Move-In

The first month will be very expensive. Estimate your budget over and above regular expenses giving special consideration to security deposit, first month’s rent, connection fees, transporting, storage, and other necessities required when setting up a new place.

Social

Living off-campus may leave you feeling less connected to friends, peers, and campus activities. Also, independent living can result in fewer opportunities to socialize with new people.

Academic

Off-campus housing is located further from libraries, computer labs, counseling services, faculty offices, and, perhaps, study group members. Consider time lost and transportation costs to access these kinds of services.

Legal

It is not uncommon for students who live off-campus to encounter problems associated with unreturned security deposits, unfulfilled maintenance requests, late or high utility payments, subleases, and co-tenant liability. These problems can be very disruptive and divert time and money from educational pursuits. Avoid such problems by becoming familiar with your legal rights and responsibilities. Find information about Louisiana landlord-tenant law on this site or contact the Louisiana Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section at 800/351-4889.

Damage to Credit Reputation

Any portion of a lease that is not fulfilled (i.e., failure to pay rent) can be placed on your credit report and  could impact your ability to secure goods and services requiring a credit check, such as pre-admission to graduate or professional school, pre-employment checks, and/or pre-contract checks for purchasing vehicles, property or future rentals. Monitor your credit history to prevent overcharging and identity theft. To order one free credit report per year, visit www.annualcreditreport.com or call 877/322-8228.