ROOMMATES Having roommates can make living in Chicago far more affordable and a bit less lonely, especially right when you get here! No matter how you find a roommate or even if you know them prior to signing a lease together, it’s very important to come to an agreement on issues like cleaning, quiet times, privacy, guest visitation, shared items, and bills as soon as possible to make sure they don’t become a problem later. We also recommend looking for potential roommates on Columbia’s Facebook group for your class. You’ll be able to connect and break the ice over the common bond of being Columbia creatives, taking similar classes, sharing interests, and everything in between.
FAIR HOUSING Fair housing is a right protected by federal and state law. Fair housing means you may freely choose a place to live, limited only by what you can afford and what you’re seeking. Your choice should not be limited based on your race, sex, color, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, or source of income. It is a violation of the law when a landlord, agent, or other housing employee discriminates against you for any of the previously listed identifiers, AND if they do any of the following:
▶ Refuses to rent an available apartment to you if you are otherwise qualified.
▶ Tells you untruthfully that an apartment is not for rent. Watch lines like, “I rented just after you called.”
▶ Sets or enforces lease terms, privileges or conditions that are not required for other tenants. Watch out for tactics like having to pay a larger security deposit.
▶ Refuses to make reasonable accommodation for your disability. Watch out for excuses like “My insurance will go up.”
▶ Sexually harasses you. ▶ Tells you that the building has a policy of “adults only” or “no teenagers” or that families with children can occupy only certain apartments. Watch out for rules like “only one person per bedroom.”
▶ Intimidates you or retaliates in any way against you for exercising your fair housing rights or assisting another in doing so.
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