Question Checklist for Off-Campus Rentals in Athens and Columbus

When searching for housing in Athens or Columbus, including rentals close to OU or OSU, the wisest course is to use a checklist and series of questions to work from. Knowing what you’re getting into and avoiding pitfalls will not only save your sanity and personal finances but your credit rating as well.

Trying to find your next student rental home can wind up with you visiting multiple properties before finding the perfect spot to call home for the school year. Seeing what the various university rentals scattered throughout the city have to offer is a good thing. You get a better sense of what’s out there and what’s actually a dealbreaker for you. After seeing a handful of the university rentals for students out there, you might find a dream spot. Whether that’s a rental studio apartment, a four-bedroom student home with three of your closest friends, or that amazingly convenient rental home right around the corner from Court Street, you’ll still want to compile a list of questions to ask the rental company or landlord to follow up on the property and to make sure that everyone is on the same page. The last thing you would want is to find the perfect off-campus home only for you to realize that certain terms and conditions of the lease don’t fully gel with you.

If you’re planning to share your rental housing with others, naturally they should be in on the process, too, and have their own questions and concerns. Get together and brainstorm a consolidated checklist so everyone’s on the same page. These questions can be about nearly anything related to the apartment or home for rent that you’re looking at—you could ask financial questions (security deposits, how to pay rent, etc.), questions about pets you might want to bring (breed restrictions, number of pets, pet deposits, etc.), or even just any particular stipulations in the lease. Really, any question relating to the university rental you’re viewing is fair game. If you feel apprehensive or nervous to come into a viewing with questions, don’t be. In fact, if the rental company makes you feel weird about it, that could be a red flag to take your business elsewhere. Any reputable rental company in Athens will be happy to answer your questions. After all, their main job is to fill up their university apartment rentals and make sure their tenants are happy.

The same rules apply to Columbus apartments close to OSU, a variety of which are offered on Krause Rental Properties’ website. As one of the most experienced rental companies in the Athens area, we have a ton of experience getting asked questions about our properties and lease agreements—here are some of the most common questions to think about when it comes time to find the best apartment in the city.

Rent Questions

Think of these questions as a series of baseline asks about the university rental you’re looking at. These questions cover most of the bases when it comes to rent. No one likes talking finances (that is, unless you’re a finance major), but these questions are necessary. to get an idea of what your monthly budget might be like. And who knows—that student apartment that you figured was way out of your range could actually be a university rental with cheap rent once you realize the rent listed online includes those pesky utilities.

When searching and getting ready to sign a lease for any kind of Ohio University housing, make sure you and your roommates are on the same page and understand the various terms regarding rent associated with it. Some rental companies in the area (like us!) allow you to pay rent online, while others will want a check in the mail. Or you could ask about a security deposit for your apartment in Athens—sometimes they’re refundable pending the apartment is in good shape when you leave, and sometimes you don’t get to see that money again after you pay up front. You could also ask about how long the lease goes. Some university rental homes in the area are rented out on nine-month leases with the assumption that the tenant is headed back home for the summer. If you’re planning on staying in Athens for the summer, you’d better ask about the duration of the lease. Or you could always sublet your chic university apartment for the summer. And that’s why it’s good to ask these questions upfront so you know how to budget and manage your rental funds when looking for a place to live for the next school year.

What does the rent cover? (e.g., what utilities are covered by rent, and which are included in the rent?)
Is there a deposit? If so, how much? Is it refundable when you move out?
Are first and last months’ rent required?
Is the rent paid monthly or by the semester?
Is the lease for nine months or 12 months, and what period does it cover?
Can rent be paid online?
Is there a commitment for the landlord to not raise the rent during the period covered by the lease?

Pet Questions

When you’re wanting to bring your cat or dog along to your off-campus Ohio University rental, it’s important to find a spot that allows them and welcomes them with open arms. Most rental listings will mention whether or not pets are welcome in the space, but there is a litany of questions to ask depending on your situation. Some apartments for rent around campus will have breed restrictions that mostly applies to dogs, usually excluding breeds above a specific size, or even particular breeds that have unfortunately gotten a bad reputation.

Most university rentals in Athens that allow pets will probably also ask for a pet deposit. Pet deposits are small fees paid either monthly or upfront that gives your four-legged friend a spot on the lease (in name only). The pet deposit is there in the event that a dog or a cat destroys the carpeting or causes some other kind of damage to the unit. Your pet might be an unimpeachable sweetheart who could do no wrong, but your close-to-campus university rental probably has some stipulations on them.

And of course, not everyone is going to subscribe to the typical dog or cat pet. Maybe you have a bird or a beloved ferret that you want to bring along—it’s best to be upfront and ask if your Ohio University apartment can accommodate different species of pets. Or when discussing pet fees, find out whether or not you’re charged per pet or if it’s an all-encompassing fee.

Are pets allowed and what restrictions are there?
Is a pet deposit required?
Do fees and deposit differ if cat or dog, or by the number of pets?
Does the size of the pet matter? (Some rentals allow small dogs but not large ones, and whether a medium pooch is considered small or large may be up to the landlord.)
Are pets aside from dogs and cats allowed? And under what circumstances?

Lease Requirements

The best thing you can do for yourself before fully committing and moving into any rental, but especially college apartment homes, is read and understand your lease agreement. Technically, as they own the property, landlords are able to make all sorts of stipulations—as with anything in today’s age, you can imagine how that goes.

Thankfully, most rental companies and landlords don’t make completely outrageous rules for their tenants, but there are some things you might want to watch out for. Maybe that beautiful two-bedroom rental home with a spacious backyard doesn’t come with lawn or yard maintenance, and it’s up to you to mow it. Or maybe the landlord lives next door, and they don’t want any noise happening in the space past a certain hour. All of those stipulations are fair game, and it’s up to you and any roommates to understand what the rules are for renting out your college pad for the year.

However, with this being said, there are some lease agreements that are sometimes totally against state laws. The state of Ohio has specific tenant and landlord rights when dealing with your university rental. Some of these laws even pertain specifically to college students. They’re in place to uphold and protect both the landlord and the tenant from unlawful actions. Most landlords are keen on these laws, but every once in a while, you might encounter a more unscrupulous landlord who tries to pull a fast one.

Some basic questions to ask the rental company about the conveniently-located university rental you’re looking at:

Are you required to mow the yard and otherwise make the outside area presentable?
Who’s responsible for paying which utilities?
Who’s responsible for shoveling walks and driveways and raking leaves?
Is porch furniture allowed?
Are certain storage areas in the rental house or apartment reserved for the landlord?

Walk Through Checklist

There are some things you’ll want to inspect when you first visit a student apartment or house, before you even consider signing a lease. None of these are necessarily dealbreakers for most people when looking for student housing close to campus, but it’s good to either know these things ahead of time, of in the case anything is off, request fixes or maintenance before you move in. These questions are going to be less focused on creature comforts that could make or break a space and more focused on “is this university rental apartment up to standards and has it been inspected since the previous tenant moved out?”

Some landlords and rental companies in the campus area might not even know something’s not quite right at the time of move-in, and that could end up affecting the return of your rental deposit if it’s not documented before move-in. When you tour the university rental you’ve had your eyes on, don’t be shy about bringing a pad of paper and a pen. Write notes down about the condition of the university home for rent you’re looking at. Take pictures of any obvious flaws in the unit. Is there a hole in the wall? Is the bathroom mold-free? Is the flooring in immaculate condition? Like we said, sometimes landlords don’t even know about prior damage and might try to pin it on you if it’s not addressed before signing the lease.

When viewing college rental properties, don’t be shy about trying out the utilities, flipping any light switches, taking pictures of the space, and asking any of the questions running through your head. Your rental company—unless there’s anything to hide—should have no problem letting you test out all the features in your potential new home.

Is there a decent amount of natural light (this can affect your electric bill)?
Do all wall outlets work? (Bring a phone charger and try out a few random outlets on the tour.)
Do all light switches work without tripping the breaker?
Are there enough wall sockets for your purposes, without having to resort to extension cords?
What kind of water pressure do you have in the shower? Give it a quick try when you visit the bathroom. How solid is the rental’s construction? Does every step on the stairs or upstairs make a creaking noise? Do doors shut properly? Do you feel any uncomfortable drafts?
How does the rentals heating and cooling system work, and are you responsible for basic maintenance (such as air filter replacement)?
What are the appliances like? How old are they, and have they been maintenance recently?

You’ll definitely want to check if off-campus parking in Columbus or Athens comes with the rental house or apartment. In Athens, the law is that no one car can remain parked in the same street parking spot for more than 24 hours. If you have to park on the street, you’ll be forced to participate in musical cars every morning to avoid being ticketed or towed. If you’re not among the lucky ones blessed with off-street parking, we offer plenty of parking spaces that you can rent close by campus in Athens.

Things to be Aware of in a Lease

Before you sign your name on the lease of your apartment or house for rent in Athens or Columbus, make sure you know what you’re signing. Some landlords will sneak clauses into the language that don’t sound like much at first but can carry some pretty big consequences.

Is there a restriction on portable or window air conditioners? Some older rentals in Athens suffer from outdated wiring. Landlords have been known to restrict the number of window air conditioners, sometimes banning them altogether. The good news is that many rental houses and most apartments enjoy central A/C.

Check to make sure you’re allowed to sublet your university rental apartment. If you need to move out before your lease is up, you’ll want to be able to find someone to take over your lease for you. Some leases totally prohibit subletting while others require the landlord’s approval.

If you’re planning to rent the apartment for more than one year, can you expect a substantial hike in rent? You might want to consider getting language added to the lease that accounts for that possibility. With apartment prices on the rise everywhere—especially in high-demand areas like cities and college towns—it’s important to attempt to lock in a price on that studio apartment or two-bedroom home that you might want to rent out for the next couple years. And if the price is expected to go up, it’s good to know your options beforehand so you can start apartment hunting sooner than later for the next year.

Who’s responsible for maintenance and repairs? Some landlords might put the tenant in charge of basic repairs like changing lightbulbs or air filters. Others will assume all maintenance responsibilities. It’s good to know where your university rental falls on that spectrum.

If you want to make alterations or improvements during the stay in your university rental around the corner from campus, you’ll want to check the lease first. Or at the very least, check in with your landlords. Some landlords are chill when it comes to this as long as you return your student rental to its original condition upon moveout. Depending on what you want to improve, they might be totally game for it.

If you are allowed pets and paid a pet deposit, make sure that language is added to the lease as well. If you add more pets to your household down the line, lease permitting, make sure to contact your rental company and let them know, making documentation and paying any necessary fees associated.

Finally, be aware of any late fees for your off campus housing and what they are. Some fees may be reasonable but watch out that they are not too exorbitant. You don’t want to be subjected to highway robbery if the lease is only a day late. When renting from Krause Rental Properties in Athens, you can be assured that you’ll receive satisfactory answers – and performance – on all of these questions. The same goes for Krause’s Ohio State University student rentals in Columbus.