The basics of off-campus living

Four years ago, New York native Wadria Taylor came to Pitt, expecting to live on campus like… Four years ago, New York native Wadria Taylor came to Pitt, expecting to live on campus like many freshmen do. That all changed in July 2002, when she came to campus for her PittStart session.

“That was when my parents and I were told they didn’t have adequate housing available,” Taylor said. “It was a complete surprise.”

As a result, Taylor became one of the many Pitt students who had to look elsewhere for housing, except she did it a year earlier than most. The University refunded her housing deposit, and Wadria soon found an apartment in South Oakland.

While some local universities, such as Duquesne University, have policies that require students live on campus or with guardians during their freshmen and sophomore years, Pitt does not have such a policy. However, Pitt assures undergraduate students housing for the first three years of college.

The University could not comment as to why a situation such as Taylor’s arose.

“It all worked out for the best though,” she said.

“Everything happens for a reason, that’s how I always look at things. This brought me into the real world of paying bills and rent.”

Although not many do, freshmen can opt for off-campus housing. On average, 95 percent of incoming freshmen choose to live on campus during their first year of college, and the other five percent commute or live in off-campus housing.

The University owns several off-campus apartment buildings, located in Central and North Oakland and Shadyside. All include most, if not all, utilities.

The University’s off-campus housing offers many advantages. Three of the four buildings are a short distance from campus, and all offer a $25 discount on rent if paid by the fifth of each month.

With all off-campus housing, it’s important to be aware of risks. Stay calm, because The Pitt News has a few tips that might help you first-time renters avoid getting in too deep.

Research: the first thing you’ll need to do. You can find a directory of landlords (some reputable or some not) at the Oakland Planning and Development Corporation. You could even try to talk with former or current tenants about how the landlord maintains the property.

Next, look over your lease closely. A lease legally binds the tenant to a contract that can often be written in difficult-to-read legalese. For help in deciphering the document, OPDC and the Housing Resource Center both offer helpful resources. Don’t be afraid to ask the landlord questions about both the lease and the apartment. If something doesn’t seem right, speak up.

Set every legal agreement in stone. Make sure you sign a contract that has everything written out clearly. Just as the University has a responsibility to supply students with rooms kept up to code, so do landlords.

Ironically, though, Taylor will move onto campus for the first time this fall, as a Resident Assistant in Pennsylvania Hall.

Taylor wishes she would have realized her rights as a student, but said that she bears no grudge about her past housing complications. She added that students who feel vulnerable need to understand the policies.

“I advise students to educate themselves on what their options and rights are.”