blog
Lease
Understand the lease before you sign it — applications, deposits, credit and guarantor rules, and the fine print that actually affects your money.
What Is a Security Deposit? A Student Renter's Guide to Getting It Back
A security deposit is money you hand your landlord before move-in — usually one to one-and-a-half months' rent — that sits as collateral against unpaid rent and damage beyond normal wear. You get it back after move-out, minus any legitimate deductions, within a window your state sets.
Guarantor vs. Cosigner for a Student Apartment: What's the Difference?
A cosigner signs your lease and is on the hook for rent from day one, with the legal right to live in the unit. A guarantor signs a separate guaranty contract, never moves in, and only owes money after you stop paying.
How to Sign a Student Apartment Lease From Out of State
To sign a student apartment lease from out of state: take a live video tour, verify the landlord and listing are real, request a remote move-in addendum, sign electronically, and pay your deposit through a traceable method — never a wire.
Can You Get Student Housing With Bad Credit?
Yes, you can get student housing with bad credit. A score under 600 rarely means an automatic no — it means a landlord will ask for a cosigner, a guarantor, a bigger deposit, or prepaid rent to offset the risk.
How to Find a Sublet for Your Student Apartment Without Getting Burned
Safely subletting a student apartment takes seven steps: read your lease, get landlord consent, screen the subletter, list on a verified channel, sign an agreement.
Academic-Year vs 12-Month Student Leases Compared: Which Actually Saves You Money? (2026)
Academic-year leases cost 10–25% more per month but free you from summer rent. 12-month leases lock you in but usually win all-in if you can sublet. Here's the per-month math and which one actually saves you money in 2026.
Can International Students Rent Apartments in the US Without a Credit Score?
Yes, international students can rent in the US without a credit score. Five workarounds: prepay rent, use guarantor services, get a co-signer, translate credit with Nova Credit, or show proof of funding.
Sublease vs. Reassignment in Student Housing: Which Is Easier?
Reassignment permanently transfers your lease — you're off the contract. Sublease keeps you on the lease while a subletter pays you. Here's which one to use when.
When Should You Sign a Lease for BYU Student Housing? (Provo Timing Guide)
For Fall semester at BYU, sign November through January for the best buildings. Wait past February and your top choices fill up. Full Provo lease timing guide by term.
Per-Bed vs. Per-Unit Lease: Which Is Better for College Students?
Per-bed leases protect you from roommate flake-outs but cost more per month. Per-unit leases save money but make you jointly liable. Here's which is right for you.
12-Month vs. 9-Month Academic-Year Lease: Which Is Better for College Students?
9-month lease lines up with the school year, but 12-month lease costs less per month. The right answer depends on summer plans, market gouging, and whether you can sublet. Here's the math, the trade-offs, and a quick decision framework.
Rexburg, ID Off-Campus Housing Timeline: When BYU-Idaho Students Sign Leases
Rexburg housing operates on its own clock. BYU-Idaho's three-track calendar means leases here don't follow the standard September-to-May rhythm. Sign for Fall in January, Winter in October, Spring in March — and confirm your track first.