Before You Sign a Rental Agreement, Consider the Following
Did you know there is no such thing as BYU-Approved Housing?
- All single undergraduate BYU students are required to live in BYU Contracted Housing
Verify Facility is BYU Contracted Housing
- Not all housing within the Off-Campus Housing boundaries is Contracted Housing. To become contracted, owners must go through a process including paperwork, an inspection and agreeing to the expectations placed on all contracted facilities. Do not rely on the landlord saying they follow BYU standards or that they will be contracted. Landlords must be currently contracted. It is the responsibility of the student to verify that a location is CONTRACTED with BYU before signing. A facility’s address can be verified under the Search for Housing tab. The following PDF demonstrate the steps to Checking an Address.
- When a student signs an agreement to live in a facility not contracted by the university and has not been excused from the university housing requirement, sanctions will be applied even though the student's contract extends beyond the current semester or term in which the student is enrolled. A student in this situation will have to either move from the non-contracted housing unit, regardless of the consequences, or forego registration and other privileges at the university until complying with this policy. Waivers are available but are only granted in situations where there are special circumstances or unusual hardships as determined by BYU Off-Campus Housing. Failure to verify if a facility is Contracted with BYU will not qualify as a special circumstance.
Contracted Landlords must use a BYU Student-Landlord Rental Agreement for all tenants
- All tenants in contracted housing must verify their student status at BYU or another qualifying institution. All tenents must agree to follow the code of conduct that is included on the BYU Student-Landlord Rental Agreement. Landlords my use an Addendum outlining the owner's house rules and rental policies. Nothing in the Addendum can contradict the BYU Student-Landlord Rental Agreement. Addendums must be signed and a copy given to you at the time you sign a contract.
- If a non-contracted facility uses this contract they are using it inappropriately. Paragraph 14 in the contract states that students may terminate this Agreement at any time the dwelling unit does not have a contract to provide BYU Contracted Housing. The landlord agrees to remit within 5 days the balance of any prepaid rental and/or deposit monies to any student electing to terminate his or her Agreement in accordance with this paragraph. The landlord may retain only a pro rata portion of nonrefundable fees.
Read and Know Your Contract
- Keep a copy of your contract and any addendums or house rules given to you by your landlord. It is important to know the information there. You will find important information such as move in and out dates, rent payment dates, non-refundable portions of the deposit, and other items that will help inform you for better decision-making during your tenancy.
Contracted Landlords must use a BYU Student-Landlord Rental Agreement for all tenants
- If a non-contracted facility uses this contract they are using it inappropriately. Paragraph 14 in the contract states that students may terminate this Agreement at any time the dwelling unit does not have a contract to provide BYU Contracted Housing. The landlord agrees to remit within 5 days the balance of any prepaid rental and/or deposit monies to any student electing to terminate his or her Agreement in accordance with this paragraph. The landlord may retain only a pro rata portion of nonrefundable fees.
- Addendums must be signed and a copy given to you at the same time you sign a contract. Nothing in the Addendum can violate the Student Landlord Rental Agreement.
Get it in writing - Verbal agreements about a Contract
- Although verbal agreements are legally enforceable, they are very difficult to enforce. Always keep a copy of anything you are given by your landlord or that you give to the landlord. Keep a log of interactions with your landlord, along with any statements from witnesses you have.
Sign Wisely
- There is no Renters Remorse Clause in Utah State Law. Once you sign a contract, you are bound to the terms, unless it is canceled according to specific circumstances outlined in the contract itself.
- Paragraph 22 of the BYU Student-Landlord Rental Agreement addresses possible situations where you may be able to terminate prior to commencement; however, there are fees and limits to when this can happen.
What Should I Ask a Potential Landlord?
- Is this facility Contracted with BYU Off-Campus Housing?
- How long does the contract run?
- What are check-in/out dates?
- Is there any flexibility in the dates? Are there any costs to move in early or stay later?
- What if I renew a contract for the next year, can I stay during the break?
- Do you use the BYU Rental Agreement?
- Do you have an addendum or house rules? If yes, what are they?
- Is there any part of the deposit that is non-refundable?
- How are utilities covered?
- Do the utilities have to be in a student’s name or are they in the landlord’s name? Whose name are the utilities in?
- Is there a phone provided or do I need to bring my own?
- Does the rent include internet access? What type of access is used?
- If it is not included in the rent, is there internet access available? What type and what are the costs?
- What amenities are included? (Pool, storage, microwave, disposal, dishwasher, etc.)
- How much parking is there on-site?
- What about parking stickers?
- How many people are in each unit?
- Can I choose which unit I am in?
- What are the procedures for work orders?
- What is your schedule for carpet cleaning?
- How often do you do cleaning checks?
- Is it possible to look at the actual unit I will be staying in?