TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama’s Housing and Residential Communities office is launching a website to aid students in finding off-campus housing. The site is http://offcampushousing.ua.edu.
The website will feature a database for visitors to search for off-campus housing using such parameters as distance from campus, monthly cost, number of bedrooms or bathrooms, amenities and availability date. In addition, the website will show floor plans and photos of properties. Students also may search for off-campus roommates, furniture for sale and subleases from other students. The site also will include information on landlord/tenant issues, leases, city ordinances and budgeting.
“This website is geared specifically for the University student,” says Julie Elmore, assistant director of off-campus resources. “It’s a one-stop shopping experience for students to find off-campus housing.”
Members of the Tuscaloosa community and those moving to the Tuscaloosa area, including prospective UA faculty and staff, also can use the site. UA has provided off-campus resources to assist students in finding off-campus housing for more than five years and is expanding its offerings with the growing student population.
This new website allows the real estate community to market directly to UA students without infringing on the University’s solicitation policy.
“This site allows property owners to get their information directly in front of the University community and will make it easier for students to make the transition to off-campus living, in terms of being able to locate furniture and roommates without the involvement of the properties,” Elmore says.
Housing and Residential Communities will start an integrated marketing campaign to drive traffic to this new website.
“There are several resources already available for students looking to move off campus,” says Janine Gascoigne, marketing coordinator. “But this website will allow students to concentrate all their efforts into one online resource, where they accomplish much of what they need in one place. We hope that this new website will become the number one resource for University students looking for housing in the Tuscaloosa community.”
The service will be free for UA students, parents, and faculty-staff, but property managers and owners will pay a fee to post listings. To list a property for rent or sale on the site, contact Brittaney Bogdan at Off Campus Partners, 877/895-1234, or brittaney@offcampuspartners.com.
Housing and Residential Communities supports students’ development, learning and engagement through intentionally designed environments, programs and services. HRC is a part of the Division of Student Affairs, which maximizes each UA student’s learning experience. For more information about Housing and Residential Communities, visit housing.ua.edu or phone 205/348-6676
Contact
Richard LeComte, media relations, rllecomte@ur.ua.edu, 205/348-3782
Source
Janine Gascoigne, 205/348-1077, jmgascoigne@sa.ua.edu