Most UCLA students move out of the dorms after their first or
second year. The search for housing can be long and arduous, and it typically
begins in the months of March/April, and can last until the end of the spring
quarter. The most popular, and indeed probably most effective, means of finding
a place to live is through Craigslist,
an online classified listing.
Prices for accommodation depend on a variety of factors. These
include proximity to campus, number of rooms, number of roommates, facilities
and living arrangements (sharing rooms?). A triple room can be as cheap as
$500/person and a single room in a studio can go as high as $1800/person.
Typically, anything south of Wilshire Blvd is cheaper and parking is included
but it is further away. Do note that frat houses can be pretty noisy so those
who might find this a cause for concern should make sure that their future
accommodations are a reasonable distance from them.
Moving into private housing is major business. To begin with,
you need to find housemates: people you will be willing to live in close
proximity with. You will then need to find a place that suits the needs and
preferences of everyone in the group. Once you find a place, you will sign a
rental lease. Before signing, you should be aware of things like the duration
of the lease (usually one year), number of people allowed to stay on the
premises (rent can vary depending on number), and whether subletting is
allowed, since you may not be living in the place over summer and may want to
source another person or persons to pay the rent in the meantime. You will also
want to know if certain utilities, such as water, gas, and electricity are paid
for, whether there is parking, what sort of maintenance is provided, and so on.
Good offers disappear quickly, so be prepared to make fast decisions.
Once you sign, you will need to begin sourcing for furnishing,
since unless you’re lucky, the place will likely be completely unfurnished.
Furniture can be obtained secondhand through various means, ranging from
graduating seniors to Craigslist. Buying furniture from Ikea (really far away)
is also an option, but note that their delivery charges are as high as $100 for
a bed. Moving this furniture and your other possessions is also very much a
pain. You can find movers on Craigslist, rent a U-Haul, find some devoted friends, or do it
yourself.
Finally, you will need to settle water, electricity, gas,
internet and possible cable TV bills on a regular basis. For Internet, be sure
to look for student promotions, by going in person to provider offices if
necessary.
