Types of Housing Situations

As you begin your search for housing that suits your needs, you need to know what kind of a housing situation you'd like to enter in to and what typical housing options UW students are usually in. The following descriptions may help you identify what you're looking for.

Shared Housing

Generally shared housing means splitting the rent and utilities, sharing chores, responsibilities, time, ideas, and experiences. Your living-mates could be absentee, only sleeping under the same roof and chipping in for the bills, or they could be close friends with whom you share your values, ideas, time...yourself. You can, with the right situation, grow from the experience. Several types of shared housing situations are available.

Rooming Houses are where you rent a room (from the landlord directly), probably share a bath, and may have kitchen privileges. There are usually no restraints on house/yard upkeep or food/cooking/eating. Often they are furnished. The problem lies in the fact that you are living out of one room, which some people find claustrophobic.

Shared House or Apartment is where other tenants, rather than the landlord, choose who is going to live in the place, so your roommates may be more compatible than in a rooming house. You pay rent on your room, but the kitchen and living areas are yours too. Food may or may not be shared. You could have one roommate or eight.

Co-op Collective is the same as a shared house or apartment except food and values are generally shared among household members.

Non-Shared Housing

Houses are buildings that contain only one living unit. They usually consist of a kitchen, living room, bathroom(s) and bedroom(s). Utilities are usually not included, and yard work is generally required. They tend to be more expensive than apartments, but offer more privacy.

Duplexes are two living units in one building, either side by side or one on top of the other. They are similar to houses, but because of sharing a common wall there may be a bit more noise. Utilities are generally not included, and may be split between the units. Yard work is generally required.

Studios are small apartments that consist of a living room/bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen. Some of the utilities may be paid by the landlord. While it is small, there is no yard work, and they are the cheapest option for independent living.

Apartments are more expensive than shared living, but generally cheaper than renting a house. They are multi-unit buildings, generally consisting of a kitchen, living room, bathroom(s), and bedroom(s). Utilities (except electricity) are usually paid by the landlord, there is no yard work, and some are furnished.

Sublets

Subleasing is a rental situation where you take over another person's lease for a part of or the rest of the lease. It is generally for a quarter or for the summer, and may be shared or non-shared. Check here to view sublease agreements.

Exchanges

Exchanges are an option to consider if you don't have the money to pay any rent at all. Often families or elderly people will let you stay in a room for FREE if you baby-sit, or help with the groceries or housecleaning. Some places provide a small room for people who are willing to be caretakers or do janitorial work. You might have to look harder for these situations, but they do exist. These listings may be found under "shared housing" in the OCHA office.

Co-ops

At a number of campuses throughout the United States, student housing cooperatives provide an attractive housing option. Usually organized as a non-profit corporation, a student housing co-op provides member-owned and controlled housing, typically close to the university campus and usually at below market rate because use of member labor keeps costs down. A cooperative may start small, but over the years grow to become a major provider of housing.

North American Students for Cooperation (NASCO) (organizing tips, info on the student housing co-ops throughout North America)
Local email group - coopliving@yahoogroups.com

University-Owned Housing

Residence Halls: The University of Washington provides housing for about 5,000 students in the residence halls. All are located within easy walking distance of classrooms and other campus facilities. Food service is available to residence hall students at locations throughout the campus through the use of Husky Cards, a debit card system. The residential life staff enhances the University experience through a variety of educational, cultural, and social programs.

Single-Student Apartments: The University also has a limited number of apartment spaces available for students. Stevens Court houses students in four- and six-bedroom apartments which have private bedrooms and share a common kitchen, living room, and bathroom.

Family Housing: Convenient and economical apartment housing is available for student families. The Family Housing Community Centers offers community programs for adults, as well as special childrenąs activities for families living in family housing.

The Commodore Duchess, Nordheim Court and Radford Court are apartment communities for UW students that are privately managed by Lorig Management Services. The Commodore Duchess and Radford Court rent to both families (Commodore Duchess does not accept children) and single students; Nordheim Court is for single students only.

For an application or additional information about any University-owned housing, write to the Student Services Office, 301 Schmitz, Box 355842, 1400 NE Campus Parkway, Seattle, WA 98195 or call (206) 543-4059. You may also visit Housing and Food Services.

Senior Services

Senior Services' Home sharing is a program that matches people looking for a place to live with people looking for someone to live with them- the one requirement is that one of the people be 55 years of age or older. Sometimes payments of rent occur, other times housing is exchanged for common chores or upkeep. Each situation is different, and there is no commitment made in calling or meeting with a possible housemate. Their number is (206) 448-5725.

If you would like to post a Housing Wanted ad for landlords to view, please post a Housing Wanted ad through OCHA's new Wiki Site.