Ways to Find Housing

1. Walk around. The best way to find housing is to walk around the areas your interested in. Most student housing can be found on the north and west sides of campus. Landlords and housing companies will put out signs on buildings with space to rent. All you have to do is start calling, and keep track of what you find. This sheet should help with that. Keep in mind, though, that in the USC area, it’s a good idea to bring some friends, and to go during the day.
2. Housing4Students.com is a free housing website affiliated with USC. Many landlords list their properties here, so you can narrow your search before checking out the place.
3. Craig’s List is another excellent way to find housing. If you’re not familiar with it, Craig’s List is an online marketplace where locals can list various items for sale. This site is also an excellent way to find furniture for your new place. Please remember to exercise reasonable caution when meeting anyone from the site to make a purchase.
4. Downtownla.com - If you’re interested in living downtown, this is the best resource I know of. You can take a virtual housing tour, or sign up for one of their free Saturday housing bus tours, which will take you around the area and inside a wide variety of available units.

Helpful Chart to Take on Your Housing Search

I developed this chart during my own housing search, and have since added to it as I gained more experience. Feel free to save it, and print one out for every place you visit. It's a great tool to make sure you don't forget anything, and to keep track of which units have what.

Tips When Moving Out of USC Housing

If you’re moving out of University Housing, here are a couple tips:

1. Start packing as soon as classes end.
2. If you’re having trouble getting everything done, you may be able to stay an extra day for a fee (usually $50), especially if you have a final on the last day. Talk to your Customer Service Center as soon as you decide to stay so you can apply.
3. Dorm2Dorm is an excellent resource for last-minute packing and storage. They were a lifesaver when I was moving out of my USC apartment Sophomore year. Just watch where they stick the labels on your furniture. I still have bits of label sticker on the arm of my desk chair.

How to Begin Your Housing Search

The first stage in the process is to think about roommates. Do you need/want a roommate, and if so who do you want to live with? Get in touch with possible candidates as soon as possible. It's important to start talking about your housing priorities early on with your potential housemates. They may have some of their own thoughts on where they want to live, which may be different than yours. Be sure to communicate about what your priorities, but be flexible, too. In my experience, having a good roommate is far more important to your quality of life than having the “perfect place”.

Next, start thinking about what you're looking for. Some questions to ask yourself before you begin:

• How close do you want to be to campus? Do you have to be within walking distance, biking distance, or are you willing to commute?
  
• Do you want your own room?
  
• Do you want to have pets? Do you want to live in a place where pets are allowed, or will dogs, cats, birds, and all the requisite sights, sounds and smells bother you?
  
• What is your price range? Keep in mind that rent does not always include utilities such as water, power, gas, etc.
  
• Do you need parking?
  
• How about Air Conditioning and other amenities?
  
• What other issues are important to you? What will make or break a housing deal?

Starting Your Housing Search

Back in Sophomore year, when I was looking at apartments, I came across a great looking place online. It was renting for $600 a month, all utilities and parking included, pets OK, and not too far from campus. It seemed too good to be true. I checked it out, and was pleased to see it was spacious, comfortable, and nice to look at. As the landlord and I walked outside again, I noticed a large, empty lot next door, which appeared to be a construction site. One of the workers was walking past, so I asked him what they were building. “Oh,” he said, “that’s not a construction site. That’s an oil field. We’re on a break now, but just wait until Fall. It’s a sight to see. We start drilling at 7 AM and don’t stop until 9 at night.” Funny how the website never mentioned that...

Which brings me to my NUMBER ONE rule when finding the right place: NEVER SIGN A LEASE IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE UNIT! I know this can be difficult, and is sometimes even impossible, but the only way to ensure that you get what you’re expecting is to go and see it yourself. Don’t just take a brief look around, either. Even if there are tenants in the unit at the time, don’t let your discomfort make you rush. Remember, we’re talking about your quality of life for at least the next year. This chart will help give you an idea of what questions to ask the leasing agent.

Side Note: While most, if not all, University Housing comes fully furnished, most Non-University housing does not. Be prepared for a shopping trip or two.

Checklist: Questions to Ask and Stuff to Do

1. Walk around the neighborhood - If you haven’t already, walk around the area you’re looking at. Try walking and/or biking to and from campus to get a feel for how long it will take. You can’t really know the neighborhood until you’ve gotten out of the car and taken a good look around.
   
2. How many buildings does the company manage, and how many handymen do they have on their maintenance staff? I found out after the fact that one company I moved in with managed about 25 buildings, with only one full-time maintenance man. Occasionally, they'd hire contractors, but this meant that work orders took a long time to get filled and things got backed up. Also, it’s helpful to meet some of the maintenance staff beforehand, if possible. A big part of the reason I chose that company was that the maintenance man they did have was one of the sweetest, most competent handymen I'd met.
3. What’s Included in the Lease? Utilities? If so, which ones? Trash? Parking, etc. if certain things aren't covered, you will likely wind up paying $50+ per month above and beyond your basic rent.
4. Is there Internet, and if so, what kind? Is each unit hooked up properly, or is one person sharing WiFi with the whole building? Who is the service provider?
5. Do I have to set up the Internet myself? Even if Internet is covered in your rent, you may have to schedule the installation yourself. You definitely want to know this in advance. If you have to schedule installation, you'll need to call the Internet service provider well before you move in, because they can book up months ahead of time. Keep in mind, everyone will be installing Internet during the first few weeks before and after the semester starts.
6. Is there parking, is it gated, and how much does it cost? Also, is it tandem ('cause tandem can be a pain in the tush)? Is the parking lot lit? Make sure you see the parking space, too, and that you'll be able to get your car into it. I've seen many "parking spaces" that were literally impossible to get a car into.
7. Are pets allowed? If you want pets, the reason for this question is obvious. If you don't, however, you need to decide if you're willing to live in an apartment complex that may have barking dogs or meowing cats.
8. Is there a stove? A fridge? A microwave?
9. Is there heating? Heating is required by law, but that doesn't mean it'll be there. And even if it is, it may very well be archaic and bring to mind images of England during the bombings of WWII, which don't instill feelings of comfort and security over fire safety.
10. What about A.C.? Again, see it for yourself. If they say there's A.C., that could mean a lovely, brand-new central air conditioning system that enables you to keep your unit slightly above freezing even during the summer months... or it could (more likely) mean a crappy little window unit in the living room that winds up heating the place, rather than cooling it. Also, be sure to try the A.C., especially in brand-new units. One place I know of recently had central A.C. installed. Unfortunately, the contractors screwed up, and didn't connect the vents to the third floor. So, the bottom two floors were nicely chilled, but the third floor was stifling. Best of all, the contractors refused to fix it, and the landlady was out-of-town, so the tenants couldn't do anything but suffer through the hottest weeks of summer.
11. Is subletting allowed? Not all landlords want subletters. If you want to go home for the summer, or go abroad, it's important to be able to lease your unit (unless you have oodles and oodles of cash, and losing several months worth of rent doesn't matter to you).

Before You Sign the Lease

Do the Proper Recon.

So, you’ve found that special place that makes your heart go pitter-pat. It’s cute, it’s clean, and you want it. But the landlord tells you things are leasing up quickly, and a lot of people are looking at this place. Oh no! Now your heart is racing. What if it fills up? You have to sign the lease today! Right this minute! SLOW DOWN TIGER!

Take a deep breath.

It’s exciting to sign the lease, and Leasing Agents are very good at turning up the heat to close the deal. I should know. The little scene I described above was my own experience when I discovered my first apartment. Just remember, while it’s important to find a place you love, it’s also important to have done the proper research first. Don’t sign right away with the first place you find, even if it seems perfect. Look around a little. Compare units, space, prices. Leasing Agents will always tell you the units are going fast, and it may be true, but this isn’t the kind of thing that should be an impulse buy. You also want to make sure you’ve done a sufficient background check on the company or landlord in order to avoid the bad ones.

The next section will give you some tips on things to watch out for. Once you’ve looked around, asked the questions you need to ask, talked it over with your roommates, and decided you like what you see, THEN it’s time to make a move.

What to Expect

First thing, you will likely be charged a non-refundable Holding Fee. This is usually a couple hundred dollars, and it guarantees that they will not sell your apartment to anyone else. A lot of times, this fee counts toward your deposit. However, if you decide not to take that apartment after all, you cannot get it back.

The landlord may also require that you have a guarantor, someone who agrees to cover your rent if you’re unable to. The landlord will need to run a credit check on either you or your guarantor. An Application Fee usually goes along with that. Most of the time, this fee is under $50 per person.

Last of all comes the deposit, which you usually put down when signing the lease. The deposit will be held until you move out. Once you leave, the landlord will return your deposit minus any damages you cause beyond normal wear and tear. There are several ways for the landlord to determine how much the deposit will be. A couple common ways are to charge the equivalent to either a month-and-a-half’s worth of rent, or first and last month’s (aka 2 months worth) rent. Keep in mind, the deposit does not count toward your rent in any way. It is not a fee or a payment. It is a way for the landlords to protect themselves, so they don't lose money if a renter does excessive damage to a unit.

Side Note: The tenant almost always has a right to the interest on his or her deposit. If you have a right to the interest, it is not legal for the landlord to withhold that from you, even if there is a clause that states so in the lease. To find out whether you qualify for interest, call the LA Department of Housing.

And last, but not least, before you sign the lease...

READ IT!!

In this age of downloads and software license agreements, we get used to skimming contracts and clicking “I Agree”. When I worked at the housing company, I saw many students come through, skim the lease, and sign it, and I’m here to tell you that that is a BAD IDEA. Even if it takes forever, even if the legal jargon makes you go cross-eyed, read the lease!!! And don’t just read it. Make sure you understand it. This is one document you should not, cannot skim. No matter what the landlord tells you, or what verbal agreements you make, the lease is your contract. It defines what happens should the apartment not be ready on time, what late fees there are, what the rules are. You cannot count on the Leasing Agent or anyone else to tell you. You must read it yourself.

Manas - Fine Indian Cuisine

Alright, a brief interlude from all the heavy housing stuff. I want to share a great restaurant with you that's within walking distance of campus. Manas Indian Cuisine is a great little hole-in-the wall place that serves -- you guessed it -- Indian food!

What can I say, it's reasonably priced, some of the best Indian food I've had ever had (just be sure to order mild if you're a pansy American like me), they do deliveries *swoon*, have a lunch buffet Thursday through Sunday, and they have *gasp* a PARKING LOT! *faints with delight* (Hey, hey you out-of-towners, stop mocking me. If you've spent more than five minutes in LA, you'll understand why that's awesome). The waiters are wonderful, too. The hostess, Jaya (I hope I hope I spelled that right), is the sweetest lady, and always bustles around in her traditional Indian outfit making sure you're comfortable.

My one beef with the place is the new TV. In the past, they had one TV on the back wall, which I loved. Normally, I despise TVs in restaurants. I can forgive having a TV in a bar. I get that. But when I'm at a restaurant, I want to be with whoever I'm sharing a meal with. TVs are distracting and frustrating, and make an otherwise pleasant meal into a tiring attempt to multi-task. BUT I LOVE the TV on the back wall of Manas, distracting though it may be, because it continuously plays clips from Bollywood movies *squee!* Talk about ambiance.

Unfortunately, they recently put in this new, giant-ass TV over the front door, so either way you face, you're facing a screen. And this second TV plays regular, boring, American TV shows. Grrrr. It isn't too hard to ignore, but it does detract from the formerly perfect ambiance.

Still, the food is great, the people are great, and I and my friends have been satisfied, repeat customers there for years. So, after you, your family, and your friends have finished a long, hard day of moving, haul your sweaty selves over to Manas for a nice, relaxing meal. I'd especially recommend the Chicken Pakora, and either their Garlic or Cheese Naan (sooo delicious).

Oh, and I suppose after all that hype, you'll probably want to know how to get there...

Location:

Manas Indian Cuisine

2823 South Vermont Ave

Los Angeles, CA, 90007

Phone: (213) 731-4333

Website: manascuisine.com

Some Common Tricks and Ways to Avoid Them

No matter how smart you are, as a student, it’s very easy to get taken advantage of. The following are some common tricks to watch out for. Many of these aren’t legal, but it’s better to avoid them ahead of time than to get into a costly legal battle.

The Tricks

1. A “2 bedroom” unit without a living room. I have seen more than one landlord advertise a unit as a “two bedroom” and charge accordingly, when they have simply labeled the community space as a second bedroom.
2. Verbal promises with no intention of keeping them. When I moved in to one apartment, I was told that microwaves would be installed. Guess what? I lived there two years and never got that microwave. If you’re promised something, get it in writing.
3. Hidden Fees. Leasing agents will not always mention fees you’ll have to pay. For instance, I met two students who were looking to share a one bedroom. The leasing agent told them the rate for the unit was $1100 per month. It wasn’t until they drove 6 hours down from San Francisco the next week to sign the lease that she mentioned there was an additional 10% fee per month for two people to live in one bedroom. Some other common fees to expect are application fees and holding fees, which you can learn more about here.
4. Deceptive Pricing. Make sure you know the full price for the entire unit. Often, property managers will reel you in by posting the price one person will have to pay, assuming they have a certain number of roommates. While this isn’t anything dark or sinister, it can make comparisons more difficult. Be sure, when comparing rental prices, that you’re comparing apples to apples.
5. Bait and Switch. Often, the model apartment you will be shown is not the same as the apartment you are signing for. Even if they tell you it’s exactly the same, don’t take their word. I have seen several instances where people have signed the lease only to discover the apartment was grossly misrepresented.
6. Non-working Internet. Most student housing companies will tell you they have Internet. Don’t take their word. If they say they provide wireless, I’d strongly recommend bringing your laptop and checking it out. I looked at one apartment complex where the property manager claimed to provide Internet, and charged extra for it. When I pressed him further, he admitted that he alone had wireless, and shared with all 50 tenants in the building. A company I actually moved in with also promised Internet, however they didn’t get around to setting it up until about three months after I moved in.
7. Unit Not Ready on Move-In Day. Many companies, depending on the lease, are only required to prorate your rent for any extra days you can’t move in. This means that many companies are willing to gamble and have you sign a lease that starts before they can realistically get the unit ready. If it’s ready in time, then hey, they get more money. If not, they don’t really lose anything (at least as far as they see it). Try to find out how long a time period there is between the end of the last lease and the beginning of yours. Have they given themselves less that 24 hours (no joke, I've seen incidents where the old lease ended on the 31st of July, and the new lease began on the 1st of August), or do they have enough time to fix up the place and get it ready for you to move in by the time your lease starts?
8. Raise Prices After the Fact. Be sure to ask whether or not the price quoted will remain the price of the unit. At least one company that I spoke with on my housing search lured students in with the promise of low rates, with the intention of then raising the prices a few months later once construction was finished on the exterior of the building. Keep in mind that even if they say they won’t raise the price, that doesn’t mean the price won’t go up should you renew your lease the following year. It is common practice to raise prices when a tenant renews, though rent control may limit how much it can be raised, and you can often talk the landlord down.
9. Addendums. Despite a clause in the Lease specifying that it was the complete and total agreement, the company I worked for insisted that all tenants, before they could pick up their keys, would have to sign an addendum with additional clauses, many of which were not legal in and of themselves. If the lease has a clause that says it's the complete agreement, you shouldn’t have to sign any other addendums in order to pick up your keys. However, according to a lawyer I spoke with, if you do sign it willingly (and don’t argue against it so you can claim duress), that addendum will become binding.

How to Avoid Them

1. NEVER SIGN THE LEASE IF YOU HAVEN’T SEEN THE UNIT!!! I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again. Accept no substitutions. See the unit you plan to move into with your own two eyes, and give it a good look-around. They can’t give you something you weren’t expecting if you’ve seen it for yourself.
2. Bring your laptop and try the Internet yourself. This may seem awkward, but a little awkwardness is a small price to pay to avoid potential long-term Internet issues.
3. Get it in Writing, but don’t get your hopes up. If they make you a promise, have them write it down and sign it. If they say you’ll have microwaves, write it down. If they say that they have told you all the fees, then write down the fees they’ve told you and have them sign it.
   
4. Ask yourself: Would I be willing to live here for this price as is, even if nothing else changes? Even if you do get something in writing, don’t get your hopes up. Unless you’re willing to take them to court, there’s a chance that what you see will be what you get.
   
5. Try to Find a Place that’s Under Rent Control. Not only does Rent Control limit how much they can raise your rent, it can also give you other protections. You can call the LA Housing Department for details.
6. Generally, stay away from units under construction. Often, companies will lease up units under renovation or construction before they’re completed. While this is common practice, be aware that you’re taking a gamble signing that lease. First off, if it’s not done now, there’s a distinct chance it won’t be done come move-in day. If you already live in the area, then that’s not a problem, but I have seen units take weeks and even months longer to be completed than they were supposed to, which meant the tenants had to stay at hotels or crash on friends’ couches for the first part of the semester. Secondly, you can’t see the unit ahead of time, which brings us back to the number one rule... Come on, Folks, say it with me: NEVER SIGN THE LEASE IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE UNIT. Thirdly, as the first tenant after renovation, you will be the one to discover all the things the contractors didn’t do right, which will now have to be fixed (A.C.s installed improperly, doors and windows not finished, etc).
7. Talk to USG. Student Government is currently doing research on the different housing companies, and can give you an idea of who’s generally a straight shooter, and who’s on the shady side.
8. Talk to the Current Tenants. Come back at a time when the landlord isn’t there, so they feel free to give you an honest answer. See if anyone’s out and about. Most tenants will be happy to tell you all their trials and tribulations, and you can get a real idea for how the company treats its tenants. Some questions to ask:
   

• How do you like it here?
• Do the Internet and other amenities work properly?
• Any bug problems?

Once You've Signed the Lease

Congratulations! You’ve signed on for your first apartment. Before you leave the office, don’t forget to have a copy made of all the documents for your own files. It’s important to have all contracts stored in a safe place for easy reference. I moved in to one apartment with the understanding that I would be allowed to have pets. My roommate and I filled out and signed a form specifying how many pets we planned to have and of what kind. After I got my cat, the property manager told me no pets allowed. Fortunately, they did not enforce that rule, but it was a relief to know that I had a copy of that contract in my files if the need ever arose.

Preparing for Move-In

Switching your Mail
When you’re getting ready to move, don’t forget to change your forwarding address. Don’t do this too soon before you move, or you’ll wind up missing packages, but don’t forget! Switching your forwarding address is very simple. Just go to usps.com and follow the appropriate instructions.

Starting your Utilities

Call your landlord or management company to find out what’s already turned on. Usually, if a utility is covered by the lease, you won’t have to worry about it. However, if it’s not, then you’ll need to make a few phone calls. Be sure to have your new address handy when you call.

• Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)
  

Phone: 1-800-342-5397

Website: www.ladwp.com

• So Cal Gas Company
  

Phone: 1-800-427-2200

Website: www.socalgas.com

Automatic Bill Pay

With both LADWP and the SoCal Gas Co., you can set up automatic bill pay online, so you don’t have to even think about it. Be careful, though. Activating the auto-pay service can be a little tricky, particularly with LADWP. Be sure to confirm that you’ve actually gotten the service set up by calling them. I received a couple of menacing, red late notices and threats that my electricity would be shut down before I finally got it right.

Quick Reality Check

Remember, you aren't in University Housing anymore. There aren’t Residential Advisors, and there often isn’t nearly as high a level of service. I’ve known several students who got pissed at their landlords for things like not providing maid service, or not coming right away to unclog a stopped-up toilet. Unless there was a promise for maid service made in writing ahead of time, or that toilet is the only toilet in the apartment, don’t expect the landlords to be that hands-on. My general standard is: If the housing company is not infringing on my quality of life (i.e. I generally feel safe, am able to get my school work done, and they don't damage or destroy my stuff), then we’re all good. I'm okay plunging my own toilet.

The Big Day - Moving In

You've signed the lease, bought most of what you need to buy, and now, the time has come to make your move! Just a few things to remember before you load up the ol' U-haul:

1. Unless you've made a special agreement with the landlord, don't expect to move in before your lease starts. Odds are, it's not gonna happen. This also means you won't be able to pick up your keys early. Often times, the last phase in the unit’s preparation is to change the locks. The landlord may very well not even have any keys to give you before move-in day.
2. Call in advance - Before you make any long treks or drag your sofa all the way to your new place, be sure to call and make sure the unit’s ready. Even though the property manager should notify you if things aren’t ready, don’t rely on them. I know of one company that notified some of their tenants via text message that the unit wasn't ready... on the afternoon they were supposed to move in. Many other students didn’t find out until they arrived that their unit wasn’t prepared.
3. Have a Backup Plan - No matter what they tell you, have a backup plan. Move-ins and Move-outs are the craziest time for a Student Housing company, and there is a lot of room for miscommunication. While the odds are good, if you call ahead, that the place will be all ready, there’s a possibility that something got overlooked (some repair team hasn’t had a chance to finish up, etc). If you don’t have friends or family nearby, look up some hotels in the area. You don't necessarily have to book a room, but know where the vacancies are. Also, while you may be able to keep your stuff in the unfinished apartment, call around ahead of time to make sure there are storage facilities with space, so you don’t get stuck with a pile of furniture and no place to put it. In fact, if possible, you may want to spread out your move in: You can come down with a small load, pick up the keys, etc, and then bring the U-Haul a few days later.
4. Don't send someone else to pick up the keys - Landlords rarely will give out keys to people other than the tenant. If you can't pick up the keys yourself for whatever reason, be sure to talk with your landlord ahead of time to figure out a solution.

Subletting/Subleasing

Ah, subletting. The bane of many a landlord and tenant’s blood pressure. There are a wide variety of reasons that you may need to sublet -- from studying abroad, to going home for the summer, to moving out because of roommate troubles. However, subletting is one of those things that can easily go awry.

Example: Unbeknown to one company I know of, one of their tenants had been subletting a single room in a very expensive seven-bedroom apartment to a woman with a couple children. Unfortunately for the tenant, when the tenants’ lease expired and time came for everyone to move out, the woman decided she didn’t want to. After a stern talking to from the property manager, the woman grabbed her things and left... A few hours later, the maintenance staff inspecting the unit called to let the company know that the woman had returned, broken the garage door, and was sitting inside. Fortunately, after much cajoling, they finally convinced her it was time to go. If they hadn’t been able to, however, the tenant that sublet to them would likely have been responsible for the rent for the entire apartment ($7,000 a month) until the company could get the woman out and the new lease the place. So, with that said, here are a couple basic guidelines when subletting:

1. Communicate with your Landlord/Management Company - Make sure they know and approve of the subletter you choose. Otherwise, you could find yourself in a whole mess of trouble. They may have official documents you need to fill out. They also may be able to run a credit check on your subleaser to make sure he/she has the resources to actually pay you.
   
2. Use Common Sense - Meet your potential subleaser, interview them, make sure they get along with your roommates. This person will have full access to your home for an extended period of time. Make sure they’re not crazy.

Your Rights as a Tenant

Hopefully, you will not need to use the information in this post, but, sadly, many students have issues with their landlords. While many landlords are capable and caring, once the lease is signed, many other landlords feel they can drop the friendly facade and neglect their tenants. If you get stuck with such a landlord, what are your rights, and how do you enforce them? How do you determine if the landlord has violated those rights? Here are some things I've learned as a tenant, and I hope they prove helpful. Please keep in mind, though, this isn't legal advice, and you should consult a lawyer before taking any action against your landlord or other parties.

The key term here is habitability. If the unit isn't habitable, then the landlord is being negligent. Habitability issues can include broken water heaters, major bug problems, malfunctioning security and parking gates, insufficient exterior lighting, etc. If there is a significant decrease in habitability, and your landlord, once notified, is not taking care of the problem, you should seek out legal counsel. If things get bad enough, you may even be able to break the lease.

Rent Control

If you live in an older building near USC, it is probably subject to Rent Control. When most people think of Rent Control, they think of a law that keeps your rent from going up more than a certain percentage every year. However, the LA Housing Department also provides several other protections. If you're having a long-term issue, such as a broken security gate, you can call the LAHD at 1-866-557-RENT. They will send an inspector to your unit who can then write your landlord a citation. I have never personally filed a formal complaint. Unfortunately, I have heard some negatives about the LAHD, and that they can be very slow to respond. Still, it is worth a shot.

What to Do when the Landlord Just isn't Getting it Done

1. Leave a paper trail- Don't simply communicate via phone. Send e-mails and save all correspondence. Write down issues you're having, along with dates and times, to the best of your ability.
2. Call LA Housing Department - As mentioned earlier, if your building is subject to Rent Control, the LAHD can send an inspector to your unit. The inspector can then issue a citation. This should also give you a stronger case should you have to go to court.
3. Do it Yourself and Deduct - Please note, this is very risky. I would STRONGLY recommend consulting a lawyer or the LAHD before doing this. If you need something taken care of right away, you can call a repair man yourself and deduct the cost from your rent. Be sure to notify your landlord well in advance, and save all receipts from the transaction. Often times, just giving your landlord written notice that you plan to hire someone will be enough to get them to fix it themselves.

Some Resources at your Disposal

• USG Free Legal Counseling - Undergraduate Student Government provides free legal counseling to all USC students. If you are having major issues, you can go to STU 106 to sign up for a meeting with the lawyer. Some of my friends haven't found it particularly useful, but when I went to him with questions, I found the lawyer very helpful. For more info, you can also visit USG's website at usg.usc.edu.
  

• LA Housing Department- They also can be very helpful (depending on which operator you talk to). This should be one of the first places you call to find out about your rights.

Phone: 1-866-577-RENT

Website: lahd.lacity.org/lahdinternet/

• California Tenant Handbook - This is a basic guide to all your rights as a tenant. You can view a PDF version at: www.dca.ca.gov/publications/landlordbook/catenant.pdf
  

Maximizing Your Deposit Return

The Basics (or How it Works in Theory)

When you sign a lease, you'll have to put down a deposit (usually equivalent to one to two months' worth of rent). Keep in mind that the deposit isn't rent. It is a sum of money that's held in case you do damage the unit. In theory, when you move out, the Landlord will do an inspection and deduct the amount to repair any damage you caused beyond normal wear-and-tear. That way, everything's fair, you go on your merry way, and they go theirs (tra la la, cue happy-ending music).

That's the theory.

Unfortunately, landlords are notorious for over-deducting. Look over your invoice carefully when you get the check, and make sure you've earned all those deductions. Also, if your apartment is covered by Rent Control (as most buildings around USC are), you are probably entitled to interest on your deposit, so if that doesn't appear, raise a stink!

Some Tips to Maximize your Deposit Return

1. Don't be afraid to fight for it - If there's anything fishy, contact your landlord right away, and be sure to leave a paper-trail (even if you've talked to them in person). Odds are, they'd rather give you the extra cash that you deserve than risk having to front the money for a legal battle.
2. Communicate with the Landlord - Don't make any assumptions. For instance, if you have furniture to leave behind, make sure they want it. Sometimes, they'd be happy to keep the furniture as an added benefit to future tenants. However, if you just leave it there, you'll probably be charged a hauling fee.
3. Communicate with your roommates - Be very wary as you approach move-out time. Many a student has had to suffer a hauling fee because his or her roommate left items behind. Make sure you all are on the same page about the final condition of the place. If you have any concerns, talk with your landlord in advance to make sure everything's worked out.
4. As much as possible, maintain a good relationship with your landlord - Landlords are people too, and, while they are supposed to be unbiased, they're much more likely to look favorably upon you if you have been generally friendly, and paid your rent on time throughout your stay with them.
5. Clean the place before you leave- You might even want to hire a cleaning crew. The landlords will be much more likely to look favorably on the place when inspecting it if their first impression is a good one.
6. Don't patch and paint the walls yourself unless you can do it well - I did a lot of inspections when working for a housing company, and discovered that many people had "fixed" holes in the walls themselves. Unfortunately, they'd done a shoddy job, and the landlords still had to hire contractors to sand it down and do it again. Thus, the students were not only charged for repairs, but they also wasted their own time, and money for the plaster and paint.