 |
xx |
Rental Procedures
- Apartment managers usually require current evidence of income three times the price of the rent to qualify applicants. Have
an extra copy of the financial guarantee (bank or sponsorship statement
or your assistantship offer) used to obtain your visa as evidence of
your ability to afford a year's rent. (Your visa authorization document,
I-20 or IAP-66, is not a financial guarantee. You do not have to show
your immigration documents to your landlord for any reason.
- As a guideline to
your rental price range, calculate between one third and one fourth
of the maintenance allowance required by the International Office for
your first year.
- Spend time finding
(an) apartment mate(s) to help you share the cost of an apartment.
- Consult the
academic department you will be entering, the international student
organizations representing your region of the world, and rental
advertisements posted in the International Office and elsewhere
on campus and in the Austin-American Statesman.
- Compare smoking
habits, study habits, dietary customs, etc. with the strangers with
whom you propose living.
- Discuss and
agree to arrangements for handling bills, ordering telephone service,
maintaining the apartment, entertaining guests, buying groceries,
cooking, watching TV, and listening to the radio.
- Look for an apartment
that suits your budget and your needs
- Ask many questions
(such as those recommended in the next section)
- Read the contract
carefully
- Check that
the number of apartment mates with whom you plan to live is within
the legal occupancy limit for the apartment. (All apartments have
a legal occupancy limit.)
- Make an application
for the apartment of your choice. Apply for only one apartment. Ask
if your application involves an application fee.
- Is your application
binding? This means that you are making a commitment to sign a lease
if your application is approved.
- You will be
asked for a financial guarantee to prove that you can pay for the
rent. Use the financial information from your personal, family,
or sponsor's support statement or your assistantship offer.
- When your application
is approved you will be asked to pay a security deposit and the first
month's rental fee.
- The security
deposit will be held by the landlord during your rental of the apartment.
When you terminate your lease, the landlord must send you an itemized
bill for any unpaid charges due on the apartment and the remainder
of your security deposit.
- Your careful
maintenance of the apartment and your timely payment of rent protect
your chances of a refund from your security deposit.
- Sign the lease contract
with all your apartment mates.
- Inspect the apartment
and make a damage checklist within the first few days in the apartment.
- Detail any damage
and/or lack of cleanliness in the apartment.
- Photographs
of the apartment are a reasonable addition.
- Deliver the
damage check list, dated and signed by everyone living in the apartment,
to the landlord or apartment manager as soon as possible to provide
evidence of the condition in which you receive the apartment and
for which your security deposit should not be charged when you terminate
your lease.
- Apply for electric
and telephone service.
- Give your new address
to the University Registrar's Office, to assure that you will receive
official University mailings.
- Ask the landlord
or apartment manager to help you with any appliances unfamiliar to you.
- Request maintenance
and repairs in writing to your landlord or apartment manager. Keep a
copy of your requests.
- Pay your rent before
the late penalty period each month. (Payment by registered mail, return
receipt requested provides evidence of your timely payment.)
- Renew or terminate
your lease in writing before the renewal/termination date.
|
