This document provides guidance for students leaving Hult Lodge on finding off-campus housing in San Francisco. It discusses putting together application materials like a cover letter, rental history, proof of income, and credit history. It also covers making realistic plans regarding budget, space needs, neighborhoods, and commutes. The document offers tips for searching for apartments on sites like Craigslist and through Hult's preferred housing partners. It concludes with information on signing a lease and understanding terms and responsibilities.

1. I’m leaving Hult Lodge… now what?
Your guide to finding off-campus housing

2. How do I rent in
San Francisco?
The typical basics of the
application process
• Put together your housing application
materials
• Make realistic plans
• Searching for apartments
• Signing the lease!

3. Putting together your
application materials
• The following will help speed up your
application process
• Application cover letter
• Your rental history
• Social Security Number (SSN) and
Credit history
• Proof of income/employment
• Most common: can be used over and over
• Keep in mind…
• Not all landlords will require all or any
of the above.
• Some landlords may require additional
information.

4. Putting together your
application materials
Application Cover Letter
• Your name should be clear and present
• State how you heard of apartment
• Why you’d be a good tenant
• Your contact information (email, phone)
• Does not need to be overly-long
Sample Application Cover Letter:
“Hello, my name is Billy Bob. I found your ad on
Craigslist, and it sounds exactly like what I’m
looking for. I am 21-year-old student from
Canada and will be completing my degree
downtown at Hult International Business School.
For the past year, I’ve been living in Oakland,
and am looking to move to San Francisco. I love
to travel and would describe myself as very
outgoing, entertaining, and always eager to
meet people from new countries. In my free time
I like to play soccer, surf, snowboard, and run
5Ks. I’ve lived in house-shares in the past with up
to six people and it has worked out very well,
and I am looking for a similar setup. If the room
is still available, please email or call me at 415-
XXX-XXXX. Thank you.”

5. Putting together your
application materials
Your Rental History
• List your past residences
• Address
• Duration of stay
• Landlords with contact info
• It’s OK if you do not have a rental history,
but be sure to note this in your application.
• Similarly, be prepared to explain gaps
in history.
• These are seen as references. If you
know a past landlord will give you a bad
reference, think twice about listing them.
Billy Bob’s Rental History
Hult Lodge
September 2014 – Present
2332 Harrison Street
Oakland, CA
Landlord: Christina Montsma
415 – 869 – 2900
Cool Beach Residence
January 2008 - September 2014
123 Fake Avenue
Los Angeles, CA
Landlord: Guy Incognito
101 – 101 - 1010

6. Putting together your
application materials
Credit Report and Social Security Number
• Most commonly used by landlords to check if you are going to
be able to pay.
• If you are not from/have not worked in the United States, you
probably don’t have these (and that’s ok)!
• Use bank statements from past 6 months, or some other
way to show proof of funds.
• You will likely need to show your I-20 and/or enrollment
letter to verify you are a student.
• Some independent landlords may still require a Social
Security Number or credit report. That’s their choice.
Hult’s Preferred Housing Vendors do not require this.
• Co-Signer
• Someone else on the lease who is able to demonstrate
proof of funds if you are not (such as your parents).

7. Making Realistic
Plans
Consider the following before
starting your housing search
• San Francisco is super expensive.
• What is your budget?
• How much space do you need?
• Are you ok with roommates?
• How far are you willing to commute?
• What do you need around your neighborhood?
In a safe area Close to school
Affordable
Pick
two

8. Making Realistic
Plans
We’re #1!
• San Francisco is the most expensive
city to rent in in the United States!
• Average 1-bedroom is $3,370
per month. 2-bedroom is $4,500
• Oakland is #22; average 1-
bedroom at $1,900 per month
• Berkeley; average 1- bedroom at
$2,720 per month
• Tiny area, high demand
• The average apartment can receive
hundreds of offers

9. Making Realistic
Plans
What is your budget?
• Average 1-bedroom is $3,370 per
month
• Move in costs = 1st month’s rent + last
month’s rent + security deposit
• A security deposit is a payment made before
you move in, and is usually returned as you
move out as long as you adhere to the term of
your lease.
• Moving costs/furniture?
• Utilities
• Basic utilities: Water, gas, electric
• May or may not be covered by landlord
• Cable, internet, phone service are other
possible utilities, although not often
included.

10. Making realistic
plans
These factors can typically effect
your costs:
• Location/neighborhood
• Space/square feet
• Bedrooms and bathrooms available
• The view
• Parking
• Washer and dryer on site
• Dishwasher
• Allowing pets
Determine ahead of time what you must
have, and what you can compromise on.
Above: A nice view in
a great neighborhood
can be a wonderful
experience, but is it
worth the cost?
Left, top: Amenities,
like a washer and
dryer are convenient,
but often raise the
price tag. Left,
bottom: Parking is
hard to find, and a
permanent parking
spot costs money.

11. Making Realistic
Plans
How much space do you need?
• Roommates save you money!!
• Average 1-bedroom – $3,370 per
month
• $3,370 per person
• Average 2-bedroom - $4,500 per
month
• $2,750 per person, per month
• Most San Franciscans have roommates
or housemates.

12. Making Realistic Plans
How to pick a good roommate
• Late owl or early riser?
• What does their daily schedule like?
• Do they smoke, drink, or do drugs?
• Are they financially responsible?
• Quiet and relaxed or likes noise and parties?
• Do they share items (pots, pans, silverware),
or separate?
• How often are their friends or romantic
interest over?
• How do they like to divide up chores?
• Are they neat/clean or “relaxed”? What does
that mean to them?
Even though you may be best friends, you might not be the best roommates.
Consider the following about your potential roommates and yourself:

13. Making Realistic Plans
How to Be a Good Roommate
Do’s
• Respect your
roommate’s privacy
• Clean up after yourself
• Dishes
• Laundry
• Bathroom
• Be mindful of the noise
you make
• Create a chore list
• Pay your share of the
utilities/rent on time
Don’ts
• Go through your
roommate’s stuff
• Leave a mess
• Dirty Dishes
• Laundry
• Clogged Sinks
• Be loud late at night
• Ignore your chores
• Flake on your bill
Two ways guaranteed to terminate any
friendship: Not doing the dishes, and
clogging the drains.

14. Making Realistic
Plans
Choose your
neighborhood wisely
• Lots of great neighborhoods!
• How far are you willing to commute?
• It takes one hour via MUNI to get
from Park Merced (the opposite
end of the city) to Hult.
• MUNI runs throughout the city, and
some lines run all night long.
• Farther from downtown, the cheaper it
gets.
• Some of the best neighborhoods to
live in are further out.

15. Planning your commute
Left: MUNI runs
everywhere, can get you
within 2 blocks of
destination. Monthly pass
available. Above: Some
lines run all night, can get
you near your
destination.

16. Choosing the Right Neighborhood
Searching in the right
neighborhood can make a
huge difference. Living
further from downtown
could save you big time
money. Other
neighborhoods can be
considered a little rough.
Make time to explore as
many different ones as
you can.

17. Choosing the Right Neighborhood
2 bedrooms, as seen on
Padmapper, between
$2,500 and $3,100 a
month, as of today. What
does this say about where
we should look for deals?

18. What neighborhoods
do you want
to live in?

19. Name that ‘Hood
And would you live here?

20. Name that ‘Hood
And would you live here?

21. Name that ‘Hood
And would you live here?

22. Name that ‘Hood
And would you live here?

23. Name that ‘Hood
Main point? There are a lot of cool places to live. Go explore!
North Beach
Near Campus, lots
of food, lively
atmosphere, close
to downtown
Mission
Great nightlife, lots
of art, burritos,
Dolores Park, Fair-
trade organic
coffee
Richmond
Quiet and relaxing,
lots of parks and
ocean, affordable,
great restaurants
Haight-Ashbury
Colorful, a little
cheaper, lots of
small shops, Golden
Gate Park, hippies.

24. Searching for
apartments
Where the real work begins
• Common ways to search for apartments
• Expectations when applying
• Tips and tricks

25. Searching for
apartments
Common ways to search for
apartments
• Hult’s Preferred Housing Partners
• Work with Hult students year after year
• Safe and reliable
• Found on myHult > Accommodation
• Craigslist or Padmapper
• Most common way to find housing in San
Francisco
• Lost of postings, lots of competition
• Beware! Scams occur
• Jump Off Campus
• Posts by students, alumni for soon to be
vacated units

26. myHult
Accommodation > Preferred Housing Partners
Housing Vendor Fair: April 24th, 12:25pm – 1:30pm

27. Searching for
apartments
Expectations when applying
• Finding a suitable apartment can take a
couple of months: do not put your search
off!
• Competition is fierce!
• Open houses/viewings
• Landlord may want application
fee
• Dozens, sometimes hundreds of
applicants may be looking at the
same apartment
• Don’t expect to hear back from every
inquiry you make

28. Searching for
apartments
Tips and Tricks
• Apply early and often
• Know what you want ahead of time
• What can you not live without
• What are you willing to compromise on
• Be friendly!
• Follow up on your applications
• Timing is everything
• Most apartments turnover within a week
• If you get a deal you like, don’t let it linger
• Beware scammers!
• Never give your personal information out online
• Always view an apartment before you rent

29. Signing the Lease
Closing the deal…
• What the heck is a lease?
• Terminology
• Paying the rent
• Common mistakes
• Your rights and responsibilities

30. Signing the Lease
What the heck is a lease?
• Binding contract between you and
landlord, explaining details of your rental
agreement
• Key items
• Duration of least (6 months,12
months)
• Your monthly rent payment
• Terms of your security deposit
• Identifies who the renter actually is
• Those that are legally responsible
to pay.
• Once signed, very hard to get out of.
Only sign if you are ready and committed
to a place!

31. Signing the Lease
Terminology
• Rent – your monthly payment
• Security deposit – Paid when you sign
the lease. Usually refunded at end of
lease, but can be withheld if you violate
lease.
• Sublet – Your name is on the lease, but
someone rents your spot for awhile (ie,
during rotation). Many landlords don’t
allow subletting.
• Utilities – Usually, but not always, gas,
electricity, and water, and garbage. Make
sure you know who pays for these!

32. Signing the Lease
Paying the rent
• Typical move-in cost
• First month’s rent
• Last month’s rent
• Security deposit
• Most landlords only accept written
checks for monthly payments. All major
US banks offer these.
• Each lease will have a total amount due;
up to roommates on how to divide
• Are all rooms created equally?
• Sharing rooms?
• Payment usually due on the first of the
month. Check with landlord for specifics.

33. Signing the Lease
Common Mistakes
• Don’t leave the lease early
• If you sign a 12 month lease, you are
expected to stay (and pay) for 12 months
• This includes rotation
• Don’t damage the apartment
• Don’t make excessive noise
• Excessive parties, loud music
• Noise complaints can lead to fines from
police, possible lease violation
• Don’t sublet your apartment without your
landlord’s approval
• Don’t not pay your rent if the landlord doesn’t
fix something
• Do know exactly what is on your lease
• Do get agreements in writing
• Verbal agreements do not hold up
well in court
• Do take pictures and note damages with
your landlord BEFORE you move in
• This helps if your landlord tries to
fine you for damages later
• Do walkthrough your apartment with your
landlord when your lease is over
• Turn in keys
• Assess Damages
• Collect Security Deposit (if
applicable).

34. Signing the Lease
Your Rights and Responsibilities
• Landlord must maintain (at no charge/increase in
rent)
• Adequate and safe heat
• Hot and cold running water
• Electrical equipment in good order
• Housing free of pests
• If in violation, inform landlord, then Department
of Building Inspection
• 3 day minimum notice for “Cure or Quit”
• 30 day minimum notice for “Just Causes”
• Give your landlord 30 days notice before moving out
• Walkthrough with landlord at end of lease
• Must give 24 hours notice prior to entering
• You must collect your security deposit (if applicable)
before you leave!
• San Francisco Tenants Union (www.sftu.org)

35. Review:
Quick Takeaways
• Application Materials:
• Application Cover Letter
• Proof of Finances
• Make Realistic Plans:
• San Francisco is expensive
• Know what you can and can’t live with
• Consider roommates
• Be open to different neighborhoods
• Searching for Apartments
• Apply early and often
• Use many different resources
• Competition can be fierce: Don’t
despair!
• Signing the lease
• Know what is on your lease!
• Sign only if you are ready!

36. Q: How can I get an apartment in walking distance to campus, without having to sell my organs in the
black market?
A: You only need one kidney! But in all seriousness, it is expensive, especially near campus. Best options
include finding a roommate (literal roommate, loft beds, dormitory style living). The more you’re willing
to share, the more you’re likely to save. The Tenderloin, a 45 minute walk to campus, can save you
money, but it can also be considered a rough neighborhood. But best advice would be to expand your
search to neighborhoods that are not around campus, like the Richmond, Haight Ashbury, and Sunset,
and you’ll save without sacrificing on things to do.
Q: Do we have any opportunities to pay every month? Is it a requirement to rent apartments for the
whole year?
A: A little of both, depending on what you find. Most places, like the gateway will require a 6 month or
12 month lease, in which case you’ll pay your first month’s rent, your last month’s rent, and a security
deposit as you move in, and then you pay each month’s rent month by month. After that first lease is up,
you typically can pay month by month, or renew the lease. Your landlord does have the right to increase
the rent by a certain percentage every year (around 2.5% or so).
Other places are certainly more month to month oriented, like Columbus Residence, and will take
bookings by the month or even by the week, as opposed to a year-long commitment.

37. Q: Payment. Is it possible to reserve the apartment before September?
A: Some places, like Columbus Residence or USA Student Residences, yes! This is really
the only way to do things.
However, most places and private apartments usually only take residents 30 days in
advance. Why? Well, if you book it in May and won’t move in until September, the
landlord won’t get rent for June, July, or August. That’s just bad for their business,
especially since demand is so high. It’s a seller’s market. While this is certainly not the
case 100% of the time, it is the likely scenario. Work with landlords to find compromises.
A work around may be to book a place starting in May or June, move in, and possibly (if
ok with your landlord) subletting it to friends, or just eating the loss.

38. Happy Apartment Hunting!
Housing Vendor Fair
12:25pm – 1:30pm, April 24th, 2nd Floor