Some student housing has unfortunately garnered a bad reputation that has been wrongfully attributed to this multifamily sector. Through popular culture and media references, student housing is often painted as poorly maintained, overcrowded and disorganized.

But we don’t think this is the case for the bulk of student housing. The vast majority of student housing accommodation providers strive to offer courteous and professional service to their tenants, and treat their rentals like a business where reputation matters.

However, some bad apples do exist in student housing, as in any other industry; so it’s best for students to know the warning signs of poorly maintained properties. When viewing rental accommodations, look for warning signs which indicate that the rental property may not be the best place to live.

BEFORE THE VIEWING

1.      Check Online Reviews & Resident Commentaries:

In the past, we discussed why online reviews matter a lot in student housing. Students are encouraged to do some preliminary research before attending an actual apartment viewing. While online reviews should be taken with a grain of salt, they do provide some valuable information about past tenant experiences. People tend to be more compelled to write about their negative experiences online than about positive ones, so keep this in mind. Having said that, if an apartment has dozens of negative reviews, chances are, this isn’t a coincidence and may be a preliminary red flag.

It’s important to note that while it’s fairly easy to find apartment community reviews online, it’s not as common for independent landlords or single dwelling properties.
 

2.      Research Neighborhood Safety Online & Scope Out the Neighborhood in Person:

Depending on the area, there may be some online tools available for assessing neighborhood safety such as Family Watchdog, Neighborhood Scout or Crime Reports. While these online resources are free and a great starting point for some basic neighborhood research, it’s still highly recommended to scope a neighborhood out in person. Some telltale signs in person include rampant graffiti, deteriorating and poorly maintained buildings, no landscaping care, bars on windows, etc.
 

3.      Talk to Current Residents:

Talking to tenants of a property is by far the most valuable and informative way to gather information. Whenever possible, try to seek out current resident advice before the actual viewing. The person conducting a viewing will, of course, focus on all of the great selling points and won’t comment on the shortcomings of the rental property. Ideally, it’s best to try and talk to a few different residents to get different viewpoints. If each resident echoes dissatisfaction and addresses multiple problems with the property, this may be a warning sign. This may also provide potential tenants with questions to ask the landlord or property manager.

DURING THE VIEWING

1.      Watch the Property Manager/Landlord’s Attitude & Body Language:

More often than not, the property manager or landlord is a living representation of the rental unit itself. When touring an apartment or home, the person’s attitude and body language can exhibit how future encounters with the landlord will be and how the accommodation will be managed.

If a property manager or landlord exhibits undesirable traits while showing a unit, chances are, these traits will have an impact on the landlord and tenant relationship. For example, if during a showing the landlord rushes the tenant through, was rude or wasn’t compelled to answer many questions, the tenant should expect to receive the same treatment after signing a lease.
 

2.      Check for Non-Functional Outlets, Appliances, Etc.:

Once you begin to tour the actual unit, it’s important to ask to test such things as outlets, appliances, lights, etc. If some outlets or appliances aren't working, this may be an indication of poor maintenance. While the landlord may promise to fix these things before the tenant moves in, this still may be a warning flag. In most situations, these problems should have been promptly fixed before the unit showings.
 

3.       Look for Excessive Wear & Tear in the Unit:

General wear and tear will happen after each tenancy, but the landlord should periodically be replacing, cleaning or maintaining certain things. For example, if bathroom tiles are cracked and there appears to be water damage and mildew build up, this may be a sign of negligence or unwillingness to repair things.

AFTER THE VIEWING

1.      Beware of Ridiculously Low Rent Offers:

The old saying “if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is” is relevant here. If after the viewing the landlord or property manager offers a rental rate which is significantly beneath the going market rate, this might be an indication that something isn’t quite right. Of course, there are great deals to be found out there, but if the rent is well beneath the going rate in a competitive rental market, this may be a sign of high tenant turnover or other community problems.
 

2.      Avoid Overly Eager/Aggressive Landlords:

Have you ever been in a situation where a salesperson was aggressively pushing a product or service onto you? It’s an awkward and uncomfortable experience, to say the least. After a viewing, if the landlord is overly eager, aggressive or pushy when it comes to closing the deal, this may not be a good sign. Choosing where to live isn’t a simple task like choosing which brand of toothpaste to use; so it’s not recommended to make an important decision under a lot of pressure, if it’s avoidable.

Students are advised to employ some of these strategies when searching for an accommodation and to use good judgment when choosing a place to live!

SEE ALSO: Can a Landlord Make Rule Changes Mid-Lease?