Before You Start Looking...
Be sure that you can afford an apartment or flat and still have enough money for necessities such as food and clothing. As a student, you might find that the MSOE Residence Halls fit your budget, time management and lifestyle better. Once you are sure you are ready to look at apartments, keep in mind these tips...
Remember To...
- Ask your references if you can use them for a referral (and that they should expect a call) before you go apartment hunting.
- Go prepared with a list of references (to include telephone numbers), your banking information, checkbook and enough money in your checking account to pay for the security deposit and first months rent right away.
- Always look at an apartment before you commit to renting it. Use the checklist to evaluate if the apartment is right for you.
- Ask questions. When looking at the apartment, remember, "There is no such thing as a 'bad question'." College students are supposed to ask questions.
Sample Questions...
- Who is responsible for cutting the grass and snow shoveling?
- Who should I tell about maintenance concerns?
- Have there ever been any pest problems? If there is one who would I contact?
- Who would I make my rent check out to and where should I send it?
Things to Know and Consider...
- In Milwaukee, no more than three unrelated people are allowed to occupy one dwelling unit, regardless of the number of bedrooms, unless the landlord has a "Rooming House License." Violation of this, or any law, can result in being evicted.
- If you think you might be louder than an average tenant, ask about the amount of noise you can make. In Milwaukee, after two noise violation tickets, your landlord receives one also.
- Milwaukee ordinances prohibit the sale of alcohol or cups at parties. Fines for an illegal tavern start at $332. Serving underage drinkers can lead to stiff penalties. Remember, when you break the law, you may be breaking your lease.
- Co-signing parents and friends may also be held responsible for violations. Law violations can also create difficulties in signing future leases.
Resources for Finding an Apartment
We recommend walking the neighborhood and looking for the “FOR RENT” signs, as many nearby properties want to rent to MSOE students and do not advertise in guides or newspapers.
ApartmentList.com
Offer the world's first apartment-matching search engine. Each city on the website is broken down into neighborhoods, highlighting pricing, noise level, nearby attractions, restaurants, shopping, etc. The neighborhood apartment hunting "robot" can customize a list of apartments for you by using the questions in the top right corner of the website.
ApartmentsOnTheWeb
The simple way to find an apartment for rent in Milwaukee. ApartmentsOnTheWeb takes the hassle out of finding that right Milwaukee apartment to live in. You get complete descriptions of each apartment in Milwaukee, including photos of the building and interiors.
Craigslist
Check out the various listings on Craigslist.
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel On-Line Rental Guide
An on-line search guide also tied in with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel newspaper's classifieds section.
MyApartmentMap.com
MyApartmentMap plots available housing on an interactive map, so that students can easily find housing near their desired location and also show nearby grocery stores, laundry mats, and other amenities. They update the search results daily to remove old listings and add new listings to ensure our searches are reliable.
MyCheapApartments.com
MyCheapApartments compare a comprehensive selection of cheap apartment listings from leading providers like Rent, ForRent, Apartment Guide, Move, RentWiki, Apartment Finder, Apartment Search & Rent Bits.
MyNewPlace Apartment Search
MyNewPlace has millions of apartments for rent and offers $100 cash back after you’ve signed your lease.
Rentbits
Search many rental websites all at once - Rentbits has thousands of available houses and apartments for rent in the Milwaukee area.
RENTCafe Apartment Search
RENTCafe has complete details for Milwaukee apartments, including high quality photos, floor plans, and community amenities. Search listings for free, no login needed; simply search, compare and find your next apartment
For Rent Magazine (Milwaukee)
This is a Milwaukee-based renting magazine that can be picked up at most food stores in the area. The online listing of apartments and flats for rent is a national Web site, so be sure to limit your search to the local area you are considering.
Start Renting Magazine (Milwaukee)
This magazine can also be found for free in newspaper boxes and stores around the city. The on-line guide is specific to certain cities, so be sure to select the Milwaukee, Wisconsin version.
StudentRent.com
Offering free housing search and very affordable listing rates.
Informational Resources
Apartment Worksheet
Download Apartment Worksheet
"Apartment Life: A Student's Guide" Brochure
From the City of Milwaukee, this guide gives you tips on apartment living. It is available at City Hall or the MSOE Student Life Office.
[City of Milwaukee Brochure # DNS-100 v1.6 8/30/00 tnw]
Yahoo Real Estate - Renting
http://realestate.yahoo.com/re/renting/an_introduction/
Online advice and information about renting and things you should consider and prepare for before you get a new place.
FindLaw's Landlord-Tenant Resource
http://realestate.findlaw.com/tenant/
This online site is an excellent resource regarding tenant rights and responsibilities. Check out their FAQ lists (Frequently Asked Questions) on topics ranging from Security Deposits to Tenant Privacy Rights to advice on how to deal with roommates practically and legally. The site also points you to other resources such as books one might read to get more information.
Landlord-Tenant Law: An Overview
http://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/index.php/Landlord-tenant
This online resource helps explain the rights that landlords and tenants have. It's a bit heavy on the legal side, but is a good jumping off point to other resources through their list of links.