A monthly email message from Rutgers Off-Campus Housing Service. To sign up for the email list, email us.

2009 Tips:

October 2009

Between paying rent, utility bills, and other expenses, off-campus living can require a lot of budgeting and money management. Follow some of these tips to help you create a budget, stay on track, and maybe even save some money!

CREATING A BUDGET

• Save all your receipts for a month, even ones spent on coffee or other small purchases. This will help you see where you are spending your money.
• Determine what kinds of payments you have to make every month like rent, utility bills, and credit card bills. Use your receipts to see where else you are spending money and determine an amount for entertainment, clothing, food, etc.

If you are spending more than you make, see if you can cut out some areas or follow these tips to save a few dollars.

GROCERY SHOPPING

• Make a grocery list to avoid impulse buying
• Clip coupons or sign up for a store savings card
• Try generic brands and stock up on things while they're on sale
• Look at the store's weekly circular and buy items on sale

SHOPPING AND ENTERTAINMENT

• Look out for student discounts. Student rates are often available at the movies, museums, restaurants, and other stores.
• Don't give in to peer pressure when spending money for entertainment. If you can't afford it, don't be afraid to say no or suggest another activity.
• Look for specials like 2-week free subscriptions/trials. But be careful to read the rules and regulations so you don't get charged with hidden fees later.

CONSERVING WATER AND ENERGY

• Change to CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulbs to conserve energy and money. A CFL bulb uses less energy, lasts longer, and can save you money on your energy bills.
• Don't let the water run while you brush your teeth or wash your face. Only turn it on when you need to rinse.
• Set the washer to cold. Using cold water to launder your clothes takes less energy since the water temperature does not have to be heated.
• Keep your thermostat at a lower temperature and wear warmer clothes or use a blanket in cold weather.

September 2009

September is Campus Fire Safety Month. Do you know how to keep your off-campus residence safe? Check out these tips from campusfiresafety.org

Consider asking your landlord some of the following questions:

• Does my apartment have a working smoke alarm?
• Do you supply a fire escape ladder for upper floor apartments?
• Is the kitchen equipped with a usable fire extinguisher?
• Do you have the furnace inspected every year?
• Does the apartment have a CO detector?

You can also follow some of these tips from Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL). More information about fire safety and a fire safety checklist can be found on our website at http://ruoffcampus.rutgers.edu/info/forms/FireSafety.pdf

• Install UL Listed smoke detectors and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms outside every sleeping area and near fuel-burning appliances.
• Install fresh batteries in your smoke detectors and CO alarms at least once a year.
• Develop and practice a fire escape plan for your housemates. Every roommate should know at least two ways out of each room.
• Test your smoke detectors and CO alarms regularly and clean them as indicated in the use and care booklet. Hardwired units, those permanently wired into your home's electrical system, should be tested monthly. Battery-operated units should be tested weekly.

August 2009

As you prepare to move into your off-campus residence, consider some of the following actions:

• Inspect your new residence (with the landlord present, if possible)
• Use our Rental Inspection Checklist (found in the forms section of our website) as a guide to help you document the condition of your residence
• Ask your landlord to review and sign the inspection form indicating everything is accurately reflected
• Change over any utilities you are responsible for: electric/gas, cable, telephone, water/sewer. Refer to the Utilities section of our website for contact information of local providers. Note that some of these utilities take up to 2 weeks to transfer.

If your landlord is unable to inspect the residence with you, ask a friend to help you take pictures of every room. Be sure to sign and date the pictures. Send the pictures along with a letter explaining the condition of your residence. Be sure to sign and date the letter and send via certified mail.

July 2009

Have you found that perfect place to live but are in need of a roommate? Have no fear, Rutgers Off-Campus Housing Service offers an online search that allows you to search for roommates with similar living habits and interests. Current Rutgers students can post roommate listings free of charge.

After you' ve found your roommate, check our website for helpful tips such as the top 10 ways to be a good roommate, the importance of using a co-tenant agreement and the best ways to resolve co-tenant conflicts.

June 2009

As summer approaches think about ways to save some extra dollars by conserving energy! Check out these tips from Stay Cool, Save Money an initiative of energysavers.gov

• Keep your house warmer than normal when you are away, and lower the thermostat setting to 78° F only when you are at home and need cooling.
• Avoid setting your thermostat at a colder setting than normal when you turn on your air conditioner. It will not cool your home any faster and could result in excessive cooling and unnecessary expense.
• Turn off fans when you leave the room. Remember that fans cool people, not rooms, by creating a wind chill effect.
• If you use air conditioning, a ceiling fan will allow you to raise the thermostat setting about 4° F with no reduction in comfort.
• On hot days, avoid using the oven; cook on the stove, use a microwave oven, or grill outside.
• Install efficient lighting that runs cooler. Only about 10% - 15% of the electricity that incandescent lights consume results in light - the rest is turned into heat.
• Minimize activities that generate a lot of heat, such as running a computer, burning open flames, running a dishwasher, and using hot devices such as curling irons or hair dryers. Even stereos and televisions will add some heat to your home.

For more energy saving tips visit http://www.energysavers.gov/seasonal/

May 2009

Moving out? If you have belongings you no longer want or need, consider trying to recycle or give away those items instead of putting them out with the trash. Finding someone that could use the items you no longer need would save the item from ending up in a landfill and can help keep your city beautiful.

Some towns have guidelines or limitations on proper disposal of large or heavy items. Be sure to check your city's ordinances on garbage removal and take the necessary steps to properly dispose of unwanted items.

In New Brunswick, bulky items that don't fit entirely into a garbage can must be arranged for pickup from the New Brunswick Department of Public Works at 732-745-5104. There are also limitations on the number of trash cans that can be placed on the curb and violators can face fines or court appearances. For more information about moving out in New Brunswick, check the Project Move Out website.

April 2009

Have you found an off-campus residence and want to sign a lease? Before you do, consider some of the following information.

Leases are the rules by which landlords and tenants agree to live. Once signed, a lease governs what landlords and tenants can and cannot do. Before signing a lease you should check the condition of the apartment and inspect the property with the landlord.

Inspecting the residence may prevent future disputes regarding housing conditions. If the landlord cannot inspect the unit with you, bring along a friend as a witness and take pictures.

The Rutgers Off-Campus Housing Service website has a sample Rental Inspection Checklist which you can refer to when inspecting the residence you plan to move into.

To learn more about leases, rental inspections, and off-campus living, visit the off-campus housing website at ruoffcampus.rutgers.edu.

February 2009

Looking for a new place to live? Rutgers Off-Campus Housing Service's website offers an extensive listing of housing and roommate options in New Brunswick and surrounding areas, which enables students and residents to find affordable places to live. In addition the website has information to guide you through the search for off-campus housing and things to consider before signing a lease. Visit our website ruoffcampus.rutgers.edu for more details.

January 2009

Winter is here and repairs may be in order. If you're a tenant, getting your landlord to fix a problem is simple --- put it in writing and send the letter to your landlord. Include in the letter your name and address, what the problem is, when the problem was discovered, and the date when you want it fixed. Be sure to keep a copy of the letter for your records. If you're a landlord, contact us or check out our website for helpful solutions to your winter problems.

For more tips about getting repairs made see the Maintenance Requests section of the Off-Campus Guide.

2008 Tips:

November 2008

Get involved!

The Rutgers community is invited to join Rutgers Against Hunger (RAH), a new year-long, university wide initiative to help feed New Jersey's hungry. Rutgers is partnering with community food banks across the state to replenish dwindling food supplies and to also address long-term issues of food security through research, education and outreach.

Make a difference now by donating non-perishable items via RAH receptacles on campus, hosting your own food drive event, or giving your time or money to a local food agency. Visit the RAH website or send an email to rah@rutgers.edu for additional information.

October 2008

With winter months approaching tenants living off-campus should pay close attention to heating. Make sure you close all your windows and doors and turn the heating on when necessary. Turning on the heating will make your utility bill higher, so only turn it on when necessary. Also, remember to turn off all lights, televisions, and laptops when they are not being used. This can conserve energy so your utility bill can be lower than before.

September 2008

Welcome back to another Academic Year! As you prepare for another semester of studying at Rutgers, take a moment to make sure that your living situation is a safe one. This means making sure that you have proper locks on doors and lights for the outside. Make sure that your house or apartment is up to fire code with working smoke detectors and fire extinguishers. For additional resources regarding safety check out the Safety and Security information on our website.

July 2008

Trash can accumulate quickly. During the hot summer months, it is especially useful to know when and how to dispose of trash to avoid unsanitary conditions in and around your living space.

In New Brunswick, trash must be placed curbside after 5:00PM on the evening before your collection day, and will be collected between 6:00AM and 6:00PM. Up to three trash containers will be accepted. Trash placed in plastic disposal bags, not less than 3 millimeters thick and securely tied, will also be accepted. No container may weigh more than 50 lbs. or be larger than 32 gallons. New Brunswick residents must call the New Brunswick Department of Public Works at 732-745-5104 to arrange for the collection of bulk items or additional solid waste material.

Recycling is collected twice per month, or every other trash collection day. To see the schedule for recycling, you can go to Residential Recycling & Trash Collection Information.

If you live outside of New Brunswick, please check with your municipality for appropriate waste collection dates and regulations. Remember that trash and recycling will not be collected on holidays, so be sure to plan ahead.

June 2008

As you move-in out or of a new place, be mindful about your security deposits. Here's a little Q&A session that may enlighten you about the in's and out's of security deposits.

What is a security deposit?
A security deposit is money submitted by a tenant to his/her landlord(s) as secure performance of a rental agreement and compensation for possible losses and damages associated with the residence.

Where does my security deposit go after my landlord receives it?
A landlord will place the security deposit into a bank account that earns interest. According to the Rent Security Deposit Act (January 1, 2004), a landlord must notify his/her tenant(s) about the associated bank account and how much interest is earned.

When will I get back my security deposit?
Upon termination of the lease or moving out, a tenant should receive full payment of their security deposit along with any earned interest as long as there are no housing damages or pending rental payments. If these conditions are not satisfied, a landlord is entitled to the right of taking out the appropriate amount of money from the security deposit. If the tenant does not receive their security deposit back 30 days following their move-out, he or she can legally take their landlord to a small-claims court for double the amount of the original security deposit.