Off-Campus Housing

If you are looking for off-campus housing, check out offcampushousing.unt.edu, where you can find or post ads for apartments and homes for lease or rent. A roommate and sub-lease search application is also available through this website. If you are looking for family-style housing instead of student housing and unable to find what you are looking for on offcampushousing.unt.edu, select "Contact Us" in the top menu bar and complete the contact form. Off-Campus Housing Source will reach out and help you directly. 

Searching for a place to live and need some help? Check out Off-Campus Housing 101, a presentation that includes how to search for off-campus housing in the area as well as legal perspectives in the housing process. This presentation is brought to you by OCSS, Off-Campus Housing Source, and Student Legal Services. 

For additional assistance, contact Off-Campus Student Services at (940) 565-3807 or stop by our office Union 345.

Roommates and Sub-Leases

Roommate Searching

If you are a current UNT student looking for a roommate, complete the roommate profile form and request a list of UNT students who are also looking for a roommate. Students must be enrolled for Spring or Fall 2020 to complete a roommate profile and receive a spreadsheet of potential roommates. 

To sign up:

• Complete the roommate profile form
• Enter your EUID and password to log in
• Complete all required fields and submit the form
• Upon receipt, OCSS verify your enrollment

Within 3 business days, an OCSS representative will send you a spreadsheet of potential roommates who meet your required characteristics (e.g., gender, age range, whether you have a place to live or need one). You will determine who to contact, based on who you believe may be the best fit as a roommate. 

Once you have found a roommate, please email ocss@unt.edu to have your name removed from the list. 

Finding a Good Fit

It is the student’s responsibility to contact potential roommates, communicate their desires and needs, and determine if the potential roommate is a good fit for them. It is likewise the potential roommate’s responsibility to determine if the fit is good fit for themselves.

Note that OCSS only verifies enrollment to determine eligibility to be placed on the potential roommate list and provides a requesting student with the information that the potential roommates provided to OCSS via the roommate profile form. It is each student’s responsibility to ask the potential roommates questions to verify correctness. 

No matter what, trust your gut and err on the side of safety when making decisions for yourself. 

Tips 

• Create “interview” questions (see below for examples, but also do an internet search for some)
• Create “expectations” to discuss (e.g., is it okay to eat each other’s food, what time of night would you like it to be quiet by so you can go to bed)
• Meet in a public place
• Always tell someone where you’re going and how long you plan on being there

When speaking with a potential roommate, you may want to consider or ask about, but not limited to, the following:

• Are you a morning or evening person?    
• Do you have a job? How do you pay your bills?
• What time do you typically go to bed and wake up?
• What’s your typical schedule?
• Have you ever had a problem with roommates before?
• How often do you clean?
• What’s your monthly budget for everything related to housing (e.g., rent, utilities, cable)?
• If we had a disagreement, how would you prefer to resolve it?
• How often do you have guests over? Will you have overnight guests? Do you host social events?
• What utilities will be included in the rent?
• Will you have to sign a joint-lease?
• What amenities and services do you need or prefer (e.g., laundry, parking, pool, trash pick-up, fitness center, etc.)?
• What are your preferred security preferences or services?
• How close to campus do you prefer to be?
• Will the place be furnished? Do you have furniture?

Sub-Leasing

If you are a current UNT student looking to list a sub-lease or to take over a sub-lease, complete the sub-lease form and request a list of UNT students who want to take over a sub-lease or have a sub-lease. Students must be enrolled (Spring 2020) to submit this form to list an available sub-lease. Students must be enrolled (Spring or Fall 2020) to submit this form and be sent a spreadsheet of available sub-leases. 

To sign up:

• Complete the sub-lease form
• Enter your EUID and password to log in
• Complete all required fields and submit the form
• Upon receipt, OCSS verify your enrollment

Within 3 business days, an OCSS representative will send you a spreadsheet of potential sub-lease info from students who meet your required characteristics (e.g., rent range, property type, move in date). You will determine who to contact, based on who you believe may be the best fit. 

Once you have found a sub-lease or someone to take over your sub-lease, please email ocss@unt.edu to have your name removed from the list. 

Finding a Good Fit

It is the student’s responsibility to contact potential sub-lessors/lessees, communicate their desires and needs, and determine if the situation is a good fit for them. It is likewise the potential sub-lessor/lessee’s responsibility to determine if the fit is good fit for themselves.

Note that OCSS only verifies enrollment to determine eligibility to be placed on the potential sub-lessor/lessee list and provides a requesting student with the information that the potential sub-lessor/lessee provided to OCSS via the sub-lease form. It is each student’s responsibility to ask the potential sub-lessor/lessee questions to verify correctness. 

No matter what, trust your gut and err on the side of safety when making decisions for yourself. 

Tips

• Create “interview” questions (see below for examples, but also do an internet search for some)
• Do an internet search for subletting tips (e.g., type the address into Google Earth to look at a picture of the property to make sure it’s legit) and scams 
• Meet in a public place
• Always tell someone where you’re going and how long you plan on being there
• Note that if something seems too good to be true (e.g., rent is significantly lower than it should be), it probably is
• If you find a match as a sub-lessor/lessee, ensure the completion of a sub-lease agreement

When speaking with a potential sub-lessee or sub-lessor, you may want to consider or ask about, but not limited to, the following:

• Does the apartment or landlord allow for sub-leases? It should say in the leasing agreement.
• What is the living arrangement? Will there be roommates? Is it a house or apartment?
• What are the rules and conditions for the sub-lease?
• What is the duration the sub-lease?
• How are the rent payments to be made?
• What utilities will be included (or not included) in the rent? If not, how are payments made?
• Can the sublease be voided at any time?
• When is it available for move-in? When would I need to move out?
• Is there a security deposit?
• Is the property furnished?
   

CORT Furniture Rental

Purchasing, storing, moving, disposing, or selling furniture can be a hassle, especially if you change your housing often. Therefore, you may consider renting furniture to reduce the hassle of managing your furniture every year. CORT provides furniture rental packages for students living off-campus. Additionally, they offer furniture for sale and relocation services.