Off-Campus Housing

Off-Campus Leasing Companies

Looking for a roommate?

Graduate Student Roommate Finder is used to support graduate students in finding a roommate to live with off-campus. It is the responsibility of the students to reach out to those they may be interested in living with to initiate conversations. 

Doing Your Own Search

Below are some websites that can help you in your own off-campus housing search.

• Apartments.com
• Apartment Guide
• Apartment List

Before Starting Your Search

Where Should I Live?
Do you need to be near campus? Do you have transportation? What is your budget? Are you looking to have a roommate?

Subletting
If you cannot fulfill the commitment of a 12-month lease, ask if subletting is allowed and if there are associated additional fees.

Co-Signer
Depending on your personal finances, you may need a co-signer; discuss with your parents/guardians sooner than later.

Roommate Conflicts
Roommate conflicts in off-campus housing must be handled on your own. Make sure you are comfortable with the person you decide to live with and are having good conversations about living together before committing to live together.

Financial Aid
Students should speak with their financial aid counselor to discuss the impact that living off-campus will have to their scholarships and aid.

Shop Around
Don’t feel pressured to take the first thing you see.

Thinking About a Roommate?

Age
Are you looking for roommates who are the same age as you?

Number
How many people do you want to share your home with? How many people can you comfortably live with?

Lifestyle
What are your study habits? What is your attitude toward guests, parties, etc? Will conflicts occur with your roommate because of different personal schedules, diets, pets, smoking or parties?

Rent
What are you willing to pay as your share of rent? How are you willing to divide the rent (evenly, or depending on room size and sharing)?

Length of Time
How long are you planning to live in this home?

Responsibility
Are you willing to put your name on utility bills, lease and security deposit? Are you willing to have your roommate(s)’ name on those same bills?

Chores
Will there be designated chores and responsibilities? How much do you care about cleanliness and maintenance?

Sharing
Would you rather buy food and supplies separately or together? What is your policy on sharing possessions such as computers, TVs and speakers? What are you willing to contribute to the space?

Pets
Would you like to have a pet? Would you share responsibility of the pet?

Parking
Do you need parking? How much would you pay?

Privacy
How will you determine boundaries with your roommates, your space and your time?

Roommate Relationships
Do you want your roommate(s) to be a part of your social life?

Questions for Potential Roommate(s)

Security
Do you lock your doors while you’re home? Do you make sure you lock the door when you leave? What would you do if you had not heard from your roommate in 48 hours?

Cleanliness
How often do you expect your roommate to clean? How important is a clean home to you? What are you willing to clean? Can personal property be left in the common spaces?

Sharing
Are you okay with your roommate using your belongings?

Living
What type of relationship are you looking to have with your roommate? A friend or someone to share finances with? What are expectations around noise and visitors? Are you a morning person or a night person? How do you like to study? Where do you normally study?

Lifestyle
What are your feelings on smoking? Noise? Parties? Are there any outlooks that you have that are really important to you?

Other Questions to Consider

When do I start my apartment search?
As early as possible. Starting early will give you a sense of what is available and time to search for roommates.

What should I look for in the apartment before renting?

• Appliances. Are they working? What do they run on, gas or electric? Turn on the lights; do the switches work?
• Heating and Cooling. Do you have your own controls, or does the landlord control the temperature?
• Plumbing. What is the pressure in the pipes like? Are you noticing watermarks? Turn on faucets and flush toilets.
• Safety. Are there smoke detectors and sprinklers? What kind of locks are there on the doors and windows? Are the outside area and hallways well-lit?
• Other. Are there any furnishings that come with the apartment? What type of leases are available? What is the average cost of utilities? What amenities are on the property? How much parking is available if any?

What questions should I ask when meeting with a landlord?

• Will you take a check from all tenants or just one from the group?
• How much is the security deposit? Are utilities included in the rent?
• Is there reserved parking? What is the monthly charge?
• If the last month of the lease is not a full month, will it be pro-rated?
• Are there laundry facilities on site? Are machines coin-operated or on an electronic-payment system?
• Is there a maintenance person on call 24/7? What is the emergency number?
• Who is responsible for outdoor maintenance, snow removal and cutting grass?
• Can tenants sublet? If so, is there a fee associated with subletting?
• Can utilities be shut off over the summer if the unit is not occupied?

When should I sign my lease?
Ask the landlord or leasing office. Some landlords require a signature 60 days prior to move-in. 

Avoiding Fraud

Students should exercise caution when renting a space. Here are some tips to protect yourself during the apartment search and the rental period.

1. Never pay or be paid with cash. A safer alternative is to use a regular or cashiers check, as these methods can be tracked.
2. Always have a written lease. Even if your lease is month-to-month your should secure terms of the lease in writing and make sure that you have a copy signed by you and your landlord.
3. Do not rent or make payment without seeing the space. This helps allow you to know the condition of the space when leasing.
4. Meet your landlord in person. This will allow for you to get to know who you would be dealing with when renting.
5. Make sure your written lease has the address of the property owner or agent. You want to make sure that the address is not going to a P.O. Box or U.P.S. box.
6. Be aware of people who are pressuring you to rent, and do not care about your personal information.
7. The best way to secure a lease is through a licensed real estate agent. They will be able to bring you to credible rentals, and if there is a scam you can hold the agent responsible
8. Avoid subleasing.

Utility, Communications Resources

Rights and Responsibilities

• Tenant rights and responsibilities
• Landlord rights and responsibilities
• Other information

Roommate Information

• If you are looking to live with someone else off-campus, but do not have anyone in mind, complete a roommate form by clicking on the link below that applies to you.
• Please note that this system does not match you. You will need to go to the section below, to look at other profiles. You use your Merrimack College email address when submitting this form. Any profiles that are not listed with a Merrimack college email address will be deleted.
• If you are an international student that cannot access your Merrimack College email address, please reach out to [email protected] for help. 
• Incoming students will receive an enrollment package 3-5 days after they have deposited with this information.
• Do not communicate with anyone unless contact is initiated through their Merrimack College email address.
• It is important that you communicate fully with your potential roommate to ensure that you will be a good fit for one another.
• Graduate Student Roommate Finder

Once you have completed your own form, and are ready to see who has also completed one, please email Ian Mulhern at [email protected]. Let him know that you would like to see the other requests from students who have completed an off-campus roommate form.