Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

Where should I live? 

VCU’s the Dean of Students Office cannot promote or demote any property. Thus, we recommend that once you have narrowed your search down to one or two properties, check for complaints on the property or management by reading their google reviews and profile with the Better Business Bureau. 

What does “off campus” mean? 

“Off Campus” means that the property is not owned, nor operated, by the University. Thus, you can live anywhere, and with whomever. 

There are off campus properties located closer to academic buildings, than some of the residence halls. 

What are my options for housing off-campus? 

VCU does not own nor operate any of the properties off campus and VCU cannot promote nor demote any property. 

Our office can assist you with: 

• understanding the leasing process 
• identifying your budget 
• identifying properties that meet your needs 
• resolving issues with roommates, landlords and/or neighbors 

What are the two different types of leases available?

1. A joint lease is a lease signed by all tenants, making the entire group responsible for the total rent, damages, and any fees. This places the responsibility of dividing rent and utilities and the choice of filling empty bedrooms in the unit on the tenants themselves. 
2. An individual lease is when a tenant signs for a single room, meaning they are individually responsible for paying rent and any damage fees associated with the room. However, this may also mean the landlord can place any tenant in remaining rooms in the unit – be sure to ask about this before signing your lease. Please note that the properties that offer individual leases tend to be very popular with VCU’s undergraduate population.

Why can’t I find any 9 months leases? 

The majority of all leases off campus are for 12 months. Please note that you can move out early as long as you give your landlord notice, however you will still be responsible for the rental payments until the end of your lease. 

If you are looking for something shorter you may be able to work something out with the landlord, however they will typically charge you an additional fee to do so. 

How do leases work? 

The leasing process can be complicated so please feel free to request a meeting if you have any questions or if you'd like us to review your lease before signing.

What if I need a furnished place?

Some of the properties that offer individual leases include furniture.

If furnishing a unit is a concern, please note that there are companies like CORT Furnishings and AFR that offer rental furniture and soft packages (dishes, linens, etc.) at a reasonable cost. 

What areas are closest to the Medical Campus/MCV? 

The neighborhoods around MCV are Shockhoe Bottom, Downtown, Monroe Ward, Jackson Ward and Churchill. Please check out google.com/maps – street view – to analyze an area and whether or not it will meet your standards.

Which properties are safest? 

• Richmond is a city, so our crime rate may be higher than what you are accustomed to.  However, a great deal are crimes of opportunity or relational crimes.  For example, if you leave valuables in sight, unattended there is a great chance that someone will take them. Also, we do see violence between people who have a preexisting relationship, thus if your student is mindful of their surroundings and whom they are interacting with the chances of something happening to them diminishes greatly. 
• If neighborhoods and safety are a concern for you, the Richmond Police Department provides a list of incidents for public review at: Crime Incident Info or RAIDS.
• I am unable to demote nor promote any area. However, I am able to tell you that the largest public housing areas in Richmond are in Gilpin Court, Mosby Court, Whitcomb Court, Creighton Court and Fairfield Court. These areas tend to have a higher crime rate due to the high density living in the area. For more information, please visit rrha.com.
• Take a look at this list of safety apps to download to keep you connected and informed.

Where can I park?

You have three main options: 

1. Purchase a spot with VCU Parking.

• VCU Parking offers “Housing permits” which are valid 24 hours, 7 days per week. 
• Off-campus permits are available for students residing within a 5 mile radius of VCU's campuses. Please note you will be required to park on the top two levels of your designated parking facility. 
• Last year the assigned lots were the West Broad Street Deck, Bowe Street Deck and the Henry Street Deck and it cost around $450 for a six month term. 

2. Purchase a spot in a private lot.  

• Private lots can be located by doing a google search.  In addition, here is a list of some of the options.

3. Park in a non-restricted area

• Non-restricted areas generally don’t require a permit from anywhere but can have maximums on the amount of time spent parked. Neighborhoods like Carver, the Fan, and Randolph have free parking in most places. Neighborhoods like Monroe Ward and Jackson Ward have both free parking and permit parking only areas. Please make sure you double check where you are parked before leaving your car.

Budget Questions

Can I use financial aid to pay my off-campus expenses? 

Maybe. You will only receive a refund if there is an excess in your financial aid award. If you receive an award that covers your VCU tuition and fees, then you can use the excess towards your rent and other living expenses. 

• For example, if your package is $20,000 (which may consist of scholarships, grants and loans), the money would be split up into two payments, one for fall semester and one for the spring semester. So VCU would get $10,000 a semester. VCU would then take out roughly $7,000+ for tuition and fees and then give the remaining $3,000 to you via direct deposit or check. 
• Refunds could be disbursed by VCU as late as the end of September/early October and late January/early February, depending on if all deadlines were met, thus you will need to plan ahead to cover your housing costs until the refund is deposited into your account. 
• Please note that if your financial aid package includes $3,000 for Work Study, that money will have to be earned by applying for and working in a Work Study position for an average of 10 hours a week throughout the year. 
• For more details, please contact Financial Aid at (804) 828-6669 or http://finaid.vcu.edu/. 
• Feel free to schedule an appointment to discuss your specific budget situation.

What is the average cost per student after utilities per month for off campus housing? 

It depends greatly on the number of bedrooms/ tenants. 

• 1 Tenant - Studio Unit - $1,535+
• 1 Tenant - 1 Bedroom Unit - $1,438+ 
• 2 Tenants - 2 Bedroom Unit - $913+ 
• 3 Tenants - 3 Bedroom Unit - $900+ 
• 4 Tenants - 4 Bedroom Unit - $760+ 
• 5 Tenants - 5 Bedroom Unit - $773+ 

If it's not included in rent, how much should I budget for electricity?

• Estimate $100-$150 a unit per month 
• Please keep in mind the cost may double in the January and August due to the weather 
• There is a $14.10 one-time connection fee and ~$250 one-time refundable deposit due at set up with Dominion Energy. 

How do I set up my electricity account? 

Start by creating an account on the Dominion Energy website or call 866-366-4357.

If it's not included in rent, how much should I budget for internet?

• Estimate $80-$100 a unit per month, depending on speed and company. 
• This does not include any set up fees 

If it's not included in rent, how much should I budget for water, trash, & sewer?

• Estimate $100 a unit per month 

How do I set up my water account? 

If you are in the Richmond City limits - Call (804) 646-4646 between 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday-Friday, to have your gas or water service turned on, transferred, or disconnected, preferably three to five days before service is needed. Be at the service location on the scheduled date and time for service installation, or visit richmondgov.com.

What if I don’t have a cosigner? 

Each property has different standards for cosigners. For some, they require the individual to have a SSN, a credit score above 550, and a monthly income three to five times the monthly rent. Note that each property is different and standards vary across the city. In addition, some properties will collect the guarantor’s information but may not choose to verify it.

There are a few alternatives when a cosigner is not available:

• Look to live on campus. 
• Look to rent from a private landlord. Some landlords only own a few properties and, thus, their application process is less invasive. In addition, many properties will allow you to rent without a cosigner by paying a large portion of the total rental rate up front.
• Sign a joint lease. Due to the multiple names on the lease, multiple cosigners are not always required. In addition, some tenants and landlords will allow additional tenants into a property as a subleaser rather than a reletter or full tenant. In these situations, a sublease agreement should be formed with the current tenants and the subleaser, excluding the landlord from the conversation when possible.
• Sign a sublease. Several students have signed leases for next year but have recently discovered that they are unable to return to VCU for various reasons. If you contact these individuals, they may be able to relet their lease to you and sign as your cosigner. They have already committed to paying for the coming year, thus entering into an agreement will be beneficial for you both because you will be able to stay in the unit and they will no longer be paying full rent for an empty unit. 
• If you are able, you may ask the landlord to waive the cosigner if you are able to either show them a copy of your financial aid letter, or show them your bank account details that show you have the money to cover the cost of rent in a liquid asset. 
• If you are able, you may ask the landlord to waive the cosigner if you pay a portion, typically three to twelve months rent up front. 
• Pay a company to cosign for you. Examples include Leap, Insurent, The Guarantors, etc. Please note that none of these companies have been vetted, and are not endorsed by VCU in any manner.

If you need help finding these situations, we would recommend that you check out our page at offcampus.vcu.edu. An alternative is to review postings on Facebook’s group – Housing within VCU or Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Housing, Sublets and Roommates.

Eviction Assistance

Virginia Rent and Mortgage Relief Program (RMRP) 

• The RMRP is designed to support and ensure housing stability across the commonwealth during the coronavirus pandemic. Depending on availability of funds and household need, the RMRP may provide financial assistance for rent or mortgage payments for eligible households. This includes financial assistance for rent or mortgage payments past due beginning April 1, 2020 and onward. Financial assistance is a one-time payment with opportunity for renewal based on availability of funding and the household’s need for additional assistance and continued eligibility. 
• In short, one of the following must apply to you: 
• You have been laid off. 
• You place of employment has closed. 
• You have experienced a reduction in hours of work. 
• You must stay home to care for children due to closure of day care and/or school. 
• You have lost child or spousal support. 
• You have been unable to find employment due to COVID-19. 
• You are unwilling or unable to participate in their previous employment due their high risk of severe illness from COVID-19. 
• And your rent, before utilities, must be less than the following limits: 
  • Studio - $1348 
  • One Bedroom - $1398 
  • Two Bedroom - $1592 ($796 per person) 
  • Three Bedroom - $2115 ($705 per person) 
  • Four Bedroom - $2529 ($633 per person) 

For more information please visit: dhcd.virginia.gov/rmrp