By Amrik Eadara, Pooja Yerneni and Amanda Votta

Embarking on the journey of finding off-campus housing for the first time is a rite of passage for many students, which can be very exciting and also intimidating. But when we interviewed students about their first-time experiences with renting, we found many people face a number of hurdles and challenges.

It is daunting to step into the world of off-campus housing for the first time while also juggling academic and personal responsibilities. We spoke to three students, Stephanie, Tania and Patrick, whose stories offer firsthand accounts of the trials and triumphs associated with securing a place to live in Providence. Their experiences underscore the importance of thorough research, diligence in assessing properties, and advocating for tenant rights. By sharing the stories of these students, we hope to offer reassurance and guidance to those embarking on this journey while providing you with five tips/takeaways.

Patrick’s story centers around the fact that landlords can charge what they want for rent. His experience with rent increases has caused him to move frequently. Patrick says, “The pricing setup of housing in Providence is very weird. It kind of goes landlord to landlord and it’s not very standardized. The landlord is hiking up the rent really steeply [and] faster than other landlords, where it makes no sense. You can find similar levels of housing for half the rent that they’re trying to ask for.”

Patrick has experienced the cyclical structure of securing housing as a student. That is to say, the power dynamic between landlords and tenants can shift depending on the time of year. Patrick has observed, “In August, it’s very much a landlord’s market. All of the students who know they’re living off campus are racing to get the good places, and the landlords can really set the terms hard, and you don’t have much power.”

However, the power dynamic seems to shift in favor of the tenant in the month of April. Patrick comments, “In April, it’s very much a renters market. Everyone’s leases are coming up,   and  landlords are scrambling to get someone to sign a lease for next year.” Either way, Patrick   says, “That [housing] scramble can be hard because you get the time pressure put on you to figure things out fast and you obviously want to find the best living situation for yourself.”

Patrick recommends that students contemplating off-campus housing begin their research early   and approach it in an organized manner. First, they should create an apartment hunt “wish   list”   by identifying the specific qualities they desire (rent range, neighborhoods). Second, to   broaden   their options, students should think about expanding their search area (such as being open to   taking a bus) or consider living with multiple roommates.  Patrick says Facebook housing groups can also be helpful because they help consolidate housing information – individuals can post vacancies and form housing groups. He also strongly recommends students tour apartments and talk to landlords in-person before signing a lease. This way students can gain a clear picture of the exact situation they will be living in, as well as gain an opportunity to meet their landlord.

Finally, Patrick advises students to build relationships with upperclassmen who live off campus. He says, “Most of my housing needs were met through friends years above me being like, ‘Oh, you should rent this house when we graduate.’ Then they’d send me their landlord’s number.” Patrick added, “It’s who you know!”

Stephanie’s experience sheds light on the hurdles many students face, particularly those from abroad. The initial eager anticipation upon acceptance into a graduate program at a university, combined with the challenge of securing funding and unfamiliarity with a new city can set the stage for a frantic housing search. Stephanie admits, “It was really overwhelming at first. I didn’t know where to start. It was so hard for me to find information about housing, especially off-campus housing.”

Stephanie recounts, reflecting on the challenges of navigating housing options from her home country of Indonesia. Before she arrived, she attempted to navigate Brown University’s off-campus housing website where she was put on a waiting list. She says, “I couldn’t afford to wait due to the pressing need to find a safe place to live upon arrival.”

Turning to alternative platforms like Craigslist and apartmentfinder.com, she encountered further hurdles, exacerbated by her living abroad, where accessing certain US-based websites proved challenging. Emailing landlords and agents yielded little response, leaving Stephanie feeling increasingly disheartened. Only one rental agency responded via WhatsApp. Stephanie says, “I just wanted to make sure that this was a safe house and I needed to avoid a scam.“

Once Stephanie secured a place to live, her challenges were far from over. Language barriers and adapting to an urban community in Rhode Island transformed her housing journey into a true test of resilience. Stephanie’s experience emphasizes the importance of thorough due diligence in assessing both the property and its surroundings before signing a lease. She states, “My agent said the place was super close to campus: only a 20 minute drive. I had no idea that was actually so far, especially for someone who doesn’t have a car and cannot drive.”

Tania’s journey unveils the intricacy of landlord-tenant dynamics. Her proactive stance against unreasonable demands stands as a testament to the power of tenant advocacy and legal understanding. Tania asserts, “It’s crucial to stand up for yourself, especially as a student.” Tania described an episode where her landlord demanded an exorbitant upfront payment. Tania recounts, “We were about to sign the lease, and she demanded three months rent upfront, along with additional fees totaling to $50,000.” Undeterred, she delved into the Rhode Island housing code, discovering the legal limitations on such demands: “I channeled my inner law student and reached out to her, citing the code, and she quickly responded, claiming it was a typo.”

It seems that Tania’s story isn’t that uncommon. When a small group of students were asked about their experiences….some really struggled, while others had a much more positive experience. Reflecting on her experience, Tania shares, “I really think the landlords will define your experience off-campus. Do not overlook how important a landlord is and your relationship with them.” Her advice highlights the importance of fostering positive landlord relationships for smoother renting experiences.

Other options for advice online include neighborhood details and many housing forums on sites such as Facebook and Reddit. Drawing from Patrick’s emphasis on starting the housing search process early (as early as 9 months is best), prospective renters can maximize their options and secure desirable options amidst competitive markets. Tania’s advice underscores the importance of thoroughly inspecting properties and understanding lease agreements, equipping renters with the tools to make informed decisions and assert their rights confidently.