Minnesota State University, Mankato Off-Campus Housing

12/03/2018

People living in rental properties near downtown need to know that parts of downtown will be under a snow emergency starting at 10 p.m. tonight! This is done so that city plows can clear streets. Anyone parked on city streets when a snow emergency has been declared for the area will land themselves a hefty tow truck and/or impound bill.

Find out about the affected areas at https://www.mankatomn.gov/Home/Components/News/News/6890/107?backlist=%2f

Want to be in the know when these snow emergencies are declared? Sign up for text alerts at https://www.mankatomn.gov/city-services-a-z/customer-service/snow-emergency-alerts You'll only receive messages when/if a snow emergency is declared.

Need assistance? Chat live, contact customer service at 311 or 507-387-8600, or submit online request.Live chat is available 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday. View city staff list.

11/07/2018

Did you know!?

If you are a renter in Minnesota, you may be able to claim a partial refund of your rent paid, if your landlord used some of that rent to pay property taxes on the building you live in.

Key Requirements:
-You are not a dependent (see definition in the instruction booklet linked to below.
-You are not a full-year resident of Michigan or North Dakota.
-You are not a non-resident alien with less than $4050 in income and greater than 50% support from a relative.

Applications for this refund on rent paid in 2017 were due on August 18, but the application can be submitted up to a year after that!

In order to claim this refund for rent paid during 2018, you will need to request a CRP (Certificate of Rent Paid) from any landlord you have rented from during this calendar year. Most landlords will be able to provide this in January 2019. The application for the refund is due August 18, 2019.

11/02/2018

Now that we've reached the time when students start to consider next year's housing arrangements, we'll start offering periodic tips to help in the search.

Tip 4: Communicate With Your Roommates

Knowing something about, and coming to agreements about things with, your roommates can help avoid conflicts down the road.

Are you a night owl or a morning person? Do you expect a quiet place to study at home? Do you drink or smoke, or do you prefer a place where that doesn't happen? Are you a clean person, or are you likely to have a cluttered home? Do you have a significant other who is likely to spend considerable time with you at your apartment/house? Are you ok having a roommate who has a significant other who may spend considerable time in your apartment/house? What, of your things, is it ok for your roommate and/or his/her guest(s) to use? Who will pay what utilities? When you go grocery shopping, are you shopping only for you, or is it ok for roommates to get into your food/drinks? How will you share cleaning responsibilities?

All of these things have led to roommate conflicts that we have helped mediate. Sometimes, things as ultimately insignificant as these have led to friendships ending. Talking about them before they become an issue can help a lot. Disputes about things like this, or other roommate conflicts will not be considered justifiable reasons to get you out of a lease.

Signing a lease with a romantic partner may sound like a great idea, but conflicts involving a romantic breakup have been some of the most difficult and awkward "roommate" conflicts we've seen. A breakup will not get you out of a lease, just like no other roommate conflict or ended friendship will.

11/01/2018

Now that we've reached the time when students start to consider next year's housing arrangements, we'll start offering periodic tips to help in the search.

Tip 3: Know What Your Budget Is, and Find Something that Fits Within It.

How much can you afford to spend on a monthly basis? The difference in pricing between the various student housing units and properties can be significant. Some of the listed rental amounts include most utilities, while others include none. Know which are included with your rent, and try to figure out how much will you have to spend on electric, gas, water, trash, cable, and internet. Will you need to buy an on-campus parking permit?

Many students say they plan to cook/prepare meals at home, but they also tell us that the most unanticipated expense they encounter when living off campus is how much they spend eating out. Can you stick to your plan of grocery shopping and eating at home? Make sure your budget reflects what you realistically think you will do.

Bottom Line: Rent is likely only one of the monthly expenses you'll have. Be sure that your monthly budget can cover it AND the other costs you think you'll encounter.