Housing Information

 

 

A. USC Temporary Housing

USC Guest housing (temporary short-term University housing) is available from mid May - August at the Residential College on campus so that students who are looking for apartments have a place to stay while they are looking for permanent housing.

What you should know about USC Temporary Housing:

It is not automatically available to all new, international students. You have to apply for it and be approved. It is not free. There is most often a per-night or per-day fee to be paid. It is not for an indefinite period of time. As the name suggests, the accommodation is temporary, and meant to tide a student through the apartment-hunting process. Rates and services are as follows:

• Special rate of $25.00 per night/person for International Student and $45 per night/dependent (must be 18 years or older)
• Double and Single room configurations (sinks in
• Fresh linen and linen changes every other day (blankets not included)
• Gender specific community bathrooms and showers
• Lounge areas and vending machines in lobby
• Micro fridge units (microwave and small fridge)
• Cup and soap
• Alarm clock (by request only)
• Parking $6.00 per day or $20.00 per week

You can request a reservation by calling (213)740-1492 or by email bkimani@hrh.usc.edu. Please tell them your name, student I.D. number and the dates you would like to reserve. You must identify yourself as an international student to get the special rate of $25. Since space may be limited; you are encouraged to reserve your place early.

Any request to stay for more that 10 consecutive days must be made in writing and is subject to approval. All payments are due at check-in and can be made using Cash, MasterCard, Visa, Traveler's Checks and Requisitions. Personal Checks and American Express Cards are not accepted.

B. Non-USC Temporary Housing

Nearby hotels:

This is a partial list of temporary housing available in hotels and motels in the general area of USC, particularly for the downtown area (2 miles north of campus). The MTA and DASH buses are available between downtown and the USC campus. There are no cooking facilities at these locations.

These hotels and motels listed below, like the USC campus itself, are located in the center of a large urban area. The university cannot guarantee the safety of any individual lodging, has not inspected the locations and does not endorse any of the listed lodgings. This information is provided solely as a reference guide. Please call hotels for current rates:

USC Campus Area (within walking distance):

 

Radisson Hotel
3540 Figueroa Street
(213) 748-4141

USC student rates are (subject to availability, subject to change):
$130/night plus taxes single occupancy
$140/night plus taxes double occupancy

Vagabond Hotel
3103 South Figueroa Street
(213) 746-1531

USC student rates are (subject to availability, subject to change):
$69/night plus taxes - one-bed room
$79/night plus taxes - two-bed room

You will need to identify yourself as a USC student when making your reservation.

Sample Downtown Los Angeles Hotels:

 

Millennium Biltmore
506 South Grand Avenue
(213) 624-1011

Figueroa Hotel
813 South Flower Street
(213) 627-8971

Hotel Stillwell
838 South Grand Avenue
(213) 627-1151

 

C. USC Permanent Housing

USC Housing operates more than 40 facilities, including houses, residential colleges, residence halls and apartments that provide our students a variety of living options. Visit the USC Housing website at http://housing.usc.edu/ for application information.

It is important to apply early! Housing assignments are made on a first-come, first-served basis. After class standing, the single most important factor in determining where you will be assigned is the date they receive your application. The earlier you apply, the better the likelihood of getting one of your building, room type or program preferences.

D. Off Campus Permanent Housing

Most students tend to live off-campus in rented apartments or houses. There are many private apartment buildings within walking distance of the University. Also, there are numerous suitable residential areas within a 20-40 minute drive. Monthly rental fees for studio, one bedroom and two bedroom apartments average $800, $1000 and $1300 respectively. Most landlords will require a security deposit and a few require long-term leases before they will rent. One option to bypass the apartment search is to take over the apartment of a student who is graduating. If you plan to live off-campus, it is crucial that you learn how to drive before the start of the Program.

Classified advertisements typically found in local and community newspapers may be useful resources when you are looking for a place to rent. A few of the more popular papers are The L.A. Times, The Daily Breeze, The Larchmont Chronicle, Pasadena Star News, The Recycler, The Easy Reader, Pacific Palisades Post, North Shore Shopper, The Argonaut, The Outlook, Glendale News Press, Beverly Hills Courier, and West Hollywood Independent. Generally, you can purchase or pick up copies of these periodicals at local grocery stores, but local libraries are also convenient places from which to view the listings in several papers at one time, copy the ads you find interesting, and make phone calls to arrange to see the apartments.

An additional option is to first find an area that you like and then to drive around to look for "vacancy" signs. Please see below for some general descriptions of neighborhoods.

General Perspective of Neighborhoods:

• Arcadia/Pasadena/Glendale: Very nice and secure. There are many malls and parks. It is a great area for families with children. Arcadia is considered one of the best school districts of Los Angeles. Arcadia is a 40-70 min. commute to USC, Pasadena and Glendale being less time (30-60 minutes).
• Culver City/West L.A./Santa Monica: Many apartment buildings on Bundy drive, some of which are reasonably priced. Only 12 miles to USC and a 20 to 30 min. commute. Close to LAX airport, Beverly Hills and Downtown. Prices may be on the higher side as you get closer to the beaches.
• Palos Verdes/Rolling Hills/San Pedro in the South Bay: Beautiful area, but 25 miles from USC. Takes 45 min. to commute to school. Very safe neighborhoods and houses, condos, and apartments are available for renting or leasing.
• Playa del Rey/Marina del Rey/ElSegundo: Beach cities. Lots of beach sports, sailing/surfing/etc. Crowded on weekends, 16 miles from USC.
• Torrance/Redondo Beach/Manhattan Beach/Hermosa Beach in the South Bay: Secure, many places to dine out, large Asian community, and some houses are as affordable as apartments to rent.
• West Hollywood/Mid-Wilshire/Westwood: All areas toward the west of LA, which are along the Wilshire Blvd. corridor. Each community has its nice areas worth seeking out (ex. Westwood - younger university crowd, West Hollywood - mix of gay and Eastern Europeans).

Rental Listings

Rentals sites include

• http://www.westsiderentals.com
• http://www.apartments.com/
• http://www.rentals.com/
• http://losangeles.craigslist.org/
• http://rentbits.com
• http://www.ApartmentList.com

When you are looking for housing to rent, look at the house or apartment with a critical eye. Check it all out very carefully. Make sure that all faucets work and that you can get hot and cold water. Check to make sure there are no signs of leakage in the plumbing. If there are obvious signs of problems, such as a bucket full of water under the sink, ask the landlord about it.

Make sure you get his/her reply in writing with a time estimate for repair. Check to see if all appliances and lights are in working order. Look at all wiring and make sure that bare wires are not exposed. Inspect the refrigerator, stove, oven and dishwasher to see that they work and are clean.

Check the doors and windows to make sure they are secure and safe. Do the doors have strong locks? Do the windows have locks and screens? Try opening and closing doors and windows to ensure that they work properly. Ask the landlord any questions you may have and get meaningful answers. You may also want to talk with neighbors find out their impressions of the landlord. Ask if repairs are quickly made. It is a good sign if other tenants speak highly of the landlord.

Negotiating and Signing the Lease

The lease is a legally binding rental agreement. Do not sign more than one lease thinking that you are holding apartments until you make a decision. Before you sign a lease, be sure you want the apartment. Read the lease carefully and do not be afraid to ask the landlord to add things to the lease such as repairs or appliances. The lease is usually for a one year period, but this may be negotiable. Normally you are expected to pay rent for the entire lease period even if you move out earlier.

Most landlords will require you to pay a security deposit. It is usually the equivalent of one month's rent. The security deposit is the landlord's insurance against damage or tenants leaving without paying rent. The landlord may subtract the cost of any damage or cleaning incurred after you leave the apartment. The landlord may not charge you for normal wear and tear on the apartment or excessive cleaning charges if you have cleaned the apartment. You are legally entitled to receive your security deposit back at the end of your lease (minus any charges for excessive damage or cleaning costs).

Make sure that all agreements with your landlord are in writing. If you make any agreements requesting repairs, put it in writing. Verbal agreements are usually worth nothing. If a landlord won't put anything in writing, you may not want to rent from him/her.

For more information on renting an apartment, check out the International Student and Scholar Handbook 2005-2006 available at OIS.

E. Roommates

Having a roommate may be a good way to decrease some of your housing costs.