Home Housing Off-Campus Housing

Off-Campus Housing

 

On this page you’ll find several options for finding your own off-campus rental housing. The information here includes:

  • Cal Rentals – the University-endorsed system that assists with rentals for a $20 fee
  • Beginning in March/April: rental listings from the Berkeley Law community, updated weekly
  • Other options for finding your own rental

Most law students live in apartments in the Berkeley or Oakland area. The following are typical monthly rent ranges for apartments and houses in Berkeley and the surrounding areas:

  • $700 – $1,200 – Room in shared apartment or house
  • $1,200 – $2,300 – Studio apartment
  • $1,700 – $3,100 – One-bedroom apartment
  • $2,000 – $4,200 – Two-bedroom apartment or house (Berkeley)
  • $3,000 – $5,000 and up – Three-bedroom or larger house (three-bedroom apartments are rare)
 

Please note that market rates may change and rents are sometimes negotiable. Sometimes a landlord will seek a student to perform a job, such as baby-sitting, gardening or property management, in exchange for a room or small apartment at no rent or reduced rent. Expect to work approximately 12 to 15 hours per week for a rent-free situation.

CAL RENTALS

For a small membership fee, Cal Rentals provides rental listings and housing advice to the UC Berkeley campus community.  Many students leave for the summer and sublet their rooms or entire apartments for the length of time they are away. Some summer housing information will be available mid-February, although most summer sublets are listed AFTER spring break (usually the end of March/beginning of April). The listings, consultations and house-hunting resources are included in a modest fee of $20 for 3 months of online access. Any student with a CalNet ID can initiate a rental listings account directly on the Cal Rentals website and pay the fee online. First select “Find Rental Housing” and then click on “CalNet Authentication” under “Students.” If you wish to start your search before your CalNet ID is activated, you may use this alternate method to gain access to the Cal Rentals listings:

  • Fax a copy of your letter of admission to Cal Rentals at 510-642-4026.
  • Send an email to homeinfo@berkeley.edu to alert the Cal Rentals staff that you will be requesting an account.
  • Request a new student rental listings account on the Cal Rentals website:
  • Click on “Find Rental Housing” at http://calrentals.berkeley.edu/
  • Click on “Newcomer/Affiliate Student” and then on “Register Online”.
  • Complete the form and submit.

Cal Rentals will send you an email with a link to the online payment system once your admission letter is matched with your online request. Please note: Cal Rentals works to vet their listings for legitimacy but sometimes determined scam artists can get through. Check our tips for avoiding housing fraud before paying any rental deposits or signing contracts. For more information contact: Cal Rentals Residential & Student Services Programs 2610 Channing Way Berkeley, CA 94720-2272 510-642-3644 510-642-4026 (Fax) http://calrentals.berkeley.edu/ homeinfo@berkeley.edu

Rental Listings: Other Sources

Berkeley Law Listings

New listings are posted here. Rental listings here are submitted to the Advanced Degree Programs office from members of the Berkeley Law community. Please note that their inclusion here does not mean the ADP office has seen or reviewed any of the spaces listed. Please contact the listed individuals directly if you are interested in the listing. Appropriate calling times are between 10AM and 8PM Pacific Standard Time, or by arrangement with the person listing the space. All prices listed are per month.

Craigslist

Craigslist is a popular, free online bulletin board of community information, job listings and rental listings. Please note that Craigslist does not monitor or vet its listings in any way, so it is critical to follow these guidelines for avoiding fraud or dangerous situations. While Craigslist is the most commonly used source of housing in the Bay Area, it can be difficult for international students to use with confidence. We recommend paying the Cal Rentals membership fee to get housing advice/assistance, even if you have found a listing on Craigslist that you wish to rent.

Local Newspapers

Local newspapers also have rental listings and are easily found near campus at many bookstores and cafes. Some of the most helpful, such as the “Daily Californian,” “Berkeley Daily Planet” and “East Bay Express,” are free.

Avoid Housing Scams

Be careful about checking for fraudulent listings; international students are a frequent target of scammers. View some of our tips below. Craigslist is a popular but totally unmonitored site; Cal Rentals works to vet their listings for legitimacy but sometimes determined scam artists will get through. Sending Deposits If someone is asking you for a deposit that is unusually large or does not have a set price at all, beware. In the city of Berkeley, landlords can only ask up to three times the amount of rent up front. This includes the first and the last month’s rent, plus one month’s rent as a deposit. If you are looking for a place in Berkeley and they ask for more than this amount please be careful. Cal Rentals landlords usually will ask for less. Do not wire money or send Western Union, ever. When sending a deposit, make sure you have the name of the person you are issuing it to. Write a check, cashier’s check, or money order and send it to that person using a trackable mail service. This will ensure that the payment is traceable and you have an address for the individual too. Recognizing Scams Most scam attempts involve one or more of the following:

  • Email or text from someone that is not local to the Bay Area, or claims to be out of town/overseas.
  • Vague initial response without any specifics about the unit.
  • Poor grammar/spelling OR use of non-American English, such as British spelling or words like ‘solicitor’ instead of ‘lawyer.’
  • Involvement of third parties besides a property manager.
  • Request for use of Western Union, Money Gram, an escrow service, or a “payment guarantee.”

Known Scammers Avoid rentals listed with the following aliases: – Paul Hart – Joshua Coyne – Erin Akey