Most Frequently Asked Questions
Understanding the Lease Process
Q. What is the best time of year to begin looking for housing?
A. You can begin your search at anytime of the year. It depends on your needs and desires. If you want to live close to campus we recommend that you start your search 2-3 months in advance of the month you wish to begin your tenancy.
Q. How do I begin my search for housing?
A. Searching long distance can be difficult and deceiving. You can begin your search at home by visiting The University Corporation Faculty/Staff Housing Resources Website at
http://www.csun.edu/tuc/housing/housing.html .
Q. How much can my landlord raise my rent?
A. Refer to latest edition of Landlord-Tenant Handbook for rental units at http://lahd.lacity.org/lahdinternet/.
Q. Are pets allowed?
A. This may seem like an obvious question, if you’re planning on bringing a pet with you to your new home, but too often prospective tenants forget to ask about this if they don’t have pets and don’t want to live in a noisy apartment complex with dogs barking. Also, some landlords don’t allow pets, but will make an exception for non-intrusive creatures if you pay a pet deposit.
Q. Can I get promises made by landlords in writing?
A. This is by far the most important thing to keep in mind when shopping for an apartment. Everybody knows that a landlord can and sometimes does promise you just about anything if they think you’re interested. New appliances, new laundry facilities, re-painting, re-finishing hardwood floors, and a host of other improvements frequently fail to materialize if the tenant didn’t have the foresight to get the landlord to put it in a contract. Similarly, any problems you have with the lease, needs to be changed, in writing, on the lease, before it is signed. Merely having the landlord’s word that a pet “won’t be a problem,” although the lease forbids it can cause a lot of trouble if they change their mind once you’ve locked yourself into a year’s residency.
