Hunting for a place can be time consuming. Here are some suggestions on how to make the process pain-free. Keep in mind, however, housing in Seattle tends to be more expensive and more difficult to find in other parts of the Puget Sound. With this in mind, make sure to allow at least a month to start your housing search.
Off-Campus Housing Affairs - HUB G-10
OCHA Online Database: UW students, faculty, and staff with an active UWNetID may access the online database of available housing by visiting housing.asuw.org. The database reflects the listings that are physically posted in the OCHA office. Available off-campus housing is listed and sorted by the following: Non-Shared Housing, Shared Housing, and Sublets.
OCHA Bulletin Boards: Available off-campus housing is listed in front of our office (HUB G-10) and sorted by the following: Non-Shared Houses, Non-Shared Apartments, Studios, Shared Housing, and Sublets. Pay phones are available on the Ground Floor between Husky Den and Scissor's Edge Salon.
Self-Posting Bulletin Board: An additional board located outside our office is available for posting other types of housing flyers and notices by individuals after review. These postings are not reflected in our online database.
On-Campus Housing
- For information about any University-owned housing (Residence Halls, Family Housing, etc.), write to the Housing and Food Services Office, 301 Schmitz, Box 355842, 1400 N.E. Campus Parkway, Seattle, WA 98195 or call (206) 543- 4059. You may also visit their website at http://hfs.washington.edu.
- If you are interested in fraternity or sorority living, contact the Panhellenic Association (sororities - Females only) at (206) 543-1810, panhell@u.washington.edu or the Interfraternity Council (fraternities - Males only) at (206) 543-1800, ifc@u.washington.edu. Offices are located in the HUB Room 302A.
- If you are visiting faculty, please visit the Visiting Faculty webpage here. The VFHS office provides a listing service for new and visiting faculty and staff requiring rental housing.
Newspapers
The Daily: The UW campus paper, published Monday through Friday during the school year and weekly on Wednesday during the summer. Available in the entries to most buildings on campus.
Seattle Times: Pick up the Sunday editions early Saturday morning, or else the listings may be rented by the time you call them. Seattle Times / PI 206-464-2121.
Neighborhoods
If you have an idea about what neighborhood you want to live in, visit the area you're interested in. Look for "For Rent" signs. Talk to the managers of any apartment buildings or rooming houses that you stumble across, and put in an application even if there aren't any vacancies.
Check out community bulletin boards at:
| Post Offices | Food Co-ops |
| Laundromats | Restaurants |
| Supermarkets | Coffee Shops |
| Neighborhood Community Centers |
Fee Agencies
Includes apartment finders and real estate agencies. Although you might find leads on housing through these agencies, they may charge for listings you could find yourself in a daily paper. Many districts also have Neighborhood Community Centers with monthly newsletters and housing classifieds.
Online
OCHA provides these links as housing resources. OCHA is not responsible for their content nor does it imply endorsement or recommendation of their services or rentals.
Senior Services - provides homesharing with area senior citizen residents
Department of Neighborhoods - Gives info on Seattle area neighborhoods
Seattle Housing Authority - Information and services for low income housing
Corporate Housing Connection - Temporary Accommodations Agency
Craigslist - Online Classified Ads
AurHomes - Find temporary and professional housing