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10 Additional Costs and Fees to Consider When Looking for a Student Apartment in Midtown

By Brana

After enduring freshman dorms and Greek housing, many Georgia Tech students are eager to sign a lease for an off-campus apartment. Having your own bedroom, bathroom and kitchen have never sounded more appealing. At Whistler, we offer off-campus living that meets all of your student needs including various floorplans and luxury amenities at a prime location.

When beginning to explore your living options both off- and on-campus, it’s important to consider all of the additional costs that you can incur outside of your base rental rate.

To give you a better understanding of what these additional costs and fees may include, we have compiled a list of common additional fees a student may encounter when exploring off-campus living in Midtown.

10 Additional Costs to Consider on Top of Base Rental Rate

Image of Whistler's spin studio in Midtown Atlanta.

Spin studio at Whistler, located at 859 Spring Street NW.

1. Application Fee

​From the start of your leasing process, most off-campus student apartments require prospective tenants to pay an application fee. This fee, typically ranging from $50 to $75 at Midtown apartments, covers the cost of your background check, administrative costs, and the overall cost of processing your application.

Some locations will provide a discounted or waived application fee to incentivize prospective students to start their leasing process. Reach out to the apartment(s) you are interested in for information about their application fees so you can budget accordingly.

To learn more about Whistler’s application process, contact our leasing team. We are more than happy to assist you in your housing search.

2. Admin Fee

An admin fee is a one-time fee that covers administration, billing, bill auditing, and overhead expenses. This fee is typically around $100 to $200, and can either be billed at time of application or on move-in day.

While an admin fee is non-refundable, if you do pay this fee at time of application and later decide not to sign a lease, you should expect to be reimbursed.

3. Parking

For a lot of students, having a secure parking spot is essential to living in Midtown. Whether you need your car to commute to an internship or just to venture around Atlanta, contract parking options are available at most student apartments in Midtown.

Prices for these spots typically range from $100 to $200 per month depending on the complex. Information about parking is included in your rental agreement and is on a first-come, first-served basis.

4. Security Deposit

A security deposit is a refundable fee due on move-in used to ensure you are held accountable for any damage to your apartment throughout the duration of your lease. Security deposits tend to be around $100 to $300 and are held by your landlord until move-out.

The landlord will evaluate your apartment for any damage beyond normal wear and tear and has the right to deduct money from your security deposit accordingly. As long as you have kept your apartment in good condition, the full deposit will be returned to you within 45 days of move-out.

5. Utilities

One of the biggest costs (besides rent and parking) of renting an apartment can be utility fees. Like rent, you will typically be billed on a monthly basis. The actual cost of your utility bill will be dependent on your usage for that month, and may or may not already be included in your rental rate. Reach out to your landlord before signing to learn what the typical tenant pays each month and whether or not this cost is already included in your rent.

Apartments can split utilities differently amongst you and your roommates, so it is important to read your lease thoroughly so you are aware of what you are responsible for.

Utilities may include, but are not limited to:

  • Electric
  • Gas
  • Water
  • Cable/TV
  • Internet
  • Washer/dryer

Another cost to consider is the one time utility setup fee many apartments will charge upon move-in. This fee can range from $25 to $100..

WiFi, cable TV, and washer/dryer units are often included in monthly rent, but it is important to verify this with your landlord before signing so you can plan accordingly.

Read Next: 15 Questions to Ask When Touring A Student Property

6. Rental Insurance

More often than not, properties will require their tenants to have renter’s insurance that covers both the person and their belongings throughout their leasing period. Most insurance only protects property and not your belongings even in the event of theft, fire, or natural causes, so it is important to have renter’s insurance.

Renter’s insurance is usually relatively affordable and ranges from $10 to $30 per month. Even if your apartment complex does not require renter’s insurance, it is important to have.

Read Next: Student’s Guide to Renter’s Insurance

7. Trash Fees

Trash service is typically a small fee between $5 and $25 per month. Sometimes this fee will be extra, while other times it will be included in your monthly rent. Be sure to check your lease to see what your apartment’s specific policy is.

8. Maintenance Fees

Properties need maintenance to keep grounds and indoor facilities looking fresh. In some rental agreements, maintenance fees are charged as a separate small fee added to your rental rate every month. Check your lease to see if maintenance fees are included in your rent, or added as an extra charge.

9. Moving Costs

Georgia Tech students hanging out on Whistler's rooftop pool deck overlooking Midtown Atlanta.

A rooftop pool deck is one of the many luxury amenities available at Whistler.

Moving can cost anywhere from $50 to over $500 depending on your specific needs.

Fees attached to move-in and move-out might include, but are not limited to:

  • Storage space ($50 to $400 depending on unit size)
  • Cleaning services ($100 to $500 depending on need)
  • Moving services ($25 to $100 depending on mover cost and vehicle costs)

10. Pet Fees and Rent

If you plan on bringing a furry friend, make sure to budget for the additional fees associated with pets. Most student apartment locations will require two different types of fees: a pet deposit and a monthly pet rent.

A pet deposit is like a security deposit, but for your animal. Its purpose is to cover all possible damage to your apartment beyond normal wear and tear that is related to your pet. This fee can range from around $100 to $500 and will be due at the beginning of your rental term or at the time of signing your lease. Like a security deposit, this fee is typically refundable and returned to you at the end of your lease, but this is not always the case, so be sure to check.

The next fee you need to plan for is monthly pet rent. You can expect this fee to be around $15 to $35 and due at the beginning of each month in addition to your rental rate. It is important to note that this fee is charged per pet– if you have two pets, prepare to pay this charge twice every month. Some apartments even charge different pet rent rates based on size of the animal, breed, type of pet, etc. so be sure you have a clear understanding of your apartment’s policy.

While living off-campus has many perks – luxurious amenities, more space, more freedom – it’s important to factor in the additional fees before making any major decisions.

We hope this article has given you a better understanding of the fees associated with living off-campus. If you have any more housing questions or would like to learn more about off-campus living at Whistler, contact our leasing staff. We are more than happy to help!


Brana, Community Manager at Whistler

Brana

Brana is the Community Manager for Whistler. She's going into her 3rd year in Property Management.


June 29, 2022


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