You may be asked to fill out an application and pay a fee. The landlord may also check your credit report. Some campus area landlords require a student under the age of 23 to have a co-signor (typically a parent or guardian). Once your application has been approved, you will then be asked to sign a lease. Make sure to read the lease thoroughly before signing. REMEMBER: Leases are negotiable documents, as long as you and the landlord agree to the terms and both sign off on the lease. After signing the lease, your co-signor may also be asked to sign the lease (basically this is assurance to the landlord that if the student tenants are not able to pay the rent, that they as a co-signor will be held responsible for covering the costs). Once all documents have been signed, make sure to keep a copy of EVERYTHING! Typically, after signing the lease, the landlord will ask that you pay a security deposit. The security deposit is refundable, as long as the property is returned in the same condition as it was received. Some landlords may ask for, not only the security deposit, but also the first month's rent up front.

See Leasing Information for more on Security Deposits.