Where to Begin...

Depending on what you are looking for, it can take anywhere from three days to several weeks to find an apartment. We recommend that students who are planning to live off-campus visit for a weekend of apartment hunting. We know that this can be quite expensive with airfare, lodging, and car rental, but it’s worth the effort. The houses in the University area run the gamut from original condition to newly refinished. Therefore, renting by phone is always a risk. Another advantage to visiting is that you can see the neighborhood and evaluate the environment.

Some students will pack everything they own and move here before finding an apartment. This is always an option as some apartments are immediately available. We recommend making temporary housing arrangements, whether in a hotel or bed and breakfast, until you find a permanent location.

Either way, there are steps that you can take right now to help you relocate to New Orleans.

Getting Organized...

Getting organized begins at home. The first step is to narrow down the area of where you would like to live in New Orleans. Most students prefer to live within walking distance of the University, which is located in the Uptown area. There are many options to find out availability:

Contact the Loyola Student Activities Office at (504) 865-3622. We offer an Apartment Listing service and a Roommate File to assist you in your search. Most apartments listed are within a two-mile radius of campus.
Contact the local newspapers , The Times Picayune http://www.nola.com or the Gambit http://www.bestofneworleans.com and request a copy. The numbers and web sites are listed in the "Helpful Telephone Numbers" section of this guide on page 6. In the classifieds, both in the newspaper and on web sites, apartments closest to Loyola will be under the "Above Canal Street" or "Orleans Parish" section and more specifically will refer to the "Uptown,", "University," "Garden District," or "Carrollton" area.
Call one of the local real estate agencies and ask if they have listings for theUptown/University area. You can find all the different companies located under the Real Estate section in the yellow pages or at http://www.yp.bellsouth.com If you go to your local or current institution library it should have a New Orleans phone book on file, so you really can begin right at home!

Deciphering the Classifieds...

Here is an example of a newspaper apartment listing and how to decipher its meaning.

University Area. 1 bdrm upper, C/A/H, W/D, D/W. Wd floors, 12ft ceilings. Ref. required. No pets. Lease req. $550 plus one mos. deposit. Utl. not incl. 1234 Broadway. Call 555-1234.

This is a one bedroom on the upper level of the building. C/A/H is central air and heat. W/D is a washer and dryer. D/W is a dishwasher. The apartment has wooden floors and twelve foot high ceilings. The landlord requires references and does not allow pets. A lease is also required. Rent is $550 a month plus utilities. One month's rent is required as a deposit.

It is also a good indication when the owner puts the address in the paper. This way you are able to drive by and see if you like the apartment and area before calling.

Because housing in New Orleans is unique, there are some other words to know:

Shotgun apartments are apartments that have no hallways. They are one room after another so that the layout may be front parlor, bedroom, second bedroom, and kitchen. So if you have a two bedroom shotgun, one roommate will probably have a bedroom that is necessary to walk through to access the bathroom, etc.

A camelback shotgun is similar to a regular shotgun but with an additional second level on just the back of the house.

Planning Your Visit...

Once you have a solid database of references, you are ready to begin planning your visit. See the "Hotel Directory" section on page 3. This will provide basic rates and assist you on locations. If you would prefer not to rent a car, make sure you stay in an Uptown/University Area hotel located on the St. Charles streetcar line. Many of the Garden District Hotels are located only a block away from the streetcar and would be convenient too.

All other necessary information is located under the "Helpful Telephone Numbers" section. Everything you will need from airline phone numbers, agencies and transportation are located in this section.

Viewing an Apartment....

Once you find an apartment to view, there are certain questions you should ask, and certain situations you should consider.

Leases

Most landlords require that you sign a lease. Read over the lease very carefully because it contains many different rules and regulations. If you do not understand something, ask about it. If you’re still not sure, ask for an extension. Contact your current landlord or someone who deals with contracts and ask them to explain it to you. It’s always best to know exactly what your responsibilities are before moving to a new place.

Make sure to get any agreements between you and your landlord in writing. To protect yourself, have the landlord inspect the place for damage before you move in, and add this list to your lease. This way you both acknowledge that these problems existed before you moved in, and you are not responsible for them.

Ask about making repairs, painting, redecorating, or other improvements. Who will be financially responsible? Some landlords may want you to make an out-of-pocket expense, and they will "reimburse" you that month with a lower rent totaling the difference of the costs.

Utilities

Remember when looking for an apartment, unless otherwise stated, payment of all utilities is the responsibility of the person renting the apartment. These bills can add up and make a difference in affordability. It is important that you know the estimate costs of all these bills before signing a lease. There are some very practical ways of obtaining this information.

First, ask the current tenants how much they pay per month on utility bills. If you are not fortunate enough to encounter any tenants, or if the apartment is empty, there are still ways to obtain this information.

If you call the Entergy (utilities company) and give them the address (including apartment number) of the apartment you wish to rent, they are able to inform you of the average monthly utility bill.

Roommates

Roommates are great to have for cutting down on expenses and having some companionship. The Student Activities Office offers a Roommate Listing service where students can either list space available for a roommate to move in or can list themselves as needing a place to live and wanting to be a roommate. This service is provided free, and the list is distributed only to other Loyola students via our website. If you are entering law school and would like information on law school roommates, contact the Loyola Law School Admissions Office at (504) 861-5577.

It's always a good idea to talk to your roommate and come to an agreement on such issues as cleaning, quiet times, house rules, privacy, guests, shared items (food, clothing) and bills before these subjects become a problem.

Renter's Insurance

It's wise to obtain renter's insurance when leasing an apartment. Most people are not covered by their landlord's policy, so it is in your best interest to invest in your own. Policies will vary according to the insurance company, so it's best to contact several insurance agencies to get different quotes. Make sure to give each agent the same information so that you can accurately compare insurance rates.

Contact the Insurance Information Institute at (212) 669-9200 or visit the web site at www.iii.org for nonspecific consumer information and helpful brochures on renter's insurance.

Safety

Although Uptown New Orleans gives a suburban appearance, looks can be deceiving. It is still very much a city. Unfortunately, crime comes hand in hand with living in a big city.

There are many specific safety items you can look for when renting an apartment.

• Upstairs apartments are usually safer, as it is more difficult for a burglar to enter.

• Bars on the windows add to the security of your apartment.

• Knock on the neighbor’s door and ask what the area is like, how much crime occurs, etc.

• Call the Second District (University area) Police Department and find out the crime statistics for the block or area.

• Drive by the apartment at night, so you can see what the neighborhood is like at that time and how well lit the apartment area is. If you don’t feel completely comfortable with the lighting, investing in motion lights is an inexpensive way to save energy and increase safety. Speak to your landlord about it.

• Off street parking is considered a safety feature (as well as a huge convenience).

• If you are not 100 percent comfortable with the safety of an apartment, do not move in. Something you like better will become available.

Other considerations

There are other important considerations too, location being one of them. Is it walking distance from campus? Is it on or close to a bus line or streetcar? Do you have a bicycle or car? How long would that ride take?

Finally, carefully inspect the apartment - Check the water pressure, appliances, lights, and storage space. Make sure that any electric plugs will fit into the sockets - especially in older apartments that may not have the bigger (polarized) outlets.

Other options...

Loyola offers on campus housing for transfer, law, and graduate students in Cabra Hall located on the Broadway campus - directly across the street from the Law School and only a few blocks from the main campus.

Cabra Hall is a five story co-ed residence hall. Four rooms share a common area and two bathrooms. Each room houses two students with a bed, desk, study lamp, closet space, carpeting, and shelves for each. See the diagram below.

Living on campus your first year allows you the opportunity to adjust to life in New Orleans. You can learn your way around, become familiar with the city, and adjust to school demands without the hassle of moving to a new city. Besides, if you find that residence hall living is not for you when your contract is up(contracts are for one full academic year), you may begin an apartment search knowing the area a little bit better and having a better understanding of the section of town where you would like to live.

If you would like more information on living in Cabra Hall, call the Office of Residential Life at (504) 865-3735. Campus housing is limited during the 1999-2000 academic year because of residence hall renovations; therefore, it is recommended that you contact this office immediately.

Taking the time to do a little pre-planning before your arrival in New Orleans will go a long way. By thinking about these issues and by asking a lot of questions when talking to potential landlords, you should be able to gather enough information to choose the housing that's just right for you!