On campus affiliate-Lynx City Heights
$4,000-$7,155- per semester
Up front cost
| Fee Description | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|
| Application fees | $27 |
| Security deposit | $950 |
| First Month’s Rent | $950 |
| Utilities charge | $45 |
| Admin Fees | $10 |
Total=$1,982
*This amount is an average. Costs can fluctuate depending on the time of year, rental history, other utilities, and parking.
Average Cost of Housing (on and off campus)
Read the details of each option because these rates do not include unities, parking, meal plans, ect
Student Friendly Apartments
$900-$1300 per month
Be aware of scams and avoid rentals if:
The rental amount is unusually low:
Check average rental costs to get idea of the Denver Metro. If a rental is listed far below the average rate, that’s a red flag.
Landlord is unable to show you the rental:
A landlord or property manager should always be open to showing you the rental in person before you sign any agreement. In fact, many landlords prefer meeting potential tenants face-to-face. Be cautious of scammers posing as landlords, who may claim to be out of town or offer other excuses for why they can’t show you the property.
Advance payment is requested:
A scammer might encourage you to use a payment method that’s difficult to reverse, often requesting payment before you’ve even seen the property. Be cautious of payment methods that signal potential fraud, such as wire transfers, cashier’s checks, money orders, escrow services, cryptocurrency, gift cards, or payment apps like Venmo or Zelle. The landlord or property manager should only be asking for money for application fees and when signing the lease.
Errors in the rental advertisement or email:
Does a listing feel a bit suspicious? Trust your gut. Misspellings, too much capitalization, odd formatting, and grammatical mistakes in a rental ad or email can be warning signs that a scammer may be involved.
Urgent! Sign up right now!
Scammers often create a false sense of urgency to pressure you into making quick decisions without careful consideration. They might skip asking for a rental application or references to speed up the process. If you’re being rushed to sign a lease, especially without seeing the property, it’s a serious red flag.
Things to Know when renting your first apartment
These are some questions to ask yourself before you begin searching for your apartment. This can help you narrow your search so that you find something that is the right fit for your needs.
- What can I afford for rent? Do I need to pay extra for internet, cable, and other utilities in addition to rent, or will these be included?
- How close is the apartment to campus? Will I need to drive? Is walking or biking an option?
- Where is the closest public transportation stop? How long will it take me to get from my apartment to school?
- Is the apartment already furnished? Do I need to buy my own furniture?
- Will I have a roommate?
- Will I have to share a bathroom with someone?
- Is there a washer and dryer (for clothing) in the unit? If it is not in the apartment unit, is there a laundry facility in the apartment building? If not, is there a laundromat close by?
- Where is the closest grocery store?
For more pointers and tips, here’s an article specifically designed to assist students avoid mistakes when looking for off-campus housing: https://www.apartmentguide.com/blog/student-housing-guide/
Yes we can help you. For more information on emergency housing, check out overnight shelter options in Denver.
If you need immediate assistance during office hours, contact the Student Care Center at 303-615-0006 to discuss your specific situation with a case manager. If you need help after normal business hours you can call 211 from your phone to receive information on emergency shelters in your area.
Yes, please contact Abbie Kell at [email protected] for housing navigation.
We cannot directly assist you in finding a roommate. However, you can use the Roommate Search section of this website to find Roadrunners who are looking for a roommate and might provide a good roommate match for you.
If you need accommodations where you live, please refer to the Fair Housing Act and Department of Housing and Urban Development website for more information.
Reasonable accommodations and modifications
Knowing your rights as a renter is very important. It is vital for a renter to read their lease and ensure they understand it. Each apartment community or landlord has unique terms of an agreement and it is your responsibility to know and understand it.
Most apartments will have an application fee before you sign the lease. The fee will allow the landlord to run a background check on you to see if you have a criminal history in the U.S., or to check your credit, before agreeing to rent their unit to you.
Leases are legal contracts which will obligate you to pay your rent for a specified amount of time to the property owner or property management company. Leases are often rather long documents. You should read the lease before you sign it! Read it carefully and keep a copy for yourself as a reference in the future. The lease will outline important parts of your agreement, such as when rent is due each month, rules regarding pets or parking, cleanliness of the apartment, etc. You should ask the landlord or property manager any questions you have before you sign the lease. Make sure you understand what your agreement will obligate you to do!
Breaking a lease can be difficult if you decide you no longer wish to live at your apartment before the lease is over. Make sure you understand what will be required if you do need to break your lease.
Know your rights as a tenant! Review some of the resources below to familiarize yourself with what is allowed (and not allowed) in Colorado in terms of what a landlord can do, and what you can do as a tenant:
Here is some additional information to review before signing a lease: Important Things to Know Before Signing a Lease
Before signing a lease, you should review what is included in the cost of your rent. Charges for your utilities are often separate from your general rent cost. Some rental companies will cover the cost of certain utilities, such as water, garbage/sewage, and internet, but many landlords or property management companies will require you to pay for these utilities on your own. Below are some typical utilities that may cost “extra” in addition to your general rent, as well as some of the popular service providers in the Denver area:
- Water
- Electric and Gas
- Internet and/or Cable Television
- Garbage, Recycling and/or Sewage
- Provided by the City of Denver
- Local Telephone Service
If the utility is not already included in your rent costs, you may need to contact a service provider directly to activate things like power, water, internet, etc. Some service providers have deals that allow you to purchase multiple services for a discounted price.
If you have roommates, you should discuss these utility costs and establish how they will be paid every month. The person who schedules the service, or the people whose names are on the leases, will ultimately be held responsible for these types of costs.
Please review the following resources if Renters Insurance is something you feel you need, or are required, in your home.
Here’s a list of resources:
University of Denver Strum College of Law Civil Litigation Clinic: www.law.du.edu/index.php/law-school-clinical-program/clinical-programs/civil-litigation-clinic
Eviction assistance: Colorado Poverty Law Project
Colorado Legal Services: coloradolegalservices.org