Living Off Campus

Things to Consider Before Living Off-Campus

Deciding to live off-campus and sign a lease is a big commitment, one that affects more than just where you sleep, but your entire college experience. The considerations below are based on real issues students have brought to our office after the fact.

Hidden Costs
Budgeting for off-campus living involves more than rent. Often-overlooked expenses include:

• Housemates who don't pay rent or contribute to shared bills, or who move out mid-lease, leaving you responsible for their share
• Finding a replacement roommate — possibly a stranger
• Lease-breaking costs (owing rent through lease-end, or a flat fee to be released)
• Utility setup deposits and monthly costs (electric, gas, water, sewer, trash, internet, cable) — which fluctuate seasonally
• Deposit return disputes
• Furniture, appliances, cookware, and cleaning supplies (and disposing of them each move-out)

The Unexpected

• Unresponsive landlords
• Unsafe neighborhoods
• Having to show the house if it goes up for sale, or move if it's sold or foreclosed on
• Eviction due to one housemate breaking the lease
• Moving mid-semester, including during midterms or finals
• Liability for housemates' or guests' behavior and damage
• Substandard heating, electrical, or general housing conditions
• Less time to sleep and study due to commuting and household responsibilities
• Feeling isolated from campus life and activities

Roommate Disputes

• Roommates who won't change problematic behavior or move out
• Roommates whose partners or friends essentially live there without contributing
• Uneven division of chores and responsibilities
• Disagreements over heating costs, leaving the house cold in winter

The Time Commitment
Off-campus living also requires time you may not have budgeted for:

• Commuting to class, the library, or recreational facilities — including parking in winter
• Grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning up
• Cleaning shared spaces beyond your own room
• Yard work
• Household meetings, bill payments, and coordinating with landlords or repairpersons
• Finding a quiet place to study

Before deciding, it's worth exploring your on-campus housing options too. Visit the Office of Residence Life, call (610) 660-1060, or email ResLife@sju.edu.

Visit Off-Campus Housing Portal 

Looking for Off-Campus Housing?

• Students: Sign in to the portal to search local listings, contact property managers, locate potential roommates*, post sub-lets and find resources for off-campus living. We built this site with you in mind.
• Faculty & Staff: The housing search feature is open to anyone in the SJU community. Just sign up with your SJU e-mail address and start searching for a living arrangement that is right for you.

Looking to List Your Property?

• Property Managers: Find a convenient and flexible way to market your properties to the growing SJU community. Use photos, amenities and detailed descriptions to set yourself apart from the competition.**
• Local Landlords: Find an affordable way to market your individual properties to a large audience of high-quality tenants.**

*The roommate search feature is accessible by SJU students only.

**This site is the only official way the market your listings through the University Housing Office. We do not accept paper fliers, brochures or any other print materials.

Check out these informational videos to aid you in your search:

• Introduction & Resource Overview
• How to Prepare for Your Search
• Campus Housing Types
• Compare Costs
• Additional Resources

NOTE: Leases signed between a community member and a property manager/landlord are between those parties; Saint Joseph's University is not involved beyond providing the search tool above and the resources found within this website.

GENERAL EXPECTATIONS

Students are expected to be good neighbors. Students are responsible for upholding all federal, state, and city laws and ordinances, especially those relating to trash, noise, traffic, parking, zoning, and the consumption of alcohol. Any alleged violations may result in action from the University.

GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS

Do you know the names of your neighbors? Knowing your neighbors can help if there is ever a concern at your house. Neighbors keep an eye out for each other and have called SJU in the past to report suspicious activity at student houses when nobody was home. Introduce yourself. It will go a long way!

KNOW YOUR TRASH & RECYCLING SCHEDULE

Remember to take care of your trash. You should NOT leave trash in your yard or on the driveways/sidewalks adjacent to your house. Trash left inappropriately on your property or outside of designated collection times will result in neighbor complaints and follow-up by the University. Please consider the impact that such complaints can have on the community, as well as the resources needed to respond. Trash can significantly impact the quality of life, and attract animals. Do your part by keeping your neighborhood clean and safe.

PARK LEGALLY & IN DESIGNATED AREAS

This includes not parking in someone’s spot or blocking their driveway.

KEEP THE NOISE DOWN & BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR GUESTS

Some students view their houses as temporary when most families have made a long-term commitment to living in the community. Remember to keep the noise level down, especially when people are outside. If you can hear your music from outside, it is too loud. Tell your friends not to walk on other people’s property coming to and from your house.

FOLLOW THE LAW

Remember, consumption of alcohol by anyone under 21 is against the law and the University’s Community Standards. Similarly, furnishing or allowing minors to consume alcohol at your house (BYOB) can result in police citations, arrests, and sanctions from the University (including fines).

BE A HAWK & LIVE THE VALUES!

Finally, represent Saint Joseph’s University by acting responsibly, respectfully, and like a Hawk at all times. Help when possible, be an active bystander, and contribute positively to your neighborhood.

TOP TEN TIPS ON BEING A GOOD NEIGHBOR:

1. Introduce yourself to your neighbor.
2. Do not put indoor furniture or appliances on your porch.
3. Do not block driveways and follow all parking and traffic rules.
4. Keep noise to a minimum, especially at night.
5. Do not use profanity.
6. Don’t leave empty trash cans on the sidewalk.
7. Do not put your trash on the curb for pick up before dusk, the prior day.
8. If you have elderly neighbors, offer to shovel snow or rake leaves.
9. If you have pets, clean up any animal waste promptly.
10. If you have guests, ensure they follow all these guidelines as well.
11. Most of all, show respect to your neighbors at all times. You are a HAWK!

If you live close by, your commute likely entails walking to campus. But if you live in Manayunk or further away from campus, you may want to consider purchasing a parking permit or taking public transportation.

Parking on Campus

If you drive to campus, you will need a parking permit to park in any campus lot. Parking permits can be purchased from the Public Safety Customer Service Center in Campion 229. All off-campus students should read, understand and abide by all parking policies and regulations.

For more information on parking, visit the Office of Public Safety and Security.

Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)

SEPTA is a regional public transportation authority that operates various forms of public transit – bus, subway, elevated rail, regional rail, light rail, and electric trolley bus – in and around Philadelphia. SEPTA serves Philadelphia, Delaware County, Montgomery County, Bucks County, and Chester County. SEPTA also serves New Castle County in Delaware, and Mercer County in New Jersey.

You can use the SEPTA Trip Planner on their website to find the easiest way to get between home and campus and check out TrainView to see if your train is on time.