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Off-Campus Housing Near UofL
About Off-Campus Housing Near University of Louisville
The University of Louisville brings about 22,200 Cardinals to its Belknap Campus, a 274-acre stretch south of downtown Louisville, home to a famous cast of Rodin's The Thinker. Just north sits Old Louisville, one of the country's largest historic preservation districts, where Victorian mansions line walkable, tree-shaded streets and students fill century-old homes. Game days roar at Cardinal Stadium, and basketball is a civic religion here. The Highlands runs along Bardstown Road as the go-to corridor for music, shops, and nightlife, while Cherokee Park's scenic loop and the riverfront Waterfront Park give green space across town. Louisville lives for the Kentucky Derby every May, when the whole city turns out. Students walk Belknap and ride city buses.
University of Louisville Housing Requirements
Freshman Live-On Requirement
Louisville runs a genuine live-on requirement, so all first-year students must live on campus their first year. Second-years are required to live on campus or in a UofL-affiliated property.
Off-Campus Eligibility
A handful of nearby private complexes hold contracts with the school and count toward the requirement, giving sophomores an off-campus-style option that still satisfies the rule. By junior year you are free to rent anywhere, and most students spread into Old Louisville. The rental process is standard, with applications, a security deposit, and often a guarantor if you lack income or credit history.
Lease Timing
Leases typically run 12 months, and because many places target the student cycle, expect terms tied to the late-summer turnover even if you only need the school year. Old Louisville is full of subdivided historic houses, so confirm the legal occupancy and who covers utilities before signing. Watch for quirks like odd room layouts, older heating, and street-only parking.