Create a clear, useful student-housing listing
Better inquiries start with details students and families can compare without decoding the advertisement.
General educational information only. Owners are responsible for complying with all federal, state, and local advertising, licensing, fair-housing, fee-disclosure, privacy, and landlord-tenant requirements.
Lead with the actual offer
State whether rent is per person, bedroom, or unit; the lease length; availability; number of bedrooms and bathrooms; distance to campus; required deposits and fees; included utilities; parking; furnishing; accessibility features; and material qualification criteria.
Use accurate, current media
Use photos of the advertised property or clearly label representative images. Disclose renovations that are not complete. Do not use altered imagery to conceal defects or imply amenities that are not included.
Advertise the property—not a preferred person
Describe features and neutral eligibility standards. Avoid words, images, targeting, or instructions expressing preferences or limitations based on protected characteristics. Fair-housing coverage and local protections can be broader than federal law.
Make costs transparent
Identify mandatory charges by amount, frequency, purpose, timing, and whether refundable. Do not collect information or payment under misleading price claims. Verify applicable fee-disclosure and application-fee laws in each market.
Keep inquiry handling consistent
- Use consistent availability and screening information.
- Document material promises and changes.
- Protect applicant information and limit collection.
- Never create false scarcity or impersonate a university.
- Promptly correct or remove inaccurate listings.