Housing
Finding a place to live is obviously one of the most important and immediate concerns you will have in beginning your stay at WSU. The following section is provided to give you some guidelines to follow and an overview of the options available to you.
LIVING ON CAMPUS
LIVING OFF CAMPUS
UTILITIES
HOUSING PROBLEMS
GENERAL INFORMATION
Wayne State offers a number of housing options campus.
Undergraduates can choose between the residence halls and certain apartment buildings, and graduates can choose from a number of different apartment buildings.
For more information go to http://www.housing.wayne.edu/ Phone: (313)577-2116; Fax: (313)577-6644; or email: housing@wayne.edu.
Although WSU housing may not be available when you first arrive, it is a good idea to get on the waiting list as soon as possible.
Applications are available on the website and can be faxed or dropped off at the housing office.
If you can't find housing on campus, you will need to look for off campus housing.
This can be very difficult from your home country. If you know someone who lives in the area, you should ask them for advice.
Unfortunately, WSU does not have an electronic roommate matching system for off campus housing.
If you arrive without housing arrangements, you might want to stay at a hotel.
The hotel St. Regis has offered a special rate for WSU students. You should contact Steve Vidakovich at sales@hotelstregisdetroit.com for more information.
- Student Resource and Assistance Center
(Information Center)
135 Student Center Building
Phone: (313) 577-3568
Housing Board:
Cards are posted for people looking for a roommate, rooms for rent, etc… -
University Cultural Center Association (UCCA)
David Mackenzie House
4735 Cass Avenue, Detroit 4820
www.detroitmidtown.com
Phone: (313) 577-5088 -
Apartment Finders
4100 Woodward
Phone: (313) 832-5665
Fax: (313) 832-5659
Website: www.apartmentfindersdetroit.comApartment Finders provides a FREE apartment locator service and could be helpful in finding an available apartment.
Apartment Finders' staff will pick you up and drive you around town to look at available apartments as part of their free service.
Call ahead to discuss with the staff what you are looking for and be prepared to pay one month's rent to hold an apartment plus a $45.00 application fee.
If an international student decides to rent an apartment through Apartment Finders, rent may need to be paid a couple of months in advance instead of one month at a time since a credit history check is not possible.
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Internet
Many leading online apartment search sites give renters from coast to coast a simpler and more efficient way to look for a place to live. Their virtual showrooms let apartment hunters review available properties in different communities from the comfort of their own homes. Some common sites include:http://www.apartmentguide.com
http://www.homestore.com
http://www.apartmentlinks.net
http://www.apartments.com
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Newspapers
Advertisements for houses and apartments are listed in the classified section of the newspaper. Read the "What to look for" section of this document to help you determine what questions to ask the landlord when you respond to the ad.Major Detroit and Campus papers include:
Detroit News and Free Press
South End
Metro Times
Utilities are often not covered with your rent. Be sure to check your lease.
You will need to contact the companies below to start your service and check on approximate cost.
Many utilities require you to have a U.S. Social Security Number in order to set up an account. If you do not have a Social Security Number, you may want to talk to your landlord to see if you can arrange for the utilities to remain in his/her name.
Electricity
DTE Energy 1-800-477-4747 (free call)
Gas
Consumer's Energy 1-800-477-5050 (free call)
Telephone
Ameritech 1-800-244-4444 (free call)
If you have a problem with your landlord or owner concerning rent, deposit, refund, repairs, etc., try the following:
- Talk with your landlord first. He or she may not be aware of the problem. Be sure that the landlord has an opportunity to respond to your complaint before going elsewhere for help.
- An important consumer protection service of the State is the Small Claims Court.
This court gives persons over the age of 19 the right to file a claim when a disagreement involves money or property valued at $500 or less. If you feel you have a valid case, you should file a claim in the county where the defendant, the person you wish to make your claim against, lives or has an office. The clerk will file your claim and assign your case a number. You may be contacted by the defendant to attempt to settle out of court. If your case does reach court, be sure to have your case well organized with all receipts and documents at hand.
Being denied housing by a landlord is against the law under certain conditions:
A landlord may not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion or national origin according to the Federal Fair Housing Law (Title VIII of the 1968 Civil Rights Act) and the Supreme Court decision in Jones vs. Mayer. This not only includes initial refusal to rent, but also discriminatory practices as to terms, conditions, privileges, or the provision of services or facilities by the landlord.
Renter's Insurance
You should consider purchasing renter's insurance while in the United States.
Insurance agencies are listed in the yellow pages in the phone book. You may wish to contact an insurance agent for price quotes.
See the Student Handbook [PDF] for more information regarding what to look for when deciding upon an apartment.