Around campus
Housing around campus is in great demand by USC students. There are several reasons for this: limited USC housing, non-USC housing is relatively cheaper, no need for a long commute to campus.
The neighborhood around USC can be divided into:
Northern region
This is the area between Vermont and Figueroa and extends till around 23rd Street. It is the most popular part off-campus. It includes the "Row" (fraternity and sorority houses), USC-owned housing complexes and privately owned and operated apartment complexes and houses. It is a relatively lively neighborhood, and one is likely to see students on the streets at all times. Because of the great demand, rent is higher here: around $600-$800 for a studio, $650-$1,000 for a one-bedroom, and $800-$1,500 for a two-bedroom. These are monthly rates.
Western region
This is the area between Jefferson and Exposition and has now extended beyond Catalina. There are only privately owned apartments and houses here, and there are fewer students. It is relatively quieter, and some students seem to prefer it that way. Rent is relatively cheaper here.
Eastern region
This is the area around Figueroa and Flower street. There is limited student housing available here.
Southern region
This area is home to Exposition Park, the Rose Garden, the Natural History Museum, the California Afro-American Museum, the Coliseum, and the California Science Center. Yet, this region is not a popular residential area amongst USC students.
Area 1 & 2: Mostly USC students
Area 3 & 4: Many USC students
Area 5 & 6: Some USC students
Area 7 & 8: Very few USC students
Away from campus
Quite a few USC students, including many international students, prefer living away from campus for different reasons: some prefer living in the beach communities, others prefer the hills, and depending on the neighborhood, rent may be cheaper than around USC. The main drawback is, that living away from campus, practically necessitates buying a car or a vehicle to commute to school. This is not only a drain on resources (cost of car+insurance+gas), but also time consuming in terms of the commute to campus. The more popular neighborhoods among USC students are West LA, the beach communities, Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena and Alhambra in the north-east.
Considerations during Apartment Hunting
- Accessibility to campus - Assess the ease of accessibility to/from the campus.
- Facilities provided - Inspect the laundry facilities, closet space, major kitchen appliances and the number and locations of electrical, internet, telephone outlets.
- Check the door and window locks provided in the apartment.
- Check the security system and buzzer system for guests in the apartment/building.
- Note the number of smoke detectors provided in the apartment/building and emergency exits.
- Make sure you are provided mailboxes with locks.
- Be aware of the neighborhood.
- Do not walk alone at night, if you decided to do so, use well-lit and well-known streets.
- What utilities are included in the rent?
- Who is the contact person for repairs?
LEASING
You may also want to talk with neighbors find out their impressions of the landlord/manager. Ask if repairs are carried out promptly and the apartment and surrounding property is maintained regularly. It is a good sign if other tenants speak highly of the proprietor.
The lease is a legally binding rental agreement. Do not sign more than one lease thinking that you are holding apartments until you make a decision. Before you sign a lease, be sure you want the apartment - inspect the apartment and surrounding areas carefully, talk to the neighbors, and most importantly, read the lease and all the fine print very closely. You do not have to sign the lease right away. Take the lease home, if necessary, to read it over, or to get the opinion of a friend or relative. It is very difficult to break or alter a lease, and the penalties are very high. Read the lease carefully and do not be afraid to ask the landlord to add things to the lease such as repairs or appliances.
The lease is usually for a one-year period, but this may be negotiable. Normally you are expected to pay rent for the entire lease period even if you move out earlier. OIS' student housing coordinator, Rubaiz Virk, had this tip to offer, "One-year leases are normally cheaper than a six-month or nine-month lease. And landlords often charge an additional $50-$100 per month, for a month-to-month lease."
Most landlords will require you to pay a security deposit when you move in. It is usually the equivalent of one month's rent. The security deposit is the landlord's insurance against damage or tenants leaving without paying rent. The landlord may subtract the cost of any damage or cleaning incurred after you leave the apartment. The landlord may not charge you for normal wear and tear on the apartment or excessive cleaning charges if you have cleaned the apartment. The norm nowadays is to charge tenants a cleaning fee before they move into the apartment, or to deduct it from the security deposit. However, you are legally entitled to receive your security deposit back at the end of your lease (minus any charges for excessive damage or cleaning costs). More information can be found in this article sourced from The Department of Consumer Affairs.
Most apartments in Los Angeles come with wall-to-wall carpeting (if there are no hardwood floors), built-in closets, a bathroom with a toilet, shower stall and/or bathtub and sink, and a built-up kitchen area with a sink, counter, shelves and storage space. The norm is to include certain basic appliances such as a stove and an oven, a refrigerator, a dishwasher, a heater, and sometimes, an air-conditioning unit, but this can vary. Student housing often comes fully-furnished, and in some cases, even the utilities are paid for. The norm, in most apartments, is that the manager/owner pays for water (hot and cold) and trash, and the tenant pays for gas and electricity. You also need to check whether parking is included, or you have to pay for it, or park on the street. In some case, you may need a permit to park on the street. All these costs need to be factored in when deciding whether an apartment is too expensive or not.
Sometimes tenants will sublease their apartment or rooms i.e. allow another tenant to take over his/her lease. However, you need the permission of the manager before you do this. You also need to bear in mind that the primary tenant is responsible for the actions of the subleasee. NAFSA advises, "Make sure you are very clear about who pays for what in a sublease agreement. Get it all in writing."
Make sure that all agreements with your landlord are in writing. If you make any agreements requesting repairs, put it in writing. Verbal agreements are usually worth nothing. If a landlord won't put anything in writing, you may not want to rent from him/her. Also don't forget to ask the manager for a receipt for the security deposit as well as a declaration stating that the apartment is under rent-control.
MOVING IN
Make sure that all faucets work and that you can get hot and cold water. Check to make sure there are no signs of leakage in the plumbing. If there are obvious signs of problems, such as a bucket full of water under the sink, ask the landlord about it.
Some property management companies give new tenants a 15-day period after they've just moved in to make a list of all the repairs that need to be carried out in the house. Ideally, discuss major repairs such as painting, leaks, etc. before you sign the lease or move in. Make sure you get the manager's reply in writing with a time estimate for the repairs.
- Appliances and electrical wiring
Check to see if all appliances and lights are in working order. Look at all wiring and make sure that bare wires are not exposed. Inspect the refrigerator, stove, oven and dishwasher to see that they work and are clean.
Check the doors and windows to make sure they are secure and safe. Do the doors have strong locks? Do the windows have locks and screens? Try opening and closing doors and windows to ensure that they work properly. Ask the landlord any questions you may have and get meaningful answers.
MOVING OUT
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Notify your Landlord
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Your lease is a legally binding contract. Check your lease to make sure you are not vacating the property before your lease expires. If you must move out before your lease expires, be prepared to pay additional rent or damages
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Remove your possessions.
- Remove all your belongings, including trash or items that you wish to discard.
- Clean floors, carpets, walls, closets, fixtures, appliances, etc. Give particular attention to the bathrooms, stove, oven, and refrigerator.
- Schedule final arrangements.
- Coordinate discontinue dates with the utility, phone and cable companies.
- Verify any miscellaneous charges you may be responsible for prior to your last rental period.
- Leave your contact information with your property owner to enable the prompt return of your security deposit. Return all keys to the property owner.
- Provide a forwarding address to the Post Office.
Resources for apartment-hunting
OIS housing resources
OIS offers a student housing coordinator to assist and help new, incoming, international students find permanent (and temporary) housing. The student housing coordinator, posts a weekly listing of rooms, apartments, and houses for rent. This list will be availabe from mid June to mid August.
Newspapers
USC's student newspaper, The Daily Trojan, has classified ads for roommates and apartments in the University Park area. You can call them to have the most recent copy mailed to you or a copy of the classified advertisements faxed. You may also check the classified section of the Los Angeles Times, the city's largest newspaper. If you live outside Southern California, you may wish to check at libraries, newsstands or bookstores that carry out-of-town papers. They also list some classifieds on their Web site at latimes.com
Contact: Daily Trojan - (213)740-2707
Property management companies
Listed below are the telephone numbers of some property management companies and apartment complexes around campus. This listing is not exclusive, nor is it all-encompassing. Furthermore, it is not an endorsement of the facilities and practices of the listed entities. It is simply a list of some companies where vacancies may exist.
Web sites
You can take your apartment-search online if you are so inclined. There are several Web sites that may prove useful. Again, this is not an endorsement of the facilities and practices of the listed entities.
For a $60 fee, you can also use either Ezrentlist or Westsiderentals for a two-month period. They have extensive housing listings available for a wide range of rental prices. These listings do not tend to be in USC's neighborhood but in other locations accessible by bus or car.
