UM Off-Campus Housing Tenants & Landlords

Housing Listings
On this web site, the Housing Listings page allows you to search by: price, availability date, furnished/unfurnished/semi furnished, number of bedrooms, pets, utilities and parking.

Since the Off-Campus Housing Program does not own or inspect these units we must rely on landlords and tenants for accurate information. We cannot guarantee the veracity of the information they submit. If something looks or sounds interesting, make an appointment to view the unit.

Questions to Ask Before Signing a Lease
Red House

When you go out on your off-campus housing search, take notes on the information you collect about each rental you visit. Inquire about the following with both the landlord and the tenants currently living in the rental. Whenever possible, ask to see and check these items for yourself:

Which furnishings come with the rental?
What, if any, work will be done to the rental before the next tenants move in? Ask the landlord to put any promises in writing before you sign the lease.
Which utilities, if any, are included in the rent?
How much do the utilities cost on average each month?
Is the heat gas or electric? (Electric heat is more expensive than gas heat.) Does it work well? Where is the thermostat?
To whom should maintenance requests be made? (Always make requests in writing and save a copy.)
In what condition are the appliances? (stove, refrigerator, oven, garbage disposal, dishwasher, air conditioning)
In what condition is the plumbing? Do showers leak, faucets drip, toilet get plugged often? Is the water pressure relatively steady? Does the hot water stay hot? (Ask to check these yourself.)
Do you ever see bugs or rodents?
Where is the trash picked up? Who takes it to the pick-up spot?
Where are the electrical outlets? Are they adequate for computer, sound systems, and appliances?
How loud/quiet is the building at night and weekends? How about the neighbors?
Is parking available? If so, where? Is there an extra cost? Is the lot cleared of snow in winter?
Is there additional storage available outside of the apartment?
Where are the nearest laundry facilities? If on the property, do they get crowded? Are they free or coin-operated?
How is the security in the building? Are there deadbolt locks and a peephole on the door? Do the windows all close and lock securely? How secure are the laundry, storage, and parking areas?
Is the landlord registered with the University? If so, does he/she use the lease provided by the Housing Information Office? Is an addendum used with the lease? Is a copy available for review?
How many people can legally occupy the unit? How many legal bedrooms are there? How is the unit zoned?
Is there an application fee? Does it apply toward rent if you sign the lease?
Is there a cleaning fee? Can you earn it back by doing the cleaning yourself?
How much is the security deposit? Do you have the option of paying it in more than one payment?
When can you move in? When is the last day of occupancy? (Check the calendar before you sign the lease to make sure you are not going to be in a bind for housing after your lease expires.)

Transportation and Safety
Parking
Parking on campus is extremely limited. University Parking Services strongly discourages students from bringing a vehicle to campus. Those who must do so should call the Parking Services offices or check their web site located at http://pts.umich.edu/ for information. Permits are issued on a first come, first serve basis, and cost between $48-$173 for the academic year. Parking regulations are heavily enforced throughout the calendar year, including University recesses, except for major holidays. Tickets typically cost $20. The University and the City of Ann Arbor have an affordable and reliable bus system to accommodate commuters.

Buses
There are two bus services students can

use. The University Bus Service provides free and frequent bus transportation around and between the Central Campus, North Campus, South (Athletic) Campus and Medical Center Campus areas. This is extremely useful for those individuals who park in a commuter lot or who travel between campuses. The Ann Arbor Transportation Authority, "The Ride," has 24 routes throughout Ann Arbor and the surrounding area. Schedules are available at the Housing Information Office or from the AATA. U-M Students, Faculty and Staff can ride free with a valid M-Card. Check with these two bus services before making a housing decision that will require you to use public transportation. (See also "Transportation after dark.")

Bicycles
Bicycle transportation is a common way to get around Ann Arbor and is further described here.

Safety
Ann Arbor experiences slightly less crime than would be

statistically expected for a city of its size. The crimes that occur are generally evenly spread throughout the city. While violent crime is relatively low, property crime is a much more significant problem. The annual Ann Arbor Observer City Guide publishes a crime map that presents data for major crime categories by neighborhoods .

All students (living on- or off-campus) should take advantage of SAFEWalk, a free campus service designed as an alternative to walking alone at night. Student Assistant Field Employees (SAFEs) will accompany any member of the University walking within a 20-minute walking distance or one-mile driving radius of Central or North Campus. The SAFEWalk escorts are dispatched to the caller's location from the Department of Public Safety at (734)763-WALK (763-9255)

More than 100 Blue Light Emergency Telephones are located throughout the campus. In addition, there are emergency telephones located in elevators and parking structures. The caller is automatically connected to Department of Public Safety (DPS) dispatcher by simply lifting the telephone receiver. These direct lines automatically indicate the caller's location to DPS, without the caller needing to tell them. (When possible the caller should try to describe the nature of emergency to the dispatcher.) A brochure indicating the location of the blue light emergency phones is available on request at DPS offices or via the DPS Web site.

Transportation After Dark
Transportation Services provides free cab service to your home from the Shapiro Library or the Media Union via Ride Home, after transit buses and shuttles have concuded daily services. The Ride Home service can be requested ar the front desks of these buildings.

Another alternative is Night Ride, a late night, shared ride taxi service that is operated in cooperation with the Ann Arbor Transit Authority (AATA) and the local taxicab companies. Night Ride trips are limited to within the Ann Arbor City limits. The service is available seven nights a week: Monday-Friday beginning at 11:00 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday beginning at 7:00 p.m. The cost is $3.00 per passenger.

Disability-Related Concerns
The Housing Information Office can assist students with disabilities in a number of ways, including advising, assisting with communications and providing resources.

Services for Students with Disabilities is the office on campus that coordinates information and services for students with a disability. Call (734) 763-3000 or TTY (734) 615-6921, or go to www.umich.edu/~sswd.

In addition, the Center for Independent Living Services Serving Washtenaw County can be a valuable resource with housing-related (and other) questions. Contact them at (734) 971-0277 or TTY (734) 971-0310. or via www.aacil.org.

For a list of barrier free units, visit the SOS Community Services Web site at www.soscs.org

Move-In Costs
Deposits and Fees
Landlords may legally collect the first month's rent in advance and a security deposit equal to one and one-half month's rent when you sign the lease. Some landlords charge a non-refundable cleaning fee usually $100 to $200 depending on the size of the unit.

Renter's insurance
The landlord's property insurance does not cover your personal property. If you cannot afford to replace your belongings if they are damaged, lost or stolen, then you should look into buying a policy.

The least expensive policies are those that can be added to your car insurance or to your parents' insurance policy. If these alternatives are not available to you, you can purchase renter's insurance from many insurance agencies. Consult the yellow pages and the Off-Campus Housing renter's insurance informational handout for the names of insurance agents.

Food
Grocery shopping and cooking is definitely the least expensive way to go. Many students find roommates with similar tastes in food,and enjoy preparing, as well as sharing meals. Overall, students tell us that a good estimate for monthly food costs per person is $300 if you plan and shop carefully.

Eating out is hard not to do in Ann Arbor. The city has a culinary variety that competes with major cities around the country. Students can usually find all of their favorite foods with ease around and near campus, but the cost adds up and can take a big bite out of a budget. You can easily spend twice as much eating out as you would shopping and cooking at home.

Co-op Board-Only is another option for students who live off-campus but want affordability in addition to the convenience of prepared meals. Several of the co-op houses serve meals and offer board contracts, in exchange for a fee and the commitment to contribute some time to help with meal planning and preparation. Contact the ICC for details on prices, food choices, etc.

Inter-Cooperative Council

www.icc.coop

(734) 662-4414

Utilities
When a group of tenants rents a house, they typically pay all utility costs. When tenants rent an apartment, the landlord may pay for heat and water. Tenants almost always pay for electricity, and always for phone and cable television.

Phone service
Phone service is a tenant responsibility and costs will depend on the service and equipment you choose. Ameritech provides basic line service. You will also need to choose a separate long-distance company.

SBC

1-888-772-6098

www.connecttosbc.com

Electricity and Gas
If you need to open an account to start gas and/or electric service, you can call DTE Energy at (800)477-4747, or submit your application for service through the DTE Energy Web site, my.dteenergy.com. A customer service representative will let you know whther you need to visit the office, what materials you need to provide and whether a deposit is required.

Also, it is important to notify DTE Energy when you move out of your off-campus house or apartment and need service discontinued. Without this notification, continued electric or gas usage will be billed to you.

DTE Energy is able to provide the average cost of gas or electricity for a specific apartment or house. Call them to get this information. Remember, if your unit is electrically heated, the monthly electric bill can increase by $100/month or more during cold weather. We suggest to tenants considering electrically heated units to look elsewhere unless the rental rate is a good deal, or the landlord is paying for heat. Also, keep in mind that Ann Arbor summer days can be very hot. Depending on the size of your apartment, the thermostat setting and other factors, it can cost $100/month to run air conditioning.

DTE Energy

1-800-477-4747

http://my.dteenergy.com


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