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F-1 INTERNATIONALSTUDENTHOUSING GUIDE
2 / THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE FOR OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
TABLE OF CONTENTS
WHERE TO START ......................................................................................................................................... 3
QUESTIONS TO ASK ....................................................................................................................................... 4
COMMON RENTAL TERMS .......................................................................................................................... 5
HOUSING OPTIONS ........................................................................................................................................ 6
Grays Pointe Condominiums ................................................................................................................................. 6Extended Stay Hotel .................................................................................................................................................. 7The Willows at Grayslake ....................................................................................................................................... 8Pembrook Club Apartments .................................................................................................................................. 9Live with an American Family ............................................................................................................................ 10CORT Furniture Rental.......................................................................................................................................... 11
UNDERSTANDING HOW TO SIGN A LEASE .......................................................................................... 12
UNDERSTANDING LEASING POLICY ...................................................................................................... 13What is expected of me as a tenant .................................................................................................................. 13
ELECTRICITY SERVICE ............................................................................................................................... 15
SECURITY DEPOSIT ..................................................................................................................................... 16WHAT IS A SECURITY DEPOSIT .......................................................................................................................... 16HOW TO PROTECT THE SECURITY DEPOSIT ................................................................................................. 16HOW TO GET THE SECURITY DEPOSIT BACK ................................................................................................ 16
YOUR RIGHTS ................................................................................................................................................ 17TENANT’S GENERAL RIGHTS ............................................................................................................................... 17LANDLORD OBLIGATION ...................................................................................................................................... 18
BEING A GOOD ROOMMATE ..................................................................................................................... 19HOW TO BE A GOOD ROOMMAATE ................................................................................................................... 19
TIPS FOR TENANTS ..................................................................................................................................... 20
OFF CAMPUS LIVING ................................................................................................................................... 22BUDGET TIPS FOR STUDENTS ............................................................................................................................ 22
GETTING AROUND ....................................................................................................................................... 24PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ................................................................................................................................. 24HOUSING TRANSPORTATION FROM O’HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT ......................................... 25
WHO TO CONTACT ...................................................................................................................................... 26
3 / THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE FOR OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
WHERE TO START College of Lake County offers a variety of housing assistance options to
our international students. You are more than welcome to live where
you would like; however, we have worked with the following options to
ensure that they are prepared to help you be successful during your time
at CLC.
Our options include the Extended Stay Hotel, Grays Pointe
Condominium, The Willows at Grayslake, Grand Oaks Apartments, and
Pembrook Club Apartments. There are many choices of apartments
with different price ranges in which students can live independently, or
with roommates, and we encourage you to search for the best fit for
your lifestyle.
DID YOU KNOW…
All students must ensure that their permanent and local off-campus addresses, phone numbers, and emergency contact in formation are current at all times. You are required BY LAW to keep this information current with Lindsey Hobson, your International Student Advisor.
Students can meet with our International Student Adviser, Lindsey Hobson, to discuss the housing process, and to find more information about housing accommodations
Visit our office, e-mail [email protected] or call: (847) 543-2733
4 / THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE FOR OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
QUESTIONS TO ASK
Think about the following questions as you begin your search for
housing:
1. What is your budget?
2. Do you want to have a roommate(s)?
3. Do you want/need furnished housing(i.e.: bed, kitchen, washer/dryer) orunfurnished housing?
4. How far do you expect/want tocommute to College of Lake County?(Most students choose to be withinclose proximity to campus/classes andsocial activities.)
5. What resources might you need?(i.e.: grocery stores, cafes, pharmacy, etc.)
6. How long will you need a place for?(Most leases are 12 months although youmay also 6 month leases)
5 / THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE FOR OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
COMMON RENTAL TERMS
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Search for apartments on your own:
apartmentsearch.com
apartmentlist.com
apartments.com
trulia.com
A/C Air Conditioning LG Large Util Incl Utilities included –
usually water, electricity and gas
BKR Broker LOC Location W/D Washer/Dryer
G/E Gas and Electricity MO Monthly OSP Off-Street Parking
HF BTH Half Bath means a bathroom with no shower or bathtub
Ref References EFF Efficiency/ Studio
rent.com
zumper.com
zillow.com
6 / THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE FOR OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
HOUSING OPTIONS Grays Pointe Condominiums
1900 Country Drive
Grayslake, Illinois 60030
www.grayspointcondoapartments.com
Contact: (847) 223-5100
Security deposit and lease required
One and two bedroom apartmentsavailable ($850 and up)
Heated Pool, Tennis courts,
Basketball courts, Sand Volleyball court and Playgrounds,
Walking/Jogging path, Wetlands + Nature path, Controlled access with
Intercom, Balcony or Patio, Cable or Satellite, Courtyard, Extra Storage,
and minutes from Gurnee Mills Mall, grocery stores such as Jewel and
Walmart close by.
Parking
Community-Wide WiFi
Laundry Facilities
24 Hour Availability
Recycling
Courtyard and grill
Pond
7 / THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE FOR OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
HOUSING OPTIONS
Flat Screen TVs in all rooms
Dining and cooking utensils provided
Close to College of Lake County (Vernon Hills Campus)
Extended Stay Hotel
215 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Vernon Hills, Illinois 60061
http://www.extendedstayamerica.com
Contact: (847) 821 7101,[email protected]
Single room - $1,110. Double room(share with roommate) $1,410
Rate includes shuttle to campus,Mon - Thur
Kitchen with refrigerator,microwave, and stovetop
On-site guest laundry
Free Wi-Fi in all guest rooms
Free grab-and-go breakfast
8 / THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE FOR OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
HOUSING OPTIONS The Willows at Grayslake
http://www.willows-homes.com/
33601 N. Royal Oak Lane
Wildwood, Illinois 60030
Contact: (847) 548-5100
1 and 2 bedroom apartments available
($850 and up)
Security deposit and lease required
On PACE bus route – limited stops
Grand Oaks Apartments http://www.grandoaks-homes.com/
36033 N. Grand Oaks
Gurnee, IL 60031
Contact: (847) 245-4400
1 and 2 bedroom apartments
available ($895 and up)
Security deposit and lease required
On PACE bus route – limited stops
9 / THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE FOR OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
HOUSING OPTIONS Pembrook Club Apartments
https://bhmanagement.com/communities
5389 Lezlie Lane
Gurnee, IL 60031
Contact: (847) 662-0420
1 and 2 bedroom apartments available
($1098 and up)
Security deposit and lease required
On PACE bus route – limited stops
10 / THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE FOR OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
HOUSING OPTIONS Live with an American Family!
Contact: Deboroah Best, [email protected], 815-721-5717 Our homestay experience is a secure, comfortable and enriching experience
for both hosts and guests. AHN-USA provides superior service andexperiences. Everything is managed online.
$820 per month with options to add on for a cost: meals,airport transfer, kosher/halal meals, daily rides
24x7 professionally staffed emergency support
Hosts background checks
Online payment services
Airport transportation
11 / THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE FOR OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
FURNITURE OPTIONS CORT Furniture Rental www.cort.com/student
Contact: Richard Highberger, (312) 545-3608, [email protected]
One bedroom packages starting at $99/month
Security deposits and leases are required and rental prices vary
Partnered with apartmentsearch.com which allows you to search for
apartments and book your rental furniture at the same time with 48-hour
delivery
12 / THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE FOR OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
UNDERSTANDING HOW TO SIGN A LEASE
A lease is a legally binding agreement or contract between a property owner/manager, “lessor” and a tenant, “lessee”. Once you pay rent and have been given keys to access the premises, you have a lease. Written
leases are binding for the whole duration specified on the contract.
LEASE TERMS
SHORT TERM/ TEMPORARY A short term lease is one that is generally only for one semester. These options are less available.
ACADEMIC YEAR An academic year lease term is generally for the length of the academic year (August-May).
YEARLY LEASE A yearly lease is one which runs 12 full months from the date of signing. Generally speaking this is the most common lease type available.
SUBLET A sublet can be any length term as you are taking over a portion of a lease already signed by another party.
1. How much is the security
deposit? (usually this is between
one to two months rent)
2. Will the rent go up after a while?
3. What will I do if I need to break
the lease or my plans change?
Before You Sign a Lease:
13 / THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE FOR OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
UNDERSTANDING LEASING POLICY
What is expected of me as a tenant?
Generally, apartment complexes will have specific rules or regulations they
expect all members of their community to adhere to for the duration of their
lease.
You will be required to pay your monthly rent on time by the agreed upon rent
due day---usually within the first week of the month. If you are late on your rent
or bounce a check you may be required to pay any applicable fees.
You are responsible for returning the properly in a reasonable condition upon
the conclusion of your lease. This includes cleaning, maintaining, and making
every effort not to damage or willingly neglect the property.
Not taking on additional occupants into your unit without explicit permission of
your landlord or property owner.
Not creating safety hazards or disturbances for other community members or
the community at large.
Disposal of recycling and trash in an appropriate and timely manner as outlined
by your landlord or property manager.
UNDERSTANDING LEASING POLICY
UTILITIES
Make sure the responsibilities regarding payment of utilities are clearly outlined in the lease. If the landlord is responsible for payment of utilities, tenants are protected from utility shut off, if the landlord fails to pay for the utility bills. The tenant must pay the monthly bill to the utility company and can deduct that amount from the rent.
RENT INCREASE
A landlord can increase rent by any amount provided proper notification is given and no violations of the housing code exist on the premises. The landlord cannot raise the rent in retaliation for the tenant exercising his/her rights.
POSSESSION OF PREMISES
A fair lease will specify that if unit is not ready for occupancy because of reasons beyond the landlord’s control, the tenant can either wait till it is ready (and do not pay rent) or can terminate lease and get the money back. Some leases ask the tenant to wait for a number of days. In either case, do not expect landlord to pay for storage or hotel accommodation.
15 / THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE FOR OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
ELECTRICITY SERVICE Electricity Service (ComEd) for CLC International Students without a Social Security Number
Commonwealth Edison (also called ComEd) is a company that provides electricity in the Lake County area. The following provides necessary steps to begin your ComEd service account:
1. Call ComEd Customer Service at 1.800.334.7661 and inform them of your intent tobegin service in your name. Unfortunately, without an SSN, you will not be able to setup your electricity service by phone. You will have to go in person to a “CurrencyExchange” business.
2. Let them know that you do not have a U.S. Social Security Number (SSN), and that youplan to visit a local currency exchange to setup your account.
3. When you call, the customer service representative can tell you which CurrencyExchange locations can provide this service; not all Currency Exchanges provide thisservice. The closest one to campus is the following:
New Commons Currency Exchange Round Lake, IL 60073 811 E. Rollins Rd (847) 223-3232
4. At the Currency Exchange, you have to tell the clerk that you want to apply for ComEdservice. The clerk should give you a form to fill out and return at that time.
5. You will also need to present the following documentsa. Passportb. CLC Student IDc. Lease agreement for your apartment/housed. Credit card with your name (if you have one)
6. Once your identity has been verified at the Currency Exchange, you will receive aPSID#.
a. To set up your account, call 1-800-EDISON-1:b. Ask for a sales representative. This person will ask for your PSID#.c. Tell the sales representative that you are a new customerd. Follow their directionse. After 7 to 10 business days, you can call 1.800.334.7661 to verify that ComEd
has put the billing charges in your name, at the address you requested.
16 / THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE FOR OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
SECURITY DEPOSIT
WHAT IS A SECURITY DEPOSIT A security deposit is an amount of money retained by the landlord for the duration of the lease. It is used for any damages done to the property during the tenant’s occupancy. A tenant cannot use the security deposit as rent payment.
HOW TO PROTECT THE SECURITY DEPOSIT Inspect the premises upon move in, make a list documenting the condition of the apartment. If possible, have the landlord inspect the property with you. This will ensure that you will not be charged for damage from the previous tenants.
HOW TO GET THE SECURITY DEPOSIT BACK The landlord has 30 days to return the security deposit to you after the termination of the
lease. If the security deposit is not returned in full, because of claimed damages to the property, cleaning fees, unpaid rent or other charges, the landlord must supply you with an itemized list of the deductions and the remainder of the deposit, if any.
Remember that you are responsible for leaving the apartment clean, even if you did not find it so at the beginning. You are responsible for damages done through misuse, abuse and negligence. It is very important to document items you feel the landlord may make you responsible for.
If the landlord does not communicate with you in writing within the 30-day period required by law, he/she forfeits the right to withhold any money for damages or cleaning. He/she still can withhold for back rent and/or unpaid utility bills.
17 / THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE FOR OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
YOUR RIGHTSOnce you sign a lease or housing agreement you are a tenant and have rights that are outlined by local, state, and federal guidelines and in many cases, laws.
TENANT’S GENERAL RIGHTS
You have the right not to bediscriminated against during the tenancy or rental periods.
You have the right to have yourunit be properly serviced and repaired, if needed, in an appropriate amount of time.
You have the right to have yoursecurity deposit returned at the end of your lease minus any outstanding rent or damage beyond what is deemed reasonable wear and tear.
You cannot be evicted withoutproper notice.
Your landlord has the right toenter your unit for reasonable situations such as emergency maintenance or life-threatening situations.
YOUR RIGHTS LANDLORD OBLIGATION
Maintain the property
Make and/or pay for necessary repairs
Provide notifications in writing when the property is being transferred to anew owner, or when other changes are made that potentially affect the tenant
Refrain from turning off utilities in an effort to get unpaid rent or otherwiseaffect a tenant
Ensure the premises remain safe and deal with other tenants who are causinga problem or who are violating the term and conditions of their lease
A landlord or manager may enter
rented premises while the tenant is
living there without advance notice
ONLY in the case of emergency, such
as a fire or serious water leak: or
when a tenant gives permission.
BEING A GOOD ROOMMATE HOW TO BE A GOOD ROOMMAATE
BE KIND AND RESPECTFUL. Respect your roommate’s need for space and quiet.No matter how stress/tired/annoyed you are, however, you should be kind tohim/her.
CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF. Nobody likes to live in a room littered with dirtydishes or overflowing garbage cans. Make sure your mess doesn't stay there toolong.
BE CLEAR AND COMMUNICATIVE. Being forthcoming with your own needs isvery important. Is something is bothering you, talk about it; if you just want somealone time, say so.
DON’R ACT LIKE YOU OWN THE PLACE. It’s as much his/her apartment as it isyours. Before making big decisions for the apartment, consult with your roommatefirst and find a compromise that suits both of your needs.
BE FLEXIBLE. The things that matter most to you might not matter at all to yourroommate, and vice versa. You might be surprised by how much you can learn bybeing flexible and adaptable when needed.
BE CAREFUL OF WHO YOU BRING INTO YOUR ROOM. If your roommate studiesbest in the quiet, and you study best in a group, can you alternate who hits thelibrary and who gets the room?
BE OPEN TO NEW THINGS AND CHANGES. Your roommate may be fromsomeplace you've never heard of. They may have a religion or lifestyle that iscompletely different from your own. Be open to new ideas and experiences. Becomfortable addressing things that unexpectedly come up, with setting newrules, and be flexible to your changing environment.
ALWAYS FOLLOW THE GOLDEN RULE. Treat your roommate the way you wantto be treated.
20 / THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE FOR OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
TIPS FOR TENANTS FINDING AN APARTMENT
1. Many apartment-locating services just give you lists of vacant apartments, whichyou can find in local newspapers, and through various online resources.
2. Check that the person from whom you are renting owns the property orrepresents the real owner.
3. Talk to neighbors about the owner before signing a lease and check the safety ofthe neighborhood at night.
4. Landlords are responsible for their own negligence, not the acts or crimes ofothers, so it’s a good idea to purchase rental insurance.
5. Most properties built before 1978 have layers of lead paint, which can poisonchildren, when peeling, chipped or cracked.
6. When moving in, get any promises to repair in writing with deadlines.
7. When offering to rent or while renting, it is illegal to treat people differentlybecause of their race, religion, mental or physical ability, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, or because they have children or receive government financial aid.
8. A landlord must reasonably accommodate the needs of a person with a disability,even if it requires making an exception to the rules.
9. Sexual harassment is gender discrimination from which you can sue.
10. You can win monetary damages for suffering from any form of discriminationeven if you no longer want to rent the unit.
21 / THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE FOR OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
TIPS FOR TENANTS SIGNING A LEASE
11. Making monthly rental payments without a written agreement is enough tocreate a month to month verbal lease.
12. A one-year lease that is not ended on time by either party automaticallycontinues for another year, unless the leases states otherwise.
13. You should always get receipts for cash payments.
14. If you have a year to year lease and you move out early, you owe the rest of theyears rent, unless the landlord has broken the lease.
15. You cannot keep a landlord from entering to inspect or make repairs, if it is areal emergency you will get a reasonable notice.
16. Confusing leases are illegal. Your lease should be easy to read and understand.
RECOVERING A SECURITY DEPOSIT 17. Your landlord can deduct unpaid rent and the cost of repairs beyond normalwear and tear from your security deposit when you move out.
18. Notify your landlord in writing of any defects when moving out and take lots ofpictures when moving out.
19. Before turning in your keys, walk through the unit with your landlord or withsomeone who might be a good witness about its condition.
22 / THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE FOR OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
OFF CAMPUS LIVING BUDGET TIPS FOR STUDENTS
Setting and sticking to a monthly budget can give you peace of mind. With a budget in place, you can more effectively manage your money, save for large expenses, and prepare for emergencies. Below are some budgeting tips:
BE REALISTIC ABOUT YOUR BUDGETIf you’ve never made a budget before, you need to start by estimating howmuch money you’ll have coming in every month and how much you thinkyou’ll be spending.
DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN “NEEDS” AND “WANTS” IN YOUR BUDGETNeeds come first, and if there’s money left over, you can spend on wants.
KEEP ALL OF YOUR BILLS AND RECEIPTS ORGANIZEDOrganize all of your bills and receipts by category and file them each month ina folder. This will make it easy to retrieve information if you need to dispute abill or track your spending history.
REVIEW YOUR SPENDING FOR LITTLE ITEMSSpending $10 a day eating out during the week translates to $50 a week and$200 a month. A $5 packed lunch translates into a savings of $1,200 a year.Save even more by looking for ways to manage and reduce yourtransportation and entertainment expenses.
COMPARISON SHOPPINGComparison shopping is simply using common sense to compare products inan attempt to get the best prices and best value. This means doing a littleresearch before running out to buy something.
23 / THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE FOR OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
OFF CAMPUS LIVING BUDGET TIPS FOR STUDENTS
EXPECT THE UNEXPECTEDYour emergency fund should be used for expenses that fall outside the categories of annualand periodic bills. The good news is that if you do not use your emergency fund, you willhave savings—which should always be a priority when managing your finances. And, if youhave to use your emergency fund, you may avoid unnecessary borrowing.
SELL WHAT YOU NO LONGER USE OR NEEDThere are plenty of stores, apps, and websites, like Poshmark and Craigslist,where you can sell your used clothing, furniture or tech items.
USEFUL APPSUse a free tool, like FinAid’s Student Budget Calculator or the one offered byMint.com, to keep track of your finances.
EASY RULES TO REMEMBER:
Don’t make impulse purchases Never go grocery shopping when you’re
hungry Limit the number of times you eat out
monthly Live with others so you can split rent and
utilities Shop where they offer student discounts
24 / THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE FOR OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
GETTING AROUND Grayslake and the surrounding communities are well connected
by a public transportation network in addition to numerous bike
trails and public transportation.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
1. PACE 2. CTA 3. Metra
Bus service in thesuburbs (like aroundLake County)
Chicago TransitAuthority
Trains of the Chicago“L” (metro) and busservice downtownChicago
Railroad inChicagoland
Trains from Lakecounty to Chicago
4. Ventra 5. Uber 6. Taxi
Electronic Farepayment system forCTA, PACE, and tosome extent, Metra
Similar to Taxi, butcheaper (no tips!)
Anyone can be anUber driver
You need the App
Privatetransportation
Usually expensive
You need to tip
25 / THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE FOR OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
GETTING AROUND HOUSING TRANSPORTATION FROM O’HARE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
For more information about this service and hours of operation, please
contact Lindsey Hobson at [email protected]
College of Lake County provides
a schedule of free airport pick-
up days to international
students who are applying for
housing assistance.
This service is free and a staff
member of the college will meet
you at the airport next to the
McDonald’s in Terminal 5 and
take you directly to your housing
arrangements near the college.
26 / THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENT GUIDE FOR OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING
WHO TO CONTACT
For additional information and questions concerning housing, please contact:
Lindsey Hobson International Student Adviser Email: [email protected] Telephone: (847) 543-2344
Become a fan of our Facebook page, College of Lake County International Admissions www.facebook.com/clcinternational
19351 W. Washington St. Grayslake, IL, 60030-1198 U.S.A.
