The Do’s and Don’ts of Finding Student Housing

Stressed about finding off-campus housing? Our guide will tell you the dos and don’ts of choosing student housing.

How To Find The Right Student Housing in 2025

Finding student housing can be overwhelming; it's one of the most important decisions you make if you're a second-year student or an international student looking to live off campus.

For those looking for off-campus housing, you want to ensure your accommodation is suitable financially and that you're comfortable. Your home away from home affects everything, from your health to your social well-being.

We’ve gone into the dos and don’ts for finding student housing below, and how to take the stress out of shared living with Alcove.

The Dos of Finding Off-Campus Housing

Start Early

Searching for student apartments and housing at the last minute is not ideal and can force you into an uncomfortable living situation.

We recommend beginning your search around 3-6 months before the semester starts. This gives you enough time to look around different locations, check the housing, find the right price, and sort everything you need.

Tour The Property

Never sign any lease before seeing a property. You want to do either an in-person tour or a virtual tour of the property so you can check the layout, appliances, and condition. Pictures online don’t always tell the whole story.

Paying a visit to the property beforehand gives you a chance to meet your potential roommates and check out the neighborhood.

Know Your Budget

Make sure your budget for spending on housing per month is realistic, including utilities such as water, gas, internet, and electricity. Be aware that some student housing might not include utilities within the rent; make sure to ask beforehand to avoid surprising bills.

At Alcove, we offer per-room leases, meaning you only pay for what you use, including your rent, with no confusing shared bills. This is all paid via the Alcove platform for ease of use.

Consider The Commute

Think about how far the student housing is from campus and if there is transportation nearby.

Often, the cheaper the student accommodation, the farther it is away from the campus, but this can lead to expensive transportation fees, so check the distance beforehand.

Check The Contract

Double-check any lease agreement before signing, the lease will include everything from what's included in your rent to the duration and terms and conditions if you break your lease.

Alcove only lists verified homes with vetted landlords for shared housing on our platform. We make it clear what's included in your rent, and you can access your lease details at any time from our platform.

Get To Know Your Roommates

Roommates can make or break your shared living experience, this is why it’s so important to get to know them first, whether it’s going for a coffee when you come for an in-person tour or exchanging a few messages.

For students in particular, you want roommates who have good cleanliness and study habits, not party roommates who could disrupt your routine.

Some renting platforms like ours at Alcove allow you to review your roommate's bios and virtual chat with them before renting, so you can see if you're compatible with them.

The Don’ts of Finding Student Housing

Don’t Forget Safety

Research the potential neighborhood you are moving to and ensure the home has working locks and secure entrances.

Our shared accommodations at Alcove have smart locks to help tenants feel more secure, and our houses have to meet certain security requirements to be listed.

Never Rush Into a Lease

It can be tempting to get your student housing search over and done with and quickly sign a lease, but you need to make sure you have taken enough time to review the contract and what utilities are included in the rent.

Don’t Assume All Roommates Are Great

Getting along with someone doesn’t mean they will always be a good roommate. That’s why at Alcove, we screen our roommates to meet certain requirements and give you contact before signing any lease.

Ignore Red Flags

Some red flags could be refusal of a property tour or vague answers to questions. There have been cases of landlords scamming students, be vigilant when getting to know the property, and trust your gut if something feels off.

Stretch Your Budget

Being a student means you don’t have a huge budget to play with, be realistic, and make sure you still have enough money for other means, transport, and leisure each month.

Find Affordable Shared Student Housing With Alcove

Alcove has been helping students find rooms in beautiful homes that were traditionally single properties. Our platform allows renters to pay on a flexible per-room lease, so there are no arguments about splitting bills.

All our tenants and landlords are vetted before signing up on the Alcove platform and our affordable pricing allows students to have a comfortable standard of living.

Check out our listings near your campus here.