Housing
On-Campus Housing: Weaver International House top>>
The International Center and the UF Division of Housing are pleased to offer exchange students and American students the opportunity to live together in this on-campus housing residence. For more information and the form to apply for a space in Weaver Hall, please click here
Off-Campus Housing Options top>>
Exchange students not applying for the Weaver International House are responsible for securing their own housing arrangements. Lots of helpful information is online at www.dso.ufl.edu/offcampus. The site includes a search engine to locate off-campus accommodation. Although there are many apartments and housing options in Gainesville, those closest to campus are in high demand. The majority of apartments in Gainesville require a 12-month “lease” (a legal rental contract). If you sign a lease for longer than your planned stay, you will be legally bound to the rental agreement. Several apartments do offer semester leases. Most apartments are unfurnished and some may charge an extra monthly rate for furnishings.
To find a place with the least amount of frustration, research the housing options on the internet as soon as possible. Many of the larger apartment complexes have web sites and can be contacted by email. Don’t panic! If you do your research before you arrive, you will be able to find a suitable place to live. The housing search resources below will help you with your search. Be sure to find the location of the place you are thinking about renting on a city map of Gainesville to see how far away it is from campus, from shopping, etc. You should also check the how close the accommodation is to bus routes, and how often those buses run.
Housing Search Resources top>>
Gainesville Apartment Guide Online: www.gainesville-rent.com
This website is an excellent resource for finding an apartment and seeing its location on a map of Gainesville, finding a roommate, and learning general information about moving into your apartment. The website also has an extensive list of apartments for “sublease”, which is an arrangement to rent from the person who signed the apartment’s original lease.
College Rentals Website: www.collegerentals.com
This website provides a lot of information about the larger apartment complexes in Gainesville. You can see pictures and floor plans of the apartments.
Apartment Hunters: www.apartmenthunters.com
This is a free apartment finding service. Apartment Hunters can help you to narrow your search for an apartment. You can contact an Apartment Hunters representative before you arrive. Be sure to mention that you are a UF exchange student.
Classified ads:
The student newspaper, The Alligator, has an online version of their printed
classified advertisements located at
www.alligator.org. The Gainesville
newspaper, the Gainesville Sun, also has online classified ads at
www.gainesville.com.
Classified ads use abbreviations to describe the apartment’s features.
- A/C=air conditioning
- BR=bedroom
- DW=dishwasher
- furn=furnished
- sec sys=security system
- unfurn=unfurnished
- W/D= washing machine and dryer
Types of Housing top>>
Efficiency Apartments: Also called studio apartments, efficiencies are usually one large room that includes a kitchen area and bathroom. They are generally designed for one person. The occupant is expected to pay for utilities, unless specified in the lease. Efficiency apartments are sometimes found in houses.
Apartments: Gainesville has hundreds of apartment complexes. Apartments consist of a living room, kitchen, one or more bedrooms and one or more bathrooms. They are larger than efficiencies. The occupant pays all utilities, unless otherwise specified.
Rooms: A room may be located in a private home, apartment, or rooming house. Some rooms may be suites in an apartment where the student lives in one room and shares a bathroom, kitchen, and living room with other occupants.
Houses: Some students choose to live together in a house. A majority of houses will be unfurnished. The landlord is responsible for making repairs and caring for the yard, unless stated otherwise in the lease.
What to Keep in Mind When Looking for Accommodations top>>
- You are not obligated to rent an apartment if you look at it.
- Get everything in writing before you sign the lease.
Signing a lease: A lease is a written agreement between a tenant and landlord that describes the responsibilities of each party. This is a binding legal document that commits the tenant to a specific period of residency in the unit. Most landlords in Gainesville want the tenant to sign a one-year lease. This presents a problem if the student leaves for the summer, because he/she must find someone to assume responsibility for the lease.
If you know that you will not be in Gainesville for the entire year, it is not advisable to sign a one-year lease. Shorter, semester leases are available, or you can sublease from someone who has a present lease.
- Read the lease carefully before you sign.
- Keep a copy of the lease and any other documents about your apartment.
Security Deposits and First and Last Month's Rent top>>
A landlord will usually ask you for money before you move into an apartment. This may be in the form of a security deposit and first and last month's rent which can amount to more than $1,000.
A “security deposit” is an amount of money that is supposed to guarantee that the tenant will care for the dwelling. If the tenant does not care of the property or clean it before leaving, the landlord has a legal right to keep the security deposit. Otherwise, the landlord must return the security deposit within a month after the tenant leaves. Make sure the agreement about the security deposit in writing is included in the lease. You should also complete a “move-in checklist” and give this to your landlord. On this list, you should indicate any existing damages to the apartment in full detail.
Landlords will often ask for the sum of the first and last months’ rent before the tenant moves into the apartment. This is to protect the landlord in case the tenant leaves early without paying the rent for the agreed upon lease term. Each landlord has particular requirements for deposits.
Student Legal Services top>>
The University of Florida offers a free legal advice service and confidential
counseling. They can provide you with information if you have Landlord/Tenant
issues such as repairs, security deposits, eviction, and termination of leases.