Housing in Albuquerque

Looking for housing in the United States might be very different from your home country. This handout is designed to help new international students who have recently arrived in the U.S. We would like to review some basic information you should consider when seeking an apartment or a house in Albuquerque.

Lease Agreement

A lease is a legally binding contract between you and your landlord. It is very important for you to read it and ask questions before you agree to the terms of the lease and before you sign it. Once it is signed, you are responsible for following ALL of the terms in the lease.

Before signing a lease, we advise students to pay special attention to the following:

  • Length of Time in the Lease: One of the most important elements is the length of time specified in the lease. It can be for a specific time period, such a one calendar year, or it can be a month-to-month lease. If you sign a lease for a specific time period, you are required to live at that place for the entire time. Therefore, you should be sure that you like it and can afford it before you sign the lease. Also, be sure you understand when you have to inform the landlord if you intend to move out during or after the lease expires in order to incur the smallest possible charges.

  • Damage deposit/Security Deposit: Most landlords require you to pay a certain amount of money before moving into the apartment or house. One of these charges is called a “damage deposit” or “security deposit” and it is a deposit for damage that you may cause beyond the typical, ordinary use of living in an apartment or house. We recommend that you do a “walk through inspection” with the landlord before signing a lease and document any damage you see. Bring a camera with you to take pictures to avoid being responsible for these damages when moving out and ask the landlord to put in writing the damage that already exists. Sometimes, landlords will give you a checklist for you to fill out with comments and descriptions of damages prior to you moving in. We also recommend you do a “move-out inspection” at the end of your lease with your landlord for the same reasons.

  • Late payment: Please review your lease and make sure you understand the date your rent is due. If you don’t understand, ask questions. You are responsible to pay rent on time according to the terms of your lease agreement. If you fail to pay on time, your landlord will likely charge you a fee for late payment. Failure to pay on time or make arrangements with your landlord can result in your eviction, and you will be responsible for paying the rent owed under the terms of the lease.

  • Utilities: Utilities are typically considered a payment for basic services, such as electricity, gas, and water. Many apartment complexes include the price for utilities in your monthly rent. You should talk to your landlord and ask who is responsible for paying the utilities. You may have a choice to pay utilities separately. You should expect to pay more for gas and electricity in the winter due to the seasonal change in weather in Albuquerque.

  • Parking: If you own a car or plan on owing a car, you should ask your landlord where you can park the car. Many apartment complexes offer free parking for their tenants. If not, ask your landlord about parking arrangements in your neighborhood. Parking cars can be very difficult if you live near UNM. Therefore, you should not assume that you can legally park on a public street without permission.

  • Smoking Policy: All apartments and houses in Albuquerque have fire/smoke alarms. It is the resident’s responsibility to change batteries regularly. If you forget to do it and there is an emergency you will be held responsible for any damage done to the building.

More Information about Housing and Legal Assistance

Legal issues related to the above listed items may arise while you live in your apartment or house. Law Access New Mexico is a non-profit organization that provides free telephone legal assistance for low-income individuals related to many issues including housing. They have many housing handouts on their webpage that provide you with helpful information. Please see their website for more information, www.lawhelp.org/Program/3577.

They can also be reached by phone at 505.998.4529 or 1.800.340.9771. They have interpreters available for most languages if you prefer to communicate in a language other than English. They also have Spanish speakers available.

Additional Services Related to Housing

  • Internet and Cable Television: If you would like to pay for internet or television service, you can purchase these through private companies. They are not included in your rent.

  • Renter's Insurance This type of insurance will protect your personal property in case of robbery, fire, or other damages that may happen to your apartment or house.

  • Washer and Dryer Many apartment complexes offer a place to clean your clothes, commonly referred to as a laundry mat. Though you are usually charged a small amount to do your laundry, it is conveniently located inside of the apartment complex. Otherwise, you may look into laundry mats located near your home. Some apartment complexes have a laundry setup within the apartment itself.

How to find Housing

Talking with people at UNM (students, staff at OIPS and/or people in your academic department) is one of the best ways to find housing and get an idea of the different types of housing near UNM. Another good resource for finding housing is the internet. Apart from searching local apartment complexes and various internet websites, such as Craigslist, you can also look into the following options:

  • UNM Off Campus Housing: This website includes houses, rooms, and apartments for rent in Albuquerque. All listings provide information about rent, location, and detail description of the property. Please visit http://och.unm.edu.

  • UNM On-campus Housing: It is possible to arrange living in the dormitories at UNM. However, since rooms are awarded on first come first served basis, we recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible. To learn more about on-campus housing, go to http://housing.unm.edu. For various reasons, we generally do not recommend on campus housing for graduate students. However, undergraduate and exchange students frequently choose to live on campus. If you have a family, Student Family Housing is available upon request.

  • UNM Daily Lobo: The free campus newspaper can be a useful resource when looking for housing or a roommate. It offers listings of houses and apartments available for rent.

  • International Students, Inc (ISI): ISI is a Christian community service organization that serves over 500 college and university campuses in the US and works in several countries around the world. ISI Albuquerque offers their services to new international students in the form of providing temporary home stays and assistance with finding permanent housing. If you are interested, you can email them at ISIABQ@isiwebnet.net or ask at the front desk at OIPS for more recent contact information.

Estimated price range: Finding housing and managing all the costs related to moving might be expensive. We advise students to plan ahead and estimate the cost of rent. These are approximate costs only for off campus housing.

  • Room in Private Home: $300-$475 a month
  • Studio: $350-$500 a month
  • 1-Bedroom Apartment: $475-$650 a month
  • 2-Bedroom Apartment: $650-$950 a month
  • House: $1,000-$2,500 per month (can be shared with other students)

How to find a Room Mate

International students looking for a roommate are welcome to bring flyers to OIPS and post them in the front office. In addition, the international student listserve can be used to find a roommate. Please send an email to oips@unm.edu with a detailed description of your housing situation and your contact information. Emails are forwarded to the listserve frequently.

Room Mate Concerns

Having a nice and considerate roommate is essential to a pleasant housing experience. Your housing situation may be very different than you are used to from your home country, and it is important that you can trust your roommate. We advise students to choose their roommates carefully and with caution. Plan ahead and start looking for a roommate as soon as you figure out what your housing situation will be. Also, make sure that you both sign the lease or rental agreement so that you are not the only one responsible for the apartment or house.