Tips For Feeling At Ease Off Campus

By Francine Fluetsch on November 12, 2014

This article is brought to you by the Uloop Housing search service. Ready to make the move off campus? Search through the Uloop housing listings to find your next apartment, condo, town home, or house.

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Moving into your own place off campus is very exciting, but can also come with some fears of having responsibilities and having to deal with everything that comes with it.

From robberies to creepers, having your own place may seem a bit scary at first, but there are plenty of things that you and your landlord can do to make you feel more at ease.

Burglars:

Robberies are definitely something to be afraid of, but there are a few things you can do to help you feel safer in your home, and feel safe when you leave. You could ask your landlord if it would be possible to have a door alarm installed so you’ll be able to keep your stuff safe and sound when you are away.

It would also be a great idea to get renters insurance so if there does happen to be a break-in, you’ll be able to get reimbursed for your items. Renters insurance is usually for each individual renter, and can usually be worked out through the insurance company that your parents utilize. A door alarm and renters insurance together would be a very safe bet.

You could also invest in a dog that will alert you of intruders. If animals aren’t allowed where you live, but you feel like you would feel a lot safer, why not try and work something out with your landlord? If it’s still a no go, the other two options should be fine, but a puppy would be fun anyway so why not get some fun and safety out of it?

A good dead bolt on the front door would also do the trick to help put your mind at ease. This should already be installed in your place, but if not, contact your landlord and see if one can be added.

Also make sure that your windows have the ability to be locked properly, not by some flimsy clasp. The front door is usually not a burglar’s first form of entry, so you want to make sure you can lock all entrances.

Having a porch light that functions is great to have on too, even when you’re not home. It will help you see if you get home from class late, and will make it look like someone is always home, even when they’re not.

Neighbor complaints:

Another thing students might worry about in their own off campus housing is getting in trouble by neighbors/having really annoying neighbors.

You don’t want to be keeping someone else up and have them call the cops, but you also don’t want someone who parties long into the night keeping you up before your 8 a.m.

Though you can’t choose your neighbors, your landlord can be of service. They will most likely tell you when “quiet hours” begin for your area, if there are designated hours, and you should be respectful of it. Having the cops called on you would definitely not be a fun turn of events.

In turn, if you have some annoying neighbors, maybe mention your grievances to your landlord. You’re not being a snitch, you’re simply trying to make living bearable for yourself. If they make noise once in a blue moon, obviously don’t get obnoxious with telling on every little thing, but if they have a dog that never ever shuts up or throw parties all day everyday, it may be time to say something.

Also, if there are creeps that either live around where you do, or are simply hanging around and don’t live there, it would be a good idea to mention it to your landlord. You want to feel safe walking home and not having to worry about a creepy neighbor or some random straggler waiting for you.

Lighting:

Speaking of walking home, a lot of neighborhoods may not be all that lit up, making it pretty creepy at night when walking back from a night class.

Of course requesting more street lamps might be a bit of a stretch, but why not suggest to your landlord that it is quite dark and maybe some smaller outdoor lamps would make an improvement for all residents who walk in the dark.

Depending on where you live, this may be something to bring up with the management of the complex, but your landlord will either be able to address your concerns, or point you in the direction of someone who can.

Mold, pests and other hazards:

Mold, termites, bed bugs, mice, toxic popcorn ceilings, these are all things to be concerned about and may be overwhelming if you have to deal with them on your own.

Your landlord has presumably been in the business for a long time, and will be able to help you with grievances such as these that are disturbing your living space. Depending on your lease, they may even cover the cost for you as well, so good communication on issues such as these will be very beneficial to you.

They can supply you with ways to avoid these things in the first place, and what to do if you unfortunately encounter one. A lot of places for rent are usually old, so don’t think it’s automatically your fault if something happens. Many other people have lived there, and may not have taken as good of care of the place as they should have, so things like mold definitely aren’t that rare.

Try and do your part to prevent these things, and ask for help if you need it.

Having your own place may be a little scary at first, but with the help and knowledge of your landlord, your fears should be a little less on your mind, and you can enjoy all the wonders that off campus living has to offer.

Make your next move easy by finding a place to live near campus using the Uloop Housing search service full of students needing Roommates and Sublets or people ready to rent you a great Apartment or House.

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