At the West Lafayette Campus of Purdue University the majority of students enrolled live in privately or commercially-owned rental housing off campus. The rental housing stock in the Greater Lafayette Area consists of houses, apartments, efficiencies, rooms and mobile homes. Some local residents take student boarders into their homes. A few fraternities take non-member boarders into their chapter houses.

Although there is a great variety in rental properties, the housing within walking distance is usually rented by early August for the academic year.

Searching for suitable living accommodations off campus can be time consuming. Some items to consider before you begin your search are:

• How much can I afford (be sure to consider utilities, phone, food, etc.)? Living off campus means an increased financial responsibility.
• Do you have enough money for upfront payments such as security and utility deposits?
• What is most important - location or cost and amenities?
• Can you access adequate transportation such as a car, bus services, etc.?
• Do you have furniture?

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

The following off-campus housing information and related resources offered by the Office of the Dean of Students are provided merely as a service to students, faculty and staff at Purdue University. The information is provided to make you aware of issues surrounding off-campus living. The University has not inspected any properties listed and cannot vouch for accuracy or reliability of any of the information provided by landlords/property managers.

THE UNIVERSITY MAKES NO WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, CONCERNING THE QUALITY OF THE HOUSING PROVIDED IN LISTINGS.

Before listing with the Off-Campus Housing Services, a landlord must sign a statement that says he/she will not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, sexual orientation or disability against any student who wants to rent from him or her. This is the only condition of the office's listing service.

The University has no system of approving or inspecting off-campus housing and neither does Lafayette or Tippecanoe County. In West Lafayette, however, a program provides a systematic inspection of all rental property. If you want to know whether a particular unit has met the requirements of this program, you may find out from the city's housing inspection office, (765) 775-5160. Remember, your personal inspection of a place you might want to live is your final guarantee that it is the place you want. It is recommended that you be present at the time of any inspection.

Some common areas to personally inspect are:

• Outside - lawn maintenance, parking and lighting
• Doors - locks, dead bolts, and door viewers
• Windows - condition of windows, screens, and locks
• Kitchen - appliances
• Bathrooms - drains, water pressure, toilet flushing
• General Living Area
• Heating and Cooling
• Fire Safety
• Flooring - carpeting, vinyl floors

WHEN TO SEARCH AND HOW LONG IT TAKES

Typically, landlords begin listing housing with Off-Campus Housing Services in late fall or early spring for the next fall semester.

Regardless of the time of year that you look for housing, it is likely that finding a place to live will take more than one day. Therefore, you should allow yourself enough time to make a wise decision about a place to live.

If you cannot come to the area to acquire housing until just before the start of fall/spring semester, allow at least three to four days before classes begin to search for housing that may still be available. Locate temporary accommodations until you have settled in permanent quarters.

Some spaces become available during the semester due to mid-year graduations, student teaching or field practice experience that take the tenants away from campus.

For more information about off-campus housing, stop by our office in Schleman Hall, Room 207, call (765) 494-1257, or email us at offcampushousing@purdue.edu.