AMERICAN LIVING

from Housing Guide 2020

MEDIATION AND ROOMMATES

AMERICAN LIVING ADVICE FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS SEEKING HOUSING

You got off the plane and took the bus to your new apartment, the one you reserved months ago once you received your admissions letter to CSU. According to some stereotypical college American movies, like National Lampoon’s Animal House or Accepted and maybe even Monster’s University, you think you have a good idea of what your new roommates might be like. You go for it and sign the lease, unlock the door and find a neat, clean living room with one roommate cooking dinner and another roommate studying on the couch. Where’s the party you were promised in the movies? Well, that was the movies. You will hear a lot of myths and some truths about living in the United States. Here are a few things we believe you should know, no movie fantasies, about being an international student seeking housing in Fort Collins: • Floors are NOT waterproof. Most houses in the United States are made of wood and don’t have drains in the floors like houses in other countries. You must keep water off the floors. This means you must keep the shower head and curtain in the shower and only put toilet paper in the toilet. If you don’t, you’ll have a flood in your house along with an expensive repair bill and a very angry landlord. • Utilities included – it depends. The rent looks like a fair price but now you have to pay for a deposit, first and last month rent, internet, TV, electricity, water, heat, gas, sewer, trash, Home Owner’s Association fees, snow removal, pet deposit, carpet cleaning, yard maintenance…and the list goes on. Don’t forget furniture, bed linens and groceries. There are many rental options that do include utilities. Just pay close attention to the lease and what is and isn’t included.

22 STUDENT HOUSING GUIDE 2020 • U + 2 – this LAW means you can only live with two roommates who are not related to you -- not two roommates and their two partners, not you and your cousin and her three best friends. Even if your house has five bedrooms, unless the place is zoned for more than three people, only 3 unrelated people can live there. For more detailed information check out: fcgov.com/ neighborhoodservices/occupancy.php. • Private bathrooms –While you may prefer to have your own private bathroom, when it comes to rentals in the United States, your choices may be limited. If you want the “classic American roommate experience,” be prepared to share a bathroom with your roommates and their guests. If you can’t live without a private bathroom, you should look to rent a room with a master bathroom which means the bathroom is “en suite” and attached to your room. Additionally, you may want to look at apartment complexes that offer individual leases and individual bathrooms. • Parties, pets & smoking – If you want to host parties, own a dog, or smoke certain substances; your housing options may be limited. Most landlords don’t want these in their rentals, and if you violate the policies you could be facing thousands of dollars in fees and possibly getting evicted from your apartment. • Don’t sign a lease until you have read through the entire contract! It might seem very long and boring, but make sure you understand the terms and conditions because a contract is a legally-binding agreement that you must follow. CSU’s Student Legal Services office can help you understand the lease. Call (970) 491-1482 or visit their website, sls.colostate.edu/ before signing a lease! • Take pictures and document problems with your rental BEFORE moving in. Most rental places have an inventory form for you to document any damages that currently exist in your apartment. If an inventory form isn’t provided, there is a sample one in the Off-Campus Life Student Handbook, ocl.colostate.edu.