Looking at student housing apartments near Ohio State University, but feel like you don’t know what kind of housing is right for you?
As an OSU student myself, I understand that finding the perfect student apartment can feel overwhelming. There are many options, and it can be challenging to know which apartment is the best fit for my wants and needs.
Read Next: How Much Does it Cost to Live near The Ohio State University?
At Rambler Columbus, our leasing team has helped numerous students secure leases. We understand that navigating the search for the ideal student apartment near OSU’s campus can be a complicated process.
To help you better understand your options, we will compare purpose-built student housing apartments with traditional apartments near Ohio State to assist you in determining which is the best fit for your needs.
In this article, we will cover:
Student Housing Apartments vs. Traditional Apartments near OSU in Columbus, Ohio
Amenities
Apartments designed for students provide amenities customized to meet the specific preferences and requirements of college students. These may include fully furnished rooms, designated study spaces, and recreational facilities like pools, hot tubs, saunas, spas, basketball courts, golf simulators and more.
In contrast, amenity offerings in traditional apartments can vary. While certain traditional apartment complexes may offer amenities such as a pool or gym, most generally provide only the essential features, such as a washer/dryer, Wi-Fi, cable, and trash services. Given the variability in these features, it’s best to inquire with the apartment management about the specific amenities they offer.
Rambler’s third floor pool deck features a jumbotron, chaise loungers, and views of OSU campus. Splash in the summer and soak in the winter, in our pair of heated pools turned hot tubs.
Lease Type
Student housing apartments typically offer leases “by the bed,” also known as individual leasing.
Instead of renting the entire apartment collectively, an individual lease allows roommates to assume responsibility solely for their room (or bed), in addition to shared living spaces. Each tenant independently signs a lease and pays rent directly to their landlord.
For example, if you live in a 5×5 (five bedrooms, five bathrooms) with four other roommates, each roommate will sign an individual lease for their bedroom and bathroom. A total of five individual leases are signed, and each roommate is held responsible for their payment only.
Read Next: 5 Benefits of Signing an Individual lease in Columbus
On the other hand, traditional apartments typically offer leases “by the apartment,” also known as a traditional or joint lease.
The landlord will rent out the entire apartment through a single lease agreement rather than issuing separate individual leases. The rent will be stated for the entire apartment. You and your roommates will collectively sign a joint lease and distribute the rent accordingly.
Therefore, each roommate is equally liable for the entire apartment, including rent, utilities, and any damages. In this scenario, you and your roommates will agree together to pay rent and utilities each month.
Lease Term
Most purpose-built student housing apartments typically align their leases with the academic calendar, beginning around early to mid-August and ending on July 31st, aligning with the student academic schedule.
Alternatively, traditional lease terms vary. Landlords commonly prefer 12-month leases over shorter durations, and these leases may be initiated at any time throughout the year.
Representative rendering of bedrooms at Rambler Columbus.
Additional Features
Student housing apartments often offer their residents additional features that complement their lifestyle. These can include roommate matching, community events and more.
While traditional apartment complexes offer different amenities depending on the complex, most only include the basics, and don’t tend to have many additional features. Since traditional apartments vary in amenity offerings and additional features, it is best to ask management about which specific features they offer.
Pricing
Near OSU, rental rates can range greatly, from around $500 to $2,000 per month, depending on many factors.
Student housing apartments are often newer and cater to the student lifestyle with a range of amenities, which is reflected in their higher rental rates. Consequently, purpose-built student housing typically falls within the mid-to-high end of the price spectrum.
On the other hand, since traditional apartments have fewer amenity offerings and tend to be a bit older, they typically fall on the low-mid end of the price range.
Rambler’s fully furnished kitchen and living areas feature stainless steel appliances and quartz countertops, with plenty of natural light.
We hope this article helped you better understand what is typically included in your monthly rent at student housing apartments near Ohio State University.
If you have any questions about Campus living or want to learn more about Rambler Columbus, contact our leasing staff, who are more than happy to answer any questions you may have during your student housing search.
