Tips for Finding Housing

Students often have positive experiences when renting from local landlords, but it is always important to ensure you understand the conditions of the rental agreement you are entering into. Below are some important tips to follow when signing a rental agreement.

ArtCenter provides access to this website as a service to help students find housing in and around the Pasadena area. However, ArtCenter does not verify and does not investigate the quality or safety of the housing options available on the website, nor does it involve itself in the disputes between landlords and students.

Avoid scams & deal locally

Never wire funds (typically through sources such as Western Union) or agree to rent a property before seeing and evaluating it in person.

Get everything in writing

When you rent an apartment, room, or house, you should always have a written rental agreement or lease that is signed by both you and the landlord. The agreement should outline the length of time that the agreement will be in effect, the amount of rent and when it is expected to be paid, and any other agreements made between you and your landlord for repairs or cleaning that need to be done prior to move-in. Additionally any expectations your landlord has regarding pets, roommates, etc. should be outlined in the rental agreement.

Take pictures

Before you move any of your belongings into your new home, take pictures to document things such as carpet condition, appliances, windows and window coverings, etc.). This is a good way to protect yourself when you move out and to help ensure the return of your security deposit. Send documentation of the conditions to your landlord, and make sure to save the pictures in a location you can easily find them.

Ask what utilities are included

Be sure that you understand which utilities are included in your rent payment and which ones you may be individually responsible for. Typically, the tenant is responsible for Gas and Electric, however, some landlords may also ask the tenant to pay for water, trash, or landscaping costs.

Understand the length of your lease

You are responsible for rent payment during the entire duration of your lease and may be subject to legal action if you attempt to break your lease early.

Keep copies of all documents

Make sure to keep copies of all of your rental documents in a file, as you may need them when you move out to help ensure that your full deposit can be returned to you.

Understand roommate responsibilities

When living with roommates, ensure all of your names are on the lease and what it means if one of you moves out. It is a good idea to have a written agreement between all of your roommates to ensure you all understand the responsibilities of one another.