As a freshman, living on campus has its advantages. Not only are you closer to classes, which allows for mid-day naps, but it is also much easier to get involved with clubs, as meetings and events are more accessible. However, as some students get older and become more comfortable with their college routine, they may decide to make the move off-campus. Although it’s nice to have that distinction between school and home, apartment hunting for the first time can be a stressful experience. Luckily, we’re surrounded by many beautiful areas to choose from: Hyde Park, Channelside and Bayshore. For first-time apartment hunters, here are some tips to make the process just a little bit easier.
It is important that you know what you can spend. Pay close attention to whether or not utilities are factored into the price of rent, as this may change your options. Then, you may want to ask a couple close friends if they want to make the move with you. If you move in with a few friends, you can look into renting a two or three bedroom apartment, or depending on your budget, maybe even a house. Once you’ve figured out your budget situation, decide what area of Tampa you want to live in. Your budget may narrow down your options, but don’t let that stop your search. Decide how far you want to be from school. If you don’t have a car, it may be in your best interest to stay relatively close to campus.
To ensure you’re getting the best option available for your budget, do your homework. Research complexes online. See what people are rating them and see if they have any complaints filed from former residents. If you know people who already live off campus, tour their place and see how they like it. If they say they’ve had problems with their complex, keep that in mind for your search.
Kyetra Bryant, a junior journalism major who opted for off-campus housing six months ago, advises that, “In your search, be sure the apartment complex you are looking at allows college undergrads, as certain places may only allow graduates and up.”
Although being around many of your peers and free of university rules may sound exciting for some,
“Be cautious of the atmosphere you want to be around. If there’s a lot of college students, it can turn into a party central like most dorms. For someone more introverted, they may want somewhere quieter, with more families,” Bryant said.
Apartment hunting can be exciting, but you never want to rush your decision, as many lease contracts are for a year. Leasing consultant Cedric Bell from Channelside said that they will accept anyone over the age of 18 as a leaseholder, so long as you meet their rental requirements regarding background, credit, and income. Cedric advises students moving into their first apartment to keep in mind what it means to be a good neighbor. Here in Tampa, house parties have become a growing problem causing disturbances to the neighbors who have families.
Many properties may have good neighbor policies, and the provisions will vary from property to property.
These provisions should be looked into and understood before you move in. Although some properties will not advise you on how to be a good neighbor, common provisions to follow include noise control and common courtesy regarding guests. Frequent complaints from neighbors living next-door to fraternity houses or groups of college students include: excessive noise, too many taxis lining up on the street, liter, and even students urinating on their lawn.
Last November, off-campus students reportedly from the University of Tampa received a bad rap with the community. Off campus parties made headlines as neighbors were continuously complaining about all of the noise, the crowd of students that flood the streets night after night, and the incessant liter on their street. Getting caught drinking under-age or hosting a party off-campus can result in consequences with the university. Depending on the severity, this can mean an apology note to your neighbors, a fine or expulsion from the university and trouble with the police.
Zac Efron and Dave Franco or not, it seems families in the Tampa Bay area aren’t chomping at the bit to have a full fraternity as neighbors. Sorry, boys.