Rental Process Guide

We’ve got you covered from renting A-Z to ensure you make the best choice for your off-campus renting experience.

Make informed choices every step of the process

Step	To Do Item	Best time to complete
1	Take Preferred Tenant Program Course	Anytime!
2	Determine the best environment for you: house, apartment, neighborhood, and location	February
3	Select your roommates	February
4	Figure out what you can financially afford	February
5	Make a list of your needs, must-haves, and wants	February
6	View your available options on the listing service, then set up and attend showings	March- April
8	Fill out the rental application for your first choice, request a sample lease	April
9	Sign your lease after it's been reviewed by the University Legal Clinic for free	May
10	Get the keys, document the condition of the rental unit and then move in	Complete check-in sheet within 7 days of receiving keys. Do not move-in until this is completed.
11	Make an agreement with your roommate(s) if applicable	June-September
12	Meet your neighbors	June-September
13	Enjoy living off-campus
14	Find a sublease or subleaser
15	Everything you need to know about moving out	May-August

Thinking About Renting Off Campus Next Fall? December 9, 2021
It’s never too late, but it can be too early! Now is the time to assess your current circumstances and think about what you need next. Remember: – You’re in control as a tenant. Don’t let any landlord pressure you into signing a lease, especially before May! -Get the best price and variety of options by signing a lease between May and August, or 2-3 months before you want to move in -Rental rates usually decrease as the rental market becomes more competitive -Take the Preferred Tenant Program online or in-person to qualify for $250 off your security deposit or 2% off your security deposit or 2% off your monthly rent with participating landlords –Make an educated choice and learn more about renting by visiting the Neighborhood Housing Office, the University Legal Clinic, or by participating in free programs such as the Preferred Tenant Program, our annual Housing Fair, and more! -For more information, check out our ...
Follow Up Letter Resources May 16, 2023
The Off Campus Resource Center is located on the ground floor of the Union, room EG42. You can also sign up for our e-newsletter, follow us on social media, and more to stay in the loop about things students who live off-campus need to know. Visit the Department of Neighborhood Services‘ website. Learn about and schedule with the University Legal Clinic. Understand the UW System Chapter 17 Code of Conduct and how it affects you. Learn what resources the Dean of Students office can provide. Reporting Conduct Concerns Milwaukee non-emergency numbers and contact information. Learn how to be a Good Neighbor. Read about the City of Milwaukee Noise Ordinance. Check out the OCRC website. Sign up for our e-newsletter. Keep up with us on social media: Facebook Here are some safety tips we recommend following! https://youtu.be/ZdcLIWE8GQo Don’t forget to be a good neighbor! https://youtu.be/G4nDpzNecEw
PantherCycle May 15, 2023
Sign up to volunteer for Move-Out sorting and the PantherCycle Free Store! If you are having issues submitting the answers to join PantherCycle, please contact the PantherCycle admin team at panthercycle-group@uwm.edu. PantherCycle is an opportunity for students living on and off-campus to give away unwanted household furniture, decorations, clothes, etc (see guidelines for acceptable items). We encourage students to join the PantherCycle Facebook group, where you can post pictures of your items and give it for FREE to other students in the group! Find free items for your apartment and help keep the streets of Milwaukee clean! Reasons to join PantherCycle: It’s exclusive to UWM students only It’s good for the planet by promoting sustainability and reuse culture You can win prizes from the Off Campus Resource Center just for joining Avoid being fined by the city for putting trash on the curb Have questions? Review these PantherCycle Guidelines or contact the PantherCycle admin team at panthercycle-group@uwm.edu. Facebook Group ...
Where do students live? March 4, 2021
1 mile from UWM Kenwood campus 6,000-10,000 students live within 1 miles of campus at 3,080 addresses 1 mile radius: 3,080 addresses (40%) Less than 40 minute walk Less than 15 minute bus ride Less than 10 minute drive Includes areas: Upper East Side, Riverwest, Riverside Park, North Avenue, Shorewood, Bradford Beach, Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital, Lake Park, UWM Kenwood Campus 3 miles from UWM Kenwood campus 7,000 – 14,000 students live within 3 miles of campus at 4,558 addresses 3-1 mile radius: 1,478 addresses (19%) 5-10 minute drive 10-30 minute bus ride 20-60 minute walk Includes areas: UWM Panther Arena, Fiserv Forum, Downtown, MATC, Zilber School of Public Health, MSOE, East Town, Yankee Hill, Water Street, Lower East Side, Veteran’s Park, Art Museum, Harambee, Arlington Heights, Williamsburg Heights, Riverwest, Whitefish Bay, Shorewood, Capitol/Humboldt UWM UPark Lot, Estabrook Park 5 miles from UWM Kenwood campus 8,000-15,000 students live within 5 miles of campus at 4,798 addresses 5-3 mile radius: 240 addresses (3%) 10-20 minute drive 20-40 minute bus ...
Find a good landlord January 20, 2021
A good landlord is essential to a great off-campus experience. We’ve taken the guess work out of finding one that meets criteria that go beyond what the city and state allow through the Good Neighbor landlord program. We also have a list of landlords that offer a discount when you complete the Preferred Tenant Program. You can filter available units that meet these criteria on the listing service or view the list of each by clicking above. Not every landlord participates in our programs, so if you come across one not on our list look for the following characteristics: Helpful and patient Allows you ample time to review a sample lease Gets everything in writing Willing to answer any questions Provides a check-in sheet and offers a walk-through of the unit before move-in Requires no more than 60-days notice to vacate the property Willing to remove an automatic renewal clause upon request Allows subleasing Offers receipts for all payments

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	Monthly Rent Per Person
Studio	$796
1 bedroom	$920
2 bedroom	$587
3 bedroom	$472

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Off-Campus Resource Center

Rental Process Guide

Make informed choices every step of the process

Start Looking	Sign a Lease	Move-In
February	April	May
March	May	June
April	June	July
May	July	August
June	August	September