-
Virtually all housing is advertised for immediate occupancy. Your search should begin no earlier than 4 to 6 weeks prior to your targeted move-in date. In the current housing market, it is likely you will secure housing well within a month, but you may want to build in a little extra time to search if you are new to this process.
-
Shared housing is the most affordable housing and the easiest to secure. Shared housing is where you get your own room in a shared apartment or house (usually with other students). A similar category is Room Rentals. If you’re on an especially tight budget, consider a Work Exchange, which is usually a room rental in exchange for approximately 10 to 15 hours a week of work such as child care, gardening, manuscript typing, etc.
-
Rental with 3 or more bedrooms are harder to find. If you have your heart set on finding a rental that has 3 or more bedrooms, be aware that local rental housing consists primarily of small units with 2 bedrooms or fewer. Be prepared for a longer search and consider communities outside of Berkeley if you can. If you are looking with a group of people, be sure to read
“Seeking with Friends.”
-
Get a good map. Maps are available from campus bookstores or online (Mapquest or Yahoo! Maps for example). Although all of Cal Rentals listings are pinpointed on an online map, it’s a good idea to view the whole area within 3 to 5 miles of campus just to have a general idea of where places are located.
-
Be accessible by phone. You will be leaving lots of messages with landlords and some will call you back. If you aren’t available, landlords simply will go to the next prospective tenant on their list. A cell phone that you carrry with you at all times is best.
-
Script a short, positive statement about yourself that you can leave as a telephone message to landlords to encourage a landlord to call you back. Repeat your name and telephone number slowly and clearly. Express an eagerness to see the rental. Offer to accept a collect call if the landlord must call you back long-distance.
-
Show up on time for your housing appointments and dress neatly. You don’t need to wear a suit, but dress well. When you rent, you are entering into a business contract with your landlord, so you want to look responsible. If you can’t show up for your appointment, please call the landlord and explain what happened. This is simply common courtesy.
-
Look for safety features, such as working smoke detectors and deadbolt locks on exterior doors, and do not rent a place if you feel it is unsafe. However, cosmetic defects such as a stain on the carpet or minor problems such as a drippy faucet are best left for discussion with the landlord after you have been offered the place and have signed a rental agreement. Requests for repairs should always be dated and in writing, and be sure to keep copies of any correspondence with your landlord.
-
Prepare a tenant resume, such as the form offered in the Cal Rentals website. This will demonstrate to a landlord where your income is coming from and how you will be responsible for the rent. Make several copies and bring them with you when you look at housing.
-
Consult a Cal Rentals housing counselor if you are having difficulty. Sometimes a minor adjustment to your search is all that is needed to create a winning situation for you. Good luck!
-