The BYU Off-Campus Housing Office hosted a workshop titled "Housing 101: What to Look for in a Rental" in the Jesse Knight Building on Feb. 6.
This workshop was part of an ongoing series run by the office, which aims to provide students with the knowledge and resources needed to make informed housing decisions.
Maegan Daley, an Off-Campus Housing official, led the workshop and covered a wide range of topics including the difference between contracted and non-contracted housing, where to find apartments for rent, budgeting for rent and utilities, lease agreements and important safety considerations.
Daley discussed the importance of carefully evaluating rental options.
“Pictures can be deceiving,” she said. “So a lot of times we suggest maybe going to the facility, checking it out and talking with the landlord or the manager on site.”
The workshop also touched on the financial aspects of renting, including hidden fees and utility costs. Daley advised students to carefully review lease agreements and ask questions about additional expenses, such as parking, internet and utilities.
"We're here to help them look for off-campus housing," Francesca Matern, another Off-Campus Housing official, said. "That's what we're trying to help with — we want to give them the skills for that."
For freshman Ben Whitfield, attending the workshop for the first time proved to be a valuable experience.
“I had some access to information already, but having just seen it more and hearing somebody talk about it made me feel a lot better about the whole situation,” Whitfield said.
One of the most useful resources for Whitfield was the visual breakdown of housing options.
“I really liked the giant chart that they had saying all the details about the housing,” he said. “Just having that listed out ... is a very beneficial tool for everyone.”
The Off-Campus Housing Office plans to continue hosting workshops throughout the semester. Upcoming sessions will cover tenant rights and responsibilities, lease agreements and the Fair Housing Act.
“Your feedback is very valuable to our office,” Daley said. She wants to use the feedback their office receives to create future workshops that will be most helpful to students.
As BYU students continue to navigate the complexities of housing, the Off-Campus Housing Office hopes these workshops will serve as a tool to help them make confident and informed decisions.
“We hope to keep doing this every semester,” Matern said.
For more information on off-campus housing, students can visit och.byu.edu or stop by the Off-Campus Housing Office for assistance.
Those interested can click here to see dates for upcoming Housing 101 workshops.