<p>Yes to experience with Boston rentals. D is a first year doctoral student, living in Boston/Brighton this year and moving closer to school in Sept. having already procured an apartment. If you read the rental listings on Craigs List…you will seem many/most apartments available in close proximity to colleges are being advertised now for Sept. 1 move in dates.</p>
<p>The four resident rule is being enforced, especially in neighborhoods with high resident complaints: particulary BU/BC/NU areas. This has resulted in some students being displaced mid-year, if the landlord or they are in violation of this law. Most leases specify the number of tenants and forbid sub-letting in any form. Most main entrance keys are now not-to-be-duplicated, making it difficult/inconvenient for students to ‘add’ room-mates not legally listed on the lease. </p>
<p>Other things to expect in the Boston market:
-Most land-lords list their apartments with rental agents. Most agents work on commission.
-Many apartments are being advertised now for Sept. 1, under the circumstances that Marite describes.
-Most will expect a deposit (usually equivalent to one month rent) to hold- at the time you verbally agree to an apartment. The lease will be signed within a few days of the verbal agreement.
-Many will expect an additional 3 months rent at the time of the lease signing, which in the end will add up to: first month rent, last month rent, security deposit and rental agent fee. (Agents fees vary from none -unusual- to 1/2 to full month rent.). Some landlords (not all) will allow payment of last month rent/security deposit over a period of time, especially if you are renting early (Jan. or Feb.) for Sept. 1 occupancy. This is significant up-front money that needs to be paid well in advance of occupancy.
-Many landlords will require parental ‘co-signers’ for students without adequate income.
-Some agents will attempt to show ‘model’ apartments. Insist on seeing the actual apartment you will be renting, to avoid surprises in Sept. ‘Model’ or ‘representative’ pictures are also widely used in ads on Craigs list. Be careful.</p>
<p>-Also be aware that some apartments are advertised as ‘splits’. This means that the living room area is counted as an additional bedroom. Thus an agent would advertise a true 1 bedroom apartment as a 2 bedroom (calling it a 1 bedroom split). This is legal given that a 1 bedroom apt. would have an occupancy permit for 2 people anyway. Split surprises can be avoided by firmly telling all showing agents, not to show splits if you do not wish to rent one.</p>
<p>-Garden level apt. usually translates into a basement apartment.</p>
<p>-Nice apartments do rent quickly.</p>
<p>-Agents will tell you (free) street parking is available. This is only partly true. It is available with a resident permit. In order to obtain a resident permit, your car must be registered to you at the address where you are living, thus requiring paying Boston insurance rates and Boston excise tax. Having a resident sticker still does not guarantee parking since more permits are issued than there are spaces available. Visitor spaces are few to non-existent, making having guests with cars a problem (this includes parents who drive in for visits!). Boston does not issue visitor placards/permits.</p>
<p>Sept. 1 moving in Boston (apts. and dorms) is crowded and can be frustrating. If you need to rent moving vans/trucks reserve early.</p>
<p>All this said, most landlords are decent and make good faith efforts to provide nice rental apartments and Boston City Hall Housing office is aware of and is effective in dealing with less than stellar landlords and their units.</p>
<p>A first off-campus apartment is very exciting and can and should be a great experience for students.</p>