VIP's Frequently Asked Questions About Finding Housing
This page is designed to help you find answers to the most frequently asked questions about Campus Area Housing. Please make use of the links given - - they are your fastest pathway to a helpful answer.
Overview of Campus Area Housing ServiceWhat is the Campus Area Housing Listing Service?
What are some myths about the Campus Area Housing Listing Service?
What are some common myths about renting in Madison?
Preparing to Rent
When is the best time to look for housing in Madison?
Where should I stay while I'm in Madison looking for housing?
How much can I expect to pay for rent?
How do I find housing that is in a residential neighborhood or suitable for my family?
Are there minimum requirements and maintenance codes?
Should I rent an apartment sight unseen?
How do I find short-term housing?
As an international student, how do I make my housing arrangements?
Will I have a problem parking my car?
What about Private Residence Halls? What are they like?
Leasing
What is a lease and what should I look for when signing a lease?
Will I need to give earnest money or a security deposit to hold an apartment? When will I get my deposit back? What if I move out early?
Do I need a check-in form?
Do I need a parent/guardian to co-sign?
Roommates and You
How do I find a roommate?
How do I avoid roommate conflicts?
Subletting
What is subletting? What should I consider when subletting?
Discrimination
What should I do if I've been discriminated against in my search for housing?
Overview of Campus Area Housing Service
What is the Campus Area Housing Listing Service?
The Campus Area Housing Listing Service, provided by Visitor & Information Programs (VIP), is the centralized source at UW-Madison for people who are searching for privately-owned housing. The listing service provides a Web site where people may search for housing, advertise a sublet or other vacancy, or list an opening for a roommate.
What are some myths about the Campus Area Housing Listing Service?
Myth: The Campus Area Housing Listing Service is a roommate-matching service.
Fact: This service is not intended to match two or more people who do not yet have housing. Instead, people who have already rented an apartment may advertise for roommates.
Myth: You have to pay money to use the Campus Area Housing Listing Service.
Fact: Searching for housing on the Campus Area Housing Web site does not require a subscription and is absolutely FREE.
What are some myths about living in Madison?
Myth: If I don't live on campus, I won't be close to my classes.
Fact: Many houses and apartments listed with the Campus Area Housing Listing Service are within easy walking distance of academic buildings.
Myth: I have to sign a lease for next year right away in November! If I wait any longer, I won't find a good place to live.
Fact: Although some landlords begin showing apartments in November, the most variety and choice is available December through February. Students who sign leases early may overpay or find themselves in unfavorable roommate situations. Later in the rental season, rents may decrease and many units are still available. However, if you are looking for something specific, such as a certain building or location, or a specific type of unit to accommodate a large number of roommates, you may want to begin your search earlier.
Preparing to Rent
When is the best time to look for housing in Madison?
|
Rental
Season |
Date
VIP begins advertising |
Greatest
selection of listings exist: |
Additional
Information |
|
Fall Semester (Leases beginning
August, September, and October) |
November 1 |
Completely vacant units: December-April Roommate listings: April-August |
1. Unless
you have specific preferences, i.e., you are living with a large number of
people who want to live in a specific location/street, there is NO NEED TO
RUSH. 2. Although
the majority of listings are submitted December through January, many
listings continue to come in through the remainder of the Spring
semester and into the summer. 3. Compare
several units before signing a lease. The earlier you rent, the more likely
your rent will be higher. 4. Most Fall semester leases in the campus area begin August 15th
and have a one-year lease. You may be able to negotiate a shorter lease or
lower rent prices if you are willing to wait mid to late August to sign a lease. |
|
Spring Semester (leases beginning November
through March) |
August 1 |
November-January |
1.
If you do not find available units when you
search, you are looking too early. 2.
If you are looking for a Spring Semester vacancy
prior to November, check Fall vacancies. Fall
vacancies that do not get rented eventually become spring vacancies. 3.
Most leases in the campus area end August 14 or
15. Because of the extensive number of sublets available in the Spring
Semester, you might be able to negotiate a shorter lease term or lower rent. |
|
Summer Long Term (6-12 month leases
beginning April through July) |
January 1 |
March-May |
1.
If you are looking for a long-term lease
beginning in the summer, you may want to consider renting a summer sublet and
trying to renew that lease for the fall. If a fall renewal is not available,
begin looking in advance for another unit to move into when your sublet ends. |
|
Summer Sublet (Leases beginning April
through July ending in August of the same year) |
January 1 |
April-May |
1. If you
are looking for a Summer Sublet before April 1, also check the availabilities
in the Spring Semester rental season. Those units that are not rented by
April 1 will automatically become Summer Sublets. 2. Many
Summer Sublets offer reduced rents and flexible lease periods. |
Where should I stay while I'm in Madison looking for housing?
There are a variety of lodging options, both on campus and in the Madison and Dane County area. Visit www.vip.wisc.edu for more information.
How much can I expect to pay for rent?
Determine your needs and budget. Below are rent ranges and averages taken from a sample of units listed with Campus Area Housing for the 2006-07 lease period.
Many factors may affect rent and overall living expenses:
- Location and size of apartment
- Lease length
- Number of occupants
- Utilities (heat/electricity)
- Telephone, Internet, cable
| 2006-2007 Rent Ranges | ||
|---|---|---|
| Range | Avg. Rent | |
| Efficiency/Studio | $295-920 | $500-600 |
| 1 Bedroom | $500-1000 | $650-700 |
| 2 Bedrooms | $650-2200 | $900-1000 |
| 3 Bedrooms | $800-2000 | $1100-1300 |
| 4 Bedrooms | $995-2500 | $1500-1700 |
| 5 Bedrooms | $1750-3000 | $2400-2700 |
| 6 Bedrooms | $2400-3100 | $2800 |
| 7+ Bedrooms | $2800-8000 | $3000 |
Rent Free Rooms:
- Students wishing to live with a family, rent free, or at a very minimal charge will find that such vacancies are rare. Occasionally, rooms are available free of charge but the tenant will be expected to carry out assigned duties such as child care, house cleaning, meal preparation, or yard work.
- If you are interested in being a live-in attendant for people with disabilities, please contact: Access to Independence, at 608-242-8484. Free rooms plus a salary are may be available in exchange for your assistance.
- The Homeshare Program matches students with older adults who need help to continue living independently in their own home. A student may provide housekeeping, light maintenance and assistance with other tasks in exchange for free rent or other consideration. The details of the exchanged services vary with the needs of the individuals. Contact: Homeshare Program, Independent Living, at (608) 274-7900.
How do I find housing that is in a residential neighborhood or suitable for my family?
To maximize your search for affordable family housing, keep in mind the following:
- Units located more than 1-2 miles from campus are more likely to be in a residential neighborhood.
- If a faculty member's primary residence is available for rent though our service, it will be classified as such on the listings.
- If you are a new faculty member, a staff person in your hiring department may be willing to conduct a preliminary review of available housing.
Are there minimum requirements and maintenance codes?
The property owner is required to provide you with a list of any outstanding building code violations when you are looking at the apartment. Should s/he fail to do so, contact the City Building Inspection Department at 210 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd., Madison and fill out a simple form requesting information on any outstanding violations for a specific address. This information can tell you much about the building's physical condition as well as the property owner's maintenance standards. For more information regarding maintenance requirements and codes visit the Tenant Resource Center.
Should I rent an apartment sight unseen?
The University of Wisconsin-Madison does not inspect or offer any guarantee for the condition or quality of the rental units listed and does not endorse any of the listed properties.
Campus Area Housing strongly urges you to read your lease carefully and recommends that you visit Madison to inspect the housing personally before making binding arrangements.
How do I find short-term housing?
Leases for units near campus typically run for one year from mid-August. Here are some hints for finding short-term leases:
- Look at ALL of the housing listings which meet your criteria for the rental season you are interested in, regardless of the posted lease length. Some property owners will offer short-term leases in exchange for increased monthly rent and lease lengths in the Spring and Summer are typically negotiable. In addition, waiting until Summer to sign a lease for a Fall vacancy may increase your chances of obtaining a short-term lease.
- Apartment complexes further from campus and rooms in private homes, boarding houses, and cooperatives may offer shorter lease terms.
- Sign a one year lease and find a sublessor for the remainder of the lease. You may advertise your sublet with Campus Area Housing for a minimal fee.
As an international student, how do I make housing arrangements?
All students are responsible for arranging their own housing accommodations. Students unable to visit campus in advance may conduct preliminary searches for housing on our Web site. Campus Area Housing does not recommend signing a lease before seeing the actual apartment you are renting. For information on temporary housing for one to three nights while looking for permanent housing, contact Madison Friends of International Students (MFIS) in advance of your arrival at 608-263-4010. A variety of lodging options, both on campus and in the Madison area are listed on the Visitor & Information Programs Web site www.vip.wisc.edu.
Will I have a problem parking my car?
Campus parking is extremely limited. Unless it is absolutely essential, we do not recommend bringing a vehicle to campus. If you must bring a vehicle, we recommend searching for housing that includes parking. Campus Area Housing listings indicate whether parking is available. If you cannot find housing that includes parking, you have the following options:
- Visitor & Information Programs maintains a list of parking availability at the Campus Information Center in the Red Gym, 608-263-2400.
- The City of Madison offers a Residential Parking Permit, which allows residents of some restricted areas (i.e. 30 minute to two hour limits) to park for up to 48 hours. For more information, contact the City of Madison Residential Parking Division at (608) 267-1104.
- On-campus parking may be available if you are a student who commutes from outside the Madison Metro bus lines or has special needs. Visit UW Transportation Services for details.
- Some major property management companies offer rental parking. Drive around the area you wish to park and look for posted "parking for rent" signs.
- Madison has an excellent bus service for most areas of the city. All students, faculty, and staff are eligible to receive a free bus pass. Contact the Associated Students of Madison (ASM) at 608-265-4276 for information on the free passes. Contact the Madison Metro Transit Office at 608-266-44666 for route and schedule information.
- Community Car is a member-based carsharing service that provides cars by the hour for individuals and organizations. Members share access to a fleet of high gas-mileage and hybrid-electric vehicles located in reserved parking spots throughout the city.
What about Private Residence Halls? What are they like?
Privately-owned residence halls are residence hall (dormitory) living arrangements that are owned and operated by private companies or individuals. The privately-owned halls provide a group living situation conducive to meeting other students and help ease students into college life. Many include a meal plan, Resident Assistants and planned events and activities. Follow this link for a listing of private residence halls in the Madison area. Follow this link to conduct a search to include private residence hall listings.
Leasing
What is a lease and what should I look for when signing a lease?
A lease is a binding legal contract. Properly executed leases will be upheld in local courts.
Make sure you read your lease completely and carefully before signing. The Tenant Resource Center is available to review a lease with you. Make sure that all blanks are filled in and obtain copies of the lease and any other documents attached to it. Keep these materials in a safe and accessible place.
Make sure that all verbal "promises" are written into the lease. If your agreement to rent is contingent upon any promises made by the property owner, get those promises in writing as part of the lease. This is especially important in the case of promised repairs. Be sure to include a completion date in the clause. Only a written guarantee assures you that the promises will be fulfilled. Both parties should sign and date these additions to the lease.
Will I need to give earnest money or a security deposit to hold an apartment? When will I get my deposit back? What if I move out early?
For answers to these and other questions about security deposits check out the Tenant Resource Center.
Do I need a check-in form?
The property owner should provide a check-in form when you move in. You should be given at least seven days from your move-in date to complete and return the form. Inspect your dwelling unit and list any damage to the unit on the check-in form (i.e. holes, scratches, stains). Be very detailed. Write down anything you could get charged for. Both parties should sign the check-in form. Joint inspection with the property owner/manager may be preferred. Keep a copy of the check-in form and return another copy to the property owner/manager.
Do I need a parent/guardian to co-sign?
Many, but not all, landlords require students to have a parent/guardian co-sign their lease. Check with landlords to find out whether or not a co-signer is required.
Roommates and You
How do I find a roommate?
Campus Area Housing provides listings for individuals seeking roommates. The greatest number of Fall roommate listings are advertised April through August. Most leases in Madison make ALL parties to a lease jointly responsible. Should your roommate leave the lease in the middle of the semester, all remaining parties are responsible for his/her share of the rent. Having parents of all roommates co-sign the lease MAY relieve you of this responsibility.
How do I avoid roommate conflicts?
To ensure a satisfying living arrangement, discuss such issues as: smoking, pets, sharing items (food, stereo, bathroom, kitchen), furnishings, cleanliness, and living habits, prior to moving in. The Tenant Resource Center offers roommate agreement forms.
Subletting
What is subletting? What should I consider when subletting?
For answers to these and other questions about subletting check out the Tenant Resource Center.
Discrimination
What should I do if I've been discriminated against in my search for housing?
If you believe you have been discriminated against or would like to learn more information about your rights, contact the Fair Housing Center of Greater Madison at 1-877-647-FAIR (3247).