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 Housing Resources



Dear New Student:

Below you will find information that should assist you in making your off-campus housing arrangements prior to matriculating to either the Stritch School of Medicine, or to the Graduate School of Loyola University Chicago. 

The following includes: 
                   
                              General Information
                              Hints for Apartment Hunting
                              Reference Telephone Numbers and Web Sites
                             Temporary and Short Term Housing
                              Roommate Wanted Listing Form

If we can be of any further assistance to you, do not hesitate to
contact us in the Office of Student Affairs,  which is located in
the Stritch School of Medicine, room 220.  We can be reached
Monday-Friday,  8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (CST) by dialing
(708) 216-3220.

Sincerely,   
Michael J. Lambesis
Assistant Dean Student Affairs

GENERAL INFORMATION 

The Medical Center Campus of Loyola University Chicago is an
entirely commuter campus. University housing facilities are not available.  Our student population resides in most of the communities surrounding the campus, the heaviest concentrations being in Oak Park, Chicago, Forest Park, North Riverside and Berwyn.  The distance between Loyola and the various communities varies, so walking or bicycling to campus is not always feasible especially during the winter months.  For that reason we strongly recommend that you either have access to a car, or find housing that is near public transportation.   

Each of the local communities has a printed or on-line newspaper
with classified advertisements for apartments and houses to rent
or buy. Some of their web addresses are available further on in this document.  

A service we provide is the Roommate Wanted Listing Form.
Those of you who are interested in sharing living arrangements with other students from the medical and graduate biomedical schools, can return the form to our office.  We will compile a listing of interested students and send that listing to all who returned the
form, and share it with current students who are also looking for
a roommate. 

We recommend that you begin to look for an apartment
approximately 4 to 6 weeks before classes begin.  While some
students can find an apartment within a day or two, most are not as fortunate.  How particular you are regarding views, location, cleanliness, size of rooms and the like, can determine how long it may take you to find a place.

Some students, and/or their parents, have even purchased a
house and in turn rented it out to other students.  The owner can usually take some tax breaks regarding rental property, and
hopefully experience some capital appreciation by the time the
student graduates.  See a tax advisor for further information.  

HINTS FOR APARTMENT HUNTING

THE LEASE 

When seeking off-campus housing there are certain questions
you should ask and basic information that you are entitled to
know. 

The following information should serve as a guideline for the
novice apartment hunter. 

Most importantly be sure to read, re-read and understand your
lease before signing it. It is a binding contract, so know and
understand all the terms of this agreement.  Know in advance if
there are any restrictions imposed upon you for noise (such as music), overnight guests, parties, parking, use of the laundry
facilities, and under what conditions the landlord can enter your apartment.

You will probably be required to sign a lease for 12 months and
provide a security deposit equal to at least one month's rent.  If
you plan to stay in the apartment for just the length of the school
year, (mid-July to mid-May) ask if you can have a shorter-term
lease.   

Remember that the lease protects both parties; the landlord is guaranteed that you will not move out, and you are guaranteed
that the rent cannot be raised for the duration of the lease. If
there is not a lease, by law the landlord need only give you a
30-day notice for a raise in rent or to ask you to vacate the
premises. In turn, you only need to give the landlord a 30-day
notice to move. 

Be aware that if you allow someone to move into the apartment
and do not put him or her on the lease, you may be violating your
lease and the landlord can terminate your agreement and require
you to move out.  And even if your roommate ends up rubbing you
the wrong way once you begin living together, whoever signed the
lease is still liable to pay no matter who moves out.

Upon vacating the apartment the landlord may deduct from the
security deposit the cost of any repair to the unit. Find out in
advance exactly what the landlord expects the apartment to look
like when you move out.  Sometimes the carpet stain that was
there when you moved in will reduce the amount of the security
deposit returned to you even though you didn't cause the stain. 
To reduce the chance of any confusion, take dated pictures of the apartment while it is empty, before you move in, and make two
sets of prints.  Provide one to the landlord, and keep the other set
for yourself.  When vacating the premises, take comparison
pictures once all your furniture is out and you are through cleaning.  Be advised,  this can work against you as well as with you! 

Read and know the written terms and conditions that can allow
you to alter, sublet, or terminate your lease. Make certain any
verbal agreements or understandings are converted to writing and
placed in your lease agreement.  DO NOT SIGN ANY DOCUMENT THAT IS UNCLEAR TO YOU.  If either party fails to uphold their side of the contract, the other party has legal remedy and can oftentimes be forced by the courts to uphold their part of the contract. 

 SERVICES AND OTHER INFORMATION

A. UTILITIES 

Electricity: Generally, electricity and phone costs are not included in the rental price.  Plan to pay more if there is air conditioning. Ask if storm windows and screens are provided  and whether or not you can install a window air-conditioner if none is available. Check to see if you will be cooking or heating with electricity - this can raise the cost considerably.  The customer service area of the electric company, Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), can be reached at 1-877-426-6331. Their web address is http://www.exeloncorp.com/

Natural Gas: Many apartments that are heated by natural gas will
include the cost of heat with the price.  But over  the past couple of years there have been a few major increases in gas prices and gas bills have quadrupled in some cases.  Many landlords have passed that cost increase on to their tenants.  For further information contact the Northern Illinois Gas Company (Nicor) at 1-888-642-6748. Their web  address is http://www.nicor.com/en_us/nicor_inc/. If you choose an apartment in Chicago, Peoples Gas (also known as Peoples Energy) is the provider. Their web address is http://www.peoplesenergy.com/site.asp

 Phone Service: AT&T/SBC is the local phone company. There are multiple charges associated with getting your land phone line hooked up. These cost vary, but oftentimes include items such as: phone installation charges, supplemental line charges, federal access charges, and possibly a surcharge for emergency 9-1-1 usage.  Depending upon the results of the credit check they perform, a security deposit may or may not be required.  Monthly phone service costs vary depending upon the type of plan you choose. It can be a fixed rate per month for so many minutes, or it can be a per-minute charge.  Obviously, extra phone features such as call waiting, call forwarding, caller I.D. and three-way calling will also add to your bill.  Once you have an apartment and are ready to establish phone service, you may do so by dialing 1-800-244-4444.  SBC web address is http://www.connecttosbc.com/index.html they offer various packages, so look over  their home page before you call. 

Some students have chosen to use a cellular phone as their
primary phone and by-pass the land line altogether.  Be sure to check out the current "deals" from the major cellular phone companies to see if this is a possibility for you.  This type of arrangement might disqualify you from obtaining phone line based DSL service for your computer. If you intend to hook up a computer to your phone line, know that T&T/SBC charges by zone.  Local calls (within 8 miles of your phone company's switching stations) are considered Zone A.  All calls to Zone A are a flat rate of so many cents per call no matter how long you talk or how long your computer is hooked up to it.  Zone B (determined by miles from your phone company's switching station, roughly 8-15 miles) is so many cents per minute for a certain number of minutes, and then a lower rate per minute after that initial number of minutes.  Zone C is considered long distance and you are charged a flat rate of so many cents per minute with no discount after so many minutes. DO NOT ALLOW YOUR INTERNET SERVICE PROVIDER TO GIVE YOU A DIAL-UP PHONE NUMBER OR A DSL LINE THAT IS IN ZONE B OR ZONE. C.  Don't presume that the number you have been given is in Zone A just because it has the same area code as yours.  The AT&T/SBC home page can provide you with a listing of the phone number area codes and prefixes that will be in your Zone A. 

B.  Parking

Many communities (Broadview, Forest Park, LaGrange, LaGrange
Park, Maywood, Oak Park, and Riverside) do not permit overnight parking on the streets (usually defined as 2:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m.).
In this case, you will require off-street parking.  If your landlord provides a parking space or a garage there may be an extra charge. Some communities have village parking lots located throughout the community for resident use.  In addition, most communities require that you register your car and display a vehicle sticker (usually at an additional price) that can be obtained from the community's village hall. 

C.  Kitchen and other Appliances

If they are included, make certain that the same appliances you
see on your inspection (such as the stove, refrigerator, washer,
dryer and air conditioner) will be there when you move in. If they
are not included in your rent, you should expect  to pay less,
because they are usually provided.

D.  Rent and Security Deposit

Before taking possession of the apartment, most landlords will
require the first month’s rent in advance, as well as the equivalent
of one to one and a half months’ rent as a security deposit. The
security deposit is held by the landlord and is often used to cover damages to the unit over and above normal wear and tear. 
Sometimes there is a grace period allowed before your rent is considered late, usually around 10 days. Most apartments require
that rent be paid on the first of the month. Some landlords will
allow your security deposit to be used as your last month’s rent,
but that varies by preference or by contract (lease).  

E.  Maintenance and Repairs

Know how requests for maintenance will be handled and who will
handle them.  Is there an on-site person or does it get called into a service?  The difference between a resident repair manager and a landlord "in absentia" may delay the repair for days. 

F.  Decorating and Cleaning 

Items such as painting, carpet cleaning, fumigation, window
washing, etc., are often provided by the landlord, but ask how frequently. Some landlords are willing to supply the materials if
the tenant provides the labor.  Others may allow a temporary reduction in the rent if the tenant purchases the product, such
as paint, and then paints the unit themselves.

G.  Miscellaneous Information

• How will your mail be handled, is there a locked mailbox or
  will it be left on the hallway floor?

• Is there a security system for the building; does the front hall
  door lock?

• Are there locks, or stops on the windows?

• Are laundry facilities available in the unit, in the building or
  down the street? 

• Is a secure storage area provided, such as a place where
  you can store your bike? 

• Are there smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the unit? 
  Do they work?

• What pets are permitted?  Are there size limitations?

• How close are you to a grocery store, bank, a pharmacy
  and to public transportation?

• If there is a unit above you, is it carpeted (helping to reduce
  the noise level in your unit)? 

• Are you allowed to use an outdoor grill on your balcony or
  porch?

• What is the general composition of the building (i.e.,
  mostly students, young families, children, etc.)?

• It is beneficial to view the apartment both during the day
  and evening hours.

• If you are in a basement apartment, are there two
  entrances/exits out?

Below is a listing of the local town/village
 telephone numbers of the communities where most
 of our students reside. 

TEMPORARY AND SHORT-TERM HOUSING 
If you are need of temporary housing while visiting the campus or
looking for an apartment, the community in which they are located
lists the following facilities:

If you are in need of short-term housing
while you are securing permanent accommodations: