How to Move Off Campus
Download the How To Move Off Campus PDF here
Think About Your Budget
- Rent and deposit amount
- Cost of monthly utilities
- Can you afford to furnish it?
- How do you plan to eat?
- How do you plan to divide rent?
Location, Location, Location
- How far from campus you want to live?
- Do not forget about rain, snow, & heat
- Identify the area of the neighborhood you want to live in
- Think about safety
- Consider where the nearest transit stop, bicycle storage, grocery store, ATM, gas station, parking, doctor, police/fire station, and laundromat is located.
Find Your Perfect Place
- Find listings for rentals at the !
- Look for "for rent" signs and postings on campus and around Evanston.
- Attend the annual Housing Fairs! These are held at Norris, with one in the Fall and one in the Winter or Spring.
Ask the Landlord
- Is there parking?
- Which utilities are included in the rent?
- Who are the neighbors?
- Will your landlord take care of repairs and maintenance promptly?
Understand Your Lease
- Read your lease carefully, making note of any clauses or provisions that you don't understand.
- Use our Lease Review to help you look for the key terms and conditions.
- For locations in Evanston, compare your lease to the or . (ERLTO stands for Evanston Residential Landlord-Tenant Ordinance.) Make note of anything that seems to be missing, or lease clauses or provisions that may conflict with the Ordinance/Model Lease.
- For instance, the new ERLTO requires landlords to provide a list of the reasonable expenses that any fee charged, such as a Move-In or Application Fee, will cover. Don't see that list? Ask for it! Think the list contains items not related to the fee's purpose? Ask about it!
- Students looking at Chicago places should review Chicago's .
- Be ready to ask your landlord to explain anything you don't understand, and to help you reconcile the differences you observed when you compared documents.
- A good landlord will take the time to ensure your understanding.
Inspect the Residence
- Walk through the property before signing
- Record property conditions in the Property Checklist available on our website
- Take and e-mail pictures to the landlord to avoid unnecessary costs when moving out
Stay Involved
- Check NU calendar of events:
- Like “” on Facebook
- Check out our