Student Legal Services
- If you have questions or concerns about signing a lease, tenant-landlord issues, or roommate legal issues, contact Carolina Student Legal Services for free advice. Visit http://www.unc.edu/student/orgs/sls/legal:landlord, call
Budget
Before you begin your search for off campus housing, you should consider what your budget is for rent each month. For some leases you will be paying rent, utilities, cable, and internet so budget for these costs, also. Some other costs to think about include: food, renter's insurance, and any other personal expenses you may have.
Budget Planning Worksheet (29.5 kB)
- UNC Cash Course
The information here will help you make informed financial decisions throughout your college years and into your professional life.
What to look for in a lease
- Specific dates of occupancy
- Amount of monthly rent and the date it is due each month
- Amount of security deposit
- Responsibility for payment of utilities
- Responsibility for general maintenance and repairs
- Sublease: If you sign a 12 month lease but think you may need the dwelling for a shorter period of time, make certain the lease allows you to sublease (rent your dwelling to another person who will assume the remainder of the lease)
- Whether or not pets are allowed and associated fees with the allowance of pets
- Automatic renewal clause
- Type of lease: joint or individual
- At management's discretion, the tenant may be asked to leave regardless whether or not the lease has been violated
- Tenant waives all defects in the unit
- Landlord shall not be responsible for injury to person, including tenant and guests, as a result of any cause.
- Tenant is responsible for all repairs to premises
- Landlord may enter dwelling without notice
- Landlord has a lien (a legal claim on the property of another as security for the payment of a debt) on all personal property of tenant
Always:
- Inspect your new residence for damages and document them before you move in (the Police Department will come to your home and perform a free safety inspection, and the town can send over a Code Enforcement Officer)
- Establish and sign a new lease when moving in...don't "pass down" leases
- Check with UNC Student Legal Services (http://www.unc.edu/student/orgs/sls/home) if you have any questions, concerns, or issues before, during or after you sign a lease
Utilities
One of your responsibilties living off campus is having to contract with companies to provide your utilities services. These services could include electricty, gas, water/sewer, trash collection, cable, internet, and telephone. Depending on where you live the providers for these services may vary. Specific leases may provide one or more of these services for you, or may instruct you to the providers in your area. Please consult your landlord or leasing agency for specific information regarding your utilities. Some common Chapel Hill/Carrboro utilities providers are listed below:
OWASA (water and sewer)
Duke Power (electricty)
PSNC Energy (gas)
Time Warner Cable (cable and internet)
Bellsouth/AT&T (telephone)
Verizon (long distance phone)
Trash and Recycling
Carrboro- Trash: http://www.ci.carrboro.nc.us/pw/hwaste.htm Recycling: http://www.ci.carrboro.nc.us/pw/recycling.htm
Chapel Hill- Trash: http://www.ci.chapel-hill.nc.us/index.aspx?page=694 Recycling: http://www.co.orange.nc.us/recycling/
Conservation and Sustainable Living
If you are interested in creating environmentally friendly and sustainable practices in your new residence, these sites can help you get started:
Town of Chapel Hill Guide to Sustainable Living
