Skip to main content

Secondary Menu

  • Hotline
  • Contact Us
  • Give Now

Call to Action Menu

  • Visit Us
  • Apply Now
Enter the terms you wish to search for.
Search type:
Information for:

Information Menu

  • Prospective Students
  • Transfer Students
  • Current Students
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Alumni
  • Parents & Families
Penn State Altoona Home
Penn State Altoona Home
Penn State Altoona
Search

Information Menu

  • Prospective Students
  • Transfer Students
  • Current Students
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Alumni
  • Parents & Families

Secondary Menu

  • Hotline
  • Contact Us
  • Give Now

Call to Action Menu

  • Visit Us
  • Apply Now

Main navigation

  • This is Penn State
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
  • Student Success
  • Campus Locations
  • Athletics
Information for:

Information Menu

  • Prospective Students
  • Transfer Students
  • Current Students
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Alumni
  • Parents & Families

Main navigation

  • This is Penn State
  • Academics
  • Admissions
  • Tuition & Financial Aid
  • Student Success
  • Campus Locations
  • Athletics
  1. Home
  2. Offices and Divisions
  3. Student Affairs
  4. Off-campus Living

Questions to Ask the Landlord

Rent

  • What is the amount and when is it due?
  • Is there a penalty for late payments?
  • Does rent include utilities?
  • Can rent be increased? Under what terms?
  • To whom is rent paid?
  • Who is responsible if your roommate does not pay his rent?
  • Is there a charge for overnight guests?

Terms of Conduct

  • When can you move in?
  • How much notice is required to extend or cancel the lease?
  • Under what conditions, if any, can you break the contract without penalty?

Deposits

  • What is the amount and what is it for?
  • Conditions for refund?
  • Date of return?

Damages

  • Are inventory and inspection forms to be completed before you move in?
  • How are damages assessed?
  • Who is responsible for repairs?
  • Are painting, refinishing, picture hanging, and other alterations permitted?

Services

  • Are parking, cooking facilities, laundry facilities, area security guard, cleaning equipment, periodic bug exterminations included?

Inspection

  • When, by whom, and how much notice?

Restrictions

  • Rules about noise, overnight guests, pets, parties? Limitations on electrical appliances?

Change in Occupancy

  • If the landlord rents to a group of students, what happens if one person in the group wishes to leave?
  • Who is then responsible for rent?
  • Who is responsible for damage?
  • What about a replacement tenant?
  • If a student withdraws from college, is he permitted to remain as a tenant?

Number of Occupants

  • What is the maximum, minimum?

Length of Occupancy

  • How long? (recommend per semester unless the person leaves school)

Subletting

  • Is it permitted? Under what conditions? (Be sure to get names and addresses)

Giving Notice

  • How much time is required (both parties)? (Recommend in writing to the other party on or before the day that the rent is usually due and then the termination of occupancy to be effective at the end of the rental period. Thirty days if rent is monthly, seven days if rent is weekly.)

Guests

  • May tenants have them? Overnight?
  • Is there a place available for entertaining?
  • What conditions?

Pets

  • Are they allowed? Under what conditions?

Laundry Facilities

  • Are they available?
  • May tenants install their own?
  • Clothes drying restrictions?

Conduct

  • What is not permitted?
  • Conditions for refund?
  • Date of return?

Parking

  • Where?
  • Limitations?
  • Extra Cost?

Admittedly there are a lot of things to consider, but take your time, and you’ll be glad you did if problems arise.

If still uncertain about your lease or contract...
Although the Off-Campus Housing Office cannot provide legal interpretations, we can help you understand the terminology of a lease, refer you to legal services, and suggest modifications in your lease or contract if appropriate and desirable. So if you are still lost after reading this, bring in a copy of your lease before you sign it, and we’ll look it over. If you encounter problems: You will help your fellow students if you let the Off-Campus Housing Office know the place, the property owner, what the problem was, and when it happened (in writing). Only with evidence such as this can we refuse to list a facility or property owner.

Off-campus Living

  • Housing Listings
  • Helpful Lease Terms
  • Sample Lease or Rental Agreement
  • Housing Condition Checklist
  • Questions to Ask the Landlord
  • Rights and Responsibilities of Tenants and Landlords
  • Roommates
  • Apartment Leases and Security Desposits
  • Pennsylvania Rent Withholding Act

See Also

  • Off-Campus Living Sample Lease (Adobe PDF)

Penn State Altoona

3000 Ivyside Park
Altoona, PA 16601
814-949-5000
Pennsylvania map showing Penn State's campuses with Penn State Altoona highlighted

Secondary Menu

  • Hotline
  • Contact Us
  • Give Now

Call to Action Menu

  • Visit Us
  • Apply Now
A full-service, four-year, residential campus located less than 45 miles from the research campus at University Park. Offering 23 four-year degrees and the first two years of over 275+ Penn State majors.
Information for:

Information Menu

  • Prospective Students
  • Transfer Students
  • Current Students
  • Faculty & Staff
  • Alumni
  • Parents & Families

Footer Menu

  • +This is Penn State
    • Penn State Altoona At a Glance
    • Mission and Vision
    • Our History
    • Economic Impact
    • Campus Leadership
    • Current Weather Conditions
    • Livestream
  • +Academics
    • Majors
    • Academic Calendar
    • Out-of-Class Learning
    • Eiche Library
    • Learning Resources Center
    • Registrar
    • Closing and Delay Information
  • +Admission
    • Visit Us
    • How to Apply
    • Accepted Students
    • Experience Altoona
    • Alums Recruiting Future Alums
    • Virtual Tour
  • +Tuition & Financial Aid
    • Scholarships
    • Grants
    • Loans
    • Work-study
    • Financial Aid Basics
    • Tuition and Costs
    • Student Aid Information
  • +Student Success
    • Student and Civic Engagement
    • Health and Wellness
    • Housing
    • Safety and Security
    • Career Services
    • Academic Advising
    • Tutoring
    • Academic Calendar
  • +Campus Locations
    • Ivyside Campus Buildings
    • Downtown Campus
    • Directions
    • GPS Coordinates
    • Transportation
  • +Athletics
    • Schedule
    • Sports Information
    • Facilities
    • Recreation and Club Sports
    • Staff and Coaches Directory
    • Athletic Training and Sports Physicals
    • Camps and Clinics
    • Live Stats and Video
  • +Directories
    • Faculty
    • Staff
    • Full Listing
    • Offices and Divisions
    • Directory Search

Connect with Us

  • facebook
  • twitter
  • instagram
  • youtube
  • flickr
  • linkedin
  • snapchat
Penn State University
Penn State University

Footer Info Menu

  • Employment
  • Map
  • Contact Us
  • Search
  • Hotlines
3000 Ivyside Park, Altoona, Pennsylvania 16601 | 814-949-5000

Footer Legal Menu

  • Privacy
  • Non-discrimination
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Accessibility
  • Copyright
The Pennsylvania State University © 2021