request for maintenance in writing for your own records.

Security deposits. When you are ready to move out, find your damage checklist and the photos. Review what you wrote about the unit when you moved in. Clean like you have never cleaned before. If at all possible, get the landlord to walk through the unit before you turn over the keys. Take pictures again upon move-out. Give the keys to the landlord and wait for a resonse within 30 dyas after you turn over your keys.

If after all these precautions you have questions or you need a copy of a damage checklist, contact the Office of Off-Campus Living in 135 Boucke, 865-2346. The Office of Off-Campus Living is here to assist students that live off campus or that intend to move off campus. We educate students so they can solve their problems now and beyond their college days.