Biggest Mistakes Students Make When Renting and How to Avoid Them

Renting your first apartment as a student can feel like freedom—until something goes wrong. From surprise fees to sketchy contracts, many students fall into the same traps every year. Knowing the biggest mistakes students make when renting can save you money, stress, and a lot of regret.

Here’s what to avoid and what to do instead.

1. Not Reading the Lease Carefully

One of the most common student housing mistakes is signing a lease without fully understanding it. Many students skim contracts and miss important details about:

• Early termination penalties
• Maintenance responsibilities
• Guest policies
• Rent increases

How to Avoid It:
Read every clause. If you don’t understand something, ask the landlord or get help from a housing advisor.

How to Read a Rental Lease as a Student

2. Choosing Price Over Location

Cheap rent looks great—until you’re commuting two hours or living in an unsafe area.

Students often prioritize price and ignore:

• Distance from campus
• Public transport access
• Grocery stores and essentials
• Neighborhood safety

How to Avoid It:
Map your daily routine before choosing a place. Sometimes paying slightly more for a better location saves time, transport money, and stress.

3. Ignoring Hidden Costs

Rent is only part of the expense. Students often forget about:

• Utilities
• Internet
• Furniture
• Maintenance fees
• Parking

That “cheap” apartment suddenly isn’t cheap anymore.

How to Avoid It:
Ask for a full cost breakdown before signing. Choose furnished apartments when possible to avoid large upfront expenses.

4. Renting Without Seeing the Property

Image by Freepik

Photos can lie. Some students sign leases based only on listings and end up with:

• Mold
• Broken appliances
• No natural light
• Tiny rooms

How to Avoid It:
Always tour the apartment in person or request a live video tour.

5. Choosing Bad Roommates

Roommate problems are one of the top reasons students break leases early. Common issues include:

• Different lifestyles
• Financial irresponsibility
• Poor communication

How to Avoid It:
Have honest conversations before moving in. Talk about rent, cleaning, guests, and quiet hours. Create a roommate agreement—even if you’re friends.

6. Skipping Renter’s Insurance

Many students assume their landlord’s insurance covers their belongings. It doesn’t.

Without renter’s insurance, you risk losing everything if there’s:

• Theft
• Fire
• Water damage

How to Avoid It:
Get renter’s insurance. It’s affordable and protects your electronics, clothes, and furniture.

Do Students Need Renter’s Insurance?

7. Not Checking the Landlord’s Reputation

A bad landlord can make your life miserable with:

• Slow repairs
• Unfair charges
• Poor communication

How to Avoid It:
Search for reviews, ask former tenants, and learn your tenant rights.

8. Forgetting About Flexibility

Many student leases lock you into long commitments—even if:

• Your schedule changes
• You transfer schools
• You study abroad

How to Avoid It:
Look for rentals with flexible lease terms. Providers like Blueground offer move-in-ready apartments with flexible lengths—ideal for students, interns, and exchange students.

Explore flexible student housing options

Final Thoughts

The biggest mistakes students make when renting usually come from rushing and not asking enough questions. Taking time to read contracts, budget realistically, and choose reliable housing providers can completely change your experience.

Renting doesn’t have to be stressful—it just has to be smart.