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Off-Campus Housing
Made Easy!
Ready to search for that perfect place? Looking for a roommate? ASG's new listing service brings landlords and students together to make finding a house, an apartment, and even a roommate easier than ever before.
Finding a Place Off-Campus
This is a very important decision so take your time. There are plenty of available places, there is no need to rush this process. Several planning steps can be helpful to your search for the best place.
Oxford Rental Permits & Occupancy Limits
A rental permit is issued by the City of Oxford to every approved rental house in Oxford. This permit states the occupancy limit for the unit indicating the number of people that are legally allowed to reside in that unit.
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It is against the law to have more people residing in a unit than the permit allows for, so while searching make sure each location you look at has a permit for at least the number of people in your group.
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The landlord should tell you the occupancy limit for any unit you consider. Ask to see the permit on your visit. It should be posted somewhere in the unit.
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You can check the occupancy limit of every approved rental unit at cityofoxford.org/ApprovedRentals. All approved rentals in Oxford are listed.
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Choosing Roommates
How many roommates do you want? The number of people definitely will narrow down your search. (Check section on rental permits.)
Be sure that everyone in your group is committed to living together and not also looking for places with other people too.
Good friends don’t always make good roommates. Compatibility of living habits and priorities are essential to roommate satisfaction. Consider these compatibility questions.
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Academics—Do you agree on how much time to study, the importance of attending classes, or where to study? Will anyone want to study abroad and be gone a semester?
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Lifestyle—Do you agree about cleanliness, neatness, and sharing chores? Are you a morning person or a night owl? What about music, hobbies and interests, social circles, or pets/animals?
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Attitudes—Do you agree about smoking, use of alcohol, and partying? What rules will exist about overnight guests or how often any one person can stay?
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Responsibility—What about safe and general treatment of others? Locking doors, conserving energy, recycling, respecting privacy and property?
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Money—How much can your group afford in rent, utilities and groceries? How will joint bills be paid on time?
The process of deciding these compatibility details together is very valuable and creates a respectful, cooperative start to living together.
Consider a roommate agreement or contract that contains guidelines for how household chores will be done around the house/apartment, how shared expenses will be set up, and general house rules to be established.
For sample roommate agreements/contracts check with the Office of Off-Campus Affairs or find ideas in this example to use. Roommate Contract
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Limiting Your Search
Budget Considerations
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Don’t look at places that you can’t afford.
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What is the rent and when it is due?
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Is there a deposit and when is it due?
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What utilities, if any, are included?
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Is summer housing or storage included?
Location Considerations
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Do you want to be close to The Rec, Uptown, King or somewhere else?
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Is there a bus stop nearby? How far is the walk in the rain, in snow, late at night?
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What is the neighborhood like? Who else lives there and what limitations will that have?
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