These apartments are convenient for students, teachers and faculty members, but they can also save you a lot of money by eliminating your reliance on a personal vehicle. When you don't have to pay for gas and you don't have to worry about breakdowns or traffic jams, daily life is more enjoyable and far more affordable.
Living on the UF Campus
Many of the apartment communities positioned on the edge of campus were clearly designed with students in mind. Most of them will offer tenant-based rent, which means that the landlords hold each tenant responsible for their own rent rather than collecting payment per unit. This allows students to room together without worrying that they will lose their apartment due to a roommate failing to pay their share of the rent.
You may also find that apartments located on campus are more likely to include utilities in the rent and to offer unique floor designs. Many students prefer to have their utilities bundled with their rent because it makes tracking and paying their bills easier. Many of these apartments are also designed with more shared living space to accommodate roommates. While each tenant usually has access to a private bedroom, those rooms are sometimes on the small side while the living rooms and kitchens are more expansive.
Security is another issue that should come to mind when you're searching for apartments near UF. Look for communities that offer around-the-clock guards or some form of buzzer or electronic key system on the front doors. You may also consider campus apartments that feature gates and landscaping designs that provide more privacy. Not all apartments will offer these amenities, but you can ask about installing a security system for your apartment if you're concerned about safety on campus.
There's one more perk to living on the edge of campus, and that's easy access to a variety of restaurants, bars, coffee shops and other small businesses. These shops depend on the student population for their profits, so they're more likely to offer free Wi-Fi and other services that appeal to students and university faculty members. When living this close to the university, many students never need to venture away from campus.
Apartment Living Near UF Campus
If you plan on living alone or don't want to live right on campus due to the traffic and potential noise, there are many apartment complexes within a few miles of campus that may fit your lifestyle better. Many of these apartment communities are still close to many restaurants, bars and coffee shops, but they're also more likely to be close to parks, public schools for younger students, shopping centers and The Oaks Mall.
While it does take more time to walk or bike to campus when you live a mile or two away, many of these complexes are still close enough to eliminate the need for private transportation. The public bus system maintains stops right in front of many apartment communities, and many students don't mind traveling a bit further on bicycle or foot.
If you do have a personal vehicle, you're more likely to find cheap apartments with free parking spaces or units with garages if you look at least one mile away from campus. You'll find more apartments designed with older students, families and faculty members in mind, so they're more likely to offer upscale amenities. You'll also find more gated apartment communities and complexes with security guards when you venture a little further from campus.
If you intend to drive to campus, cheap apartments near UF can keep your commute time to 10 minutes or less. You should also consider the areas of campus that you will visit most often so that you can select an apartment near that end of campus. This will ensure that you can reach a UF parking lot quickly without requiring a long walk to reach your final destination.
Not all campus parking lots are free and some may fill up quickly, so consider your budget and the amount of time that you want to spend getting to campus when utilizing private transportation. If you can coordinate your schedule with another student or university employee, you may find carpooling a money-saving alternative.
Don't Rule Out Luxury Apartments
You may assume that apartments on or near a university campus will offer minimal amenities and low rental prices, but that isn't the case with the University of Florida. While there are some low-budget studios and small apartments, there are also some luxury rentals located on campus or within one mile. Consider this short list that shows just some of the amenities offered by select apartments near UF:
- Rooftop swimming pools
- Hot tubs
- Fitness centers
- Yoga rooms
- Penthouse units or suites
- Decks and patios
- Community study space
- Media rooms
- Game rooms
- Clubhouses
- Grills
- Cabanas, gazebos, outdoor sitting areas
You can also find more furnished apartments if you stay close to UF. This is a convenient feature that allows students to move without hauling furniture or renting moving trucks. These units are a good idea if you don't plan on living in one place for more than one year or you accept an apartment at the last minute just to get yourself established on campus. The fewer personal belongings you accumulate, the easier it is to move to a permanent home next year or when you move on to the next phase of your life.
What About In-Unit Amenities?
While there are some apartments near UF that offer mini kitchen appliances and minimal in-unit features, that isn't the case with all apartments on or near campus. You can find some units with marble countertops, well-maintained hardwood floors, vaulted ceilings, plush carpeting and even in-unit washers and dryers. You will pay more for these rentals, but you'll also enjoy a more comfortable living environment that makes excelling in school easier.
You may also find some rentals that are more like townhomes or condos than standard apartments. These units may offer full basements with hookups for a washer and dryer, and they may feature multiple floors that are suitable for dividing space between roommates. These units are also good picks for families and older students living with younger children.
Selecting Your UF Rental
There are some questions that you should ask prior to committing to a rental near UF:
- How long will it take me to walk, bike or drive to campus?
- What areas of campus are close to this apartment complex?
- How far away is the nearest bus stop, and which bus lines connect with that stop?
- What businesses are within walking or biking distance?
- Are roommate matching services offered?
- Is the living space more suitable for roommates, single residents, couples or families with children?
- Is the surrounding neighborhood quiet and safe at all times of the day?
You should also consider the level of traffic flowing through the neighborhood. The closer you live to campus, the more likely your neighborhood is to receive a steady flow of vehicle and foot traffic when the university is open.
