Texas Tech University

Lubbock Housing options

What are my options as a student?

On-Campus:

If you are under 21 and have less than 30 hours of completed coursework, you are required to live on campus. If you are over 21 years of age or have at least 30 hours, you are eligible to live off-campus, though on-campus housing also provides housing options specifically for upperclassmen and graduate students.University Housing is a great place to discover if on-campus living is what you want or need!

Example of Student dorm

 

Off-Campus:

There are many off-campus living options, many within walking distance of campus, but there are certain things you need to consider and know about the American housing market. You need to know your rights and responsibilities as a tenant, and should be asking lots of questions before signing a lease. Once you've signed, that lease is binding and VERY hard to get out of. Be cautious, take your time, and your leasing experience will hopefully be a smooth one!

Student moving boxes into a room

 

Temporary Housing Advice

Temporary Housing Options

TTU Housing does not offer any type of temporary housing options between move-in or during winter break. You are responsible for ensuring you have somewhere to live during this time. This is part of your lease agreement if you signed a non-12-month lease with on-campus housing. 

TTU International Student Life has put together a Temporary Hotel Discount Program to help students during these times. We have also compiled a list of options that might help you find somewhere to stay. 

Hotel Partnership Program

Furnished Housing Resources:

On-Campus Living Advice

Costs of the Dorms

Cost: Dorms vary in their prices based on a variety of variables. All prices are for the academic year. Prices are billed 60% in the fall, and 40% in the spring. Some dorms will come with furniture, some will not. Some will be only for girls and only for boys, and some will be mixed. Some will have two beds some will have more. There are many things that affect the cost of your dorm.

You can use this example from Fall 2021 and Spring 2022 to get an idea of what the dorm costs were during this time. *Rates may be subject to change after Spring 2022  

Use the Rate Calculator to calculate your costs


Lease Times (Contracts) *VERY IMPORTANT

This is a very important thing to understand when looking for on-campus living. 

Leases are as follows:

  • Academic Year - Fall and Spring semester (this does NOT include the Winter break.
    • YOU WILL NEED TO  FIND SOMEWHERE TO LIVE DURING WINTER BREAK

Website for Contracts and Contract guides

Who should I reach out to about on-campus questions?

We are happy to give you advice about living in on campus, but we do not work directly with Student Housing so we will not be able to assist you with leasing, roommates, or anything related to your living situation. The best thing to do is to reach out to housing directly to get the quickest and best assistance. 

However, if you are unsure you are always welcome to reach out to us and we can help direct you to the best person! Whether that be someone here in International Affairs or in student housing.

You can Chat with Student Housing Representatives here!

How far in advance should I book my living arrangements?

Whether you are planning on living on or off campus, you need to have your living arrangements booked BEFORE you arrive in the USA. 

You do not want to be one of the many students we have had arrive with nowhere to live, and in a panic, because all the dorms are full and/or apartments do not have any available leases for the new few months. Yes, this has happened and continues to happen every year, which leads the students to experience high hotel costs as we do not have any free temporary living arrangements. 

Tips for how to choose where to live. 

  • Read the online reviews or ask advice from other students. 
  • Take a virtual tour of the TTU Dorms. Get an idea of exactly what your dorm will look like! (many apartments now offer this same online service)
  • Learn more about each dorm through the Residence Selection Guide. Want to know more about the bathrooms, roommates, and activities, this guide has everything! 
  • Learn about the Student Housing Contracts. It's a good idea to read the fine print and familiarize yourself with how Student Living works. Don't worry if you can't memorize it all, that's what these great websites are for! 
Ready to book your dorm? Click here to get started

Early Move In Housing Letter

Letter from housing that allows students to move in on the 7th of January 2023. Letter Link. 

Plan for the Holidays and Breaks in advance!

Dorm Closures

It is important to plan ahead for certain holidays and breaks when the campus and dorms will be closed. This means you will need to find somewhere else to live during this time. 

Holidays/Breaks when the dorms require you to leave:
Winter Break (December)

Holidays/Breaks with limited Services:
Spring Break (March)
Thanksgiving (November)


Dining on Campus

There are also certain holidays and breaks when there are limited on-campus dining options or dining is closed completely. If you live in a dorm without a kitchen this can be very challenging because the dorms do not allow hot plates and other kitchen appliances. There are VERY LIMITED vegetarian options so be sure to purchase groceries ahead of the breaks.  

Holidays/Breaks when dining is closed:
Thanksgiving (November)
Winter Break (December)

Holidays/Breaks When Dining is limited:
Spring Break (March)

What you can bring to your dorm to "cook"

  • Coffee Maker (6 cups or less)
  • Microwaves
  • Mini Fridge
  • Rice Cooker

Raider Express - Sign up EARLY for Dorm Access!!

WHAT IS RED RAIDER EXPRESS PASS?

Red Raider Express Pass is an opportunity for incoming students who are fully admitted to Texas Tech University to sign up for housing and select a residence hall and room prior to the official room selection launch date.

Visit the Express Pass webpage to learn more!

TTU Dorms OFFICAL Magazine!

Everything you need to know in one place! 

TTU Housing Magazine 

Off Campus Housing Advice

Tips and Tricks for your Off Campus Housing Search

 Start your search EARLY (so you have options to work with)
 Know your priorities before starting your search
Ask yourself what you most care about: Is it living with fellow grad students, having your own bathroom, the cost of the rent + utilities, proximity to campus, safety, etc.?

Identify what needs are vs. wants are

What's your preference?

What's a necessity?


Look at website photos and contact apartments about their current pricing, because rent prices can fluctuate daily. Many run specials ahead of fall move-in!

Utilize Texas Tech's Student Legal Services Office BEFORE SIGNING YOUR LEASE
These lawyers will look over the lease with you so that you understand all you agree to, and to ensure that what you are signing is in accordance with the law.
 ASK QUESTIONS & DO NOT feel rushed or forced to sign a lease before you're ready

Be on the lookout for scammers:
Tips for avoiding housing scams on forums like Craigslist:

  1. Prioritize posts with photos over text-only posts
  2. Do a reverse image search on Google to check if the pictures have been downloaded from the internet
  3. Google the address and make sure it exists
  4. Meet the landlord in person before doing any transactions
  5. Don't pay for anything in cash — you can cancel a transaction if you feel it's suspicious but you can't do the same with cash
  6. Better safe than sorry—call us (at the Office of International Affairs, 806-742-3667, or TTU's Student Legal Services, 806-742-3289) BEFORE you complete any financial transaction if you are concerned about making a payment or signing a lease!

Questions to ask your Landlord

A property manager or landlord's job is to work alongside you throughout the term of your lease. Prior to signing the lease, you need to confirm that your future landlord or building manager will hold up their end of the bargain. Here are some questions to ask when considering a rental:

  • Questions to ask...
    • What space is my own and what spaces are shared with others?
    • What furniture items, if any, are included in the space?
    • What kitchen amenities (microwave, refrigerator, oven, stovetop, etc.) are included in the apartment?
    • What is the total square footage and room configuration?
    • Do you provide roommate-matching services?
    • Can I make specific requests about my roommates, like living only with others of my gender, educational level, age level, etc.?
    • Am I allowed to add roommates to my lease?
    • What are the available lease timeframes?
    • When is rent due and what form of payment is required?
    • What are the penalties for late rent?
    • What is the penalty for lease-breaking?
    • What is the policy regarding subleasing?
    • What utilities are included in my rent?
    • What are the average utility costs that are not included in monthly rent costs?
    • As an international student, what documents do you need from me at lease signing?
    • As an international student without US credit history, must I have a co-signer with US credit history?
    • Will I have walking access or bus access to campus?
    • How long is the average walk or bus ride to campus, and do I have to switch buses before arriving to campus? Do these buses run year-round as part of the city bus system, or are they a part of the TTU bus system, and thus only run when classes are in session?
    • Am I walking distance to a grocery store, Walmart, and/or pharmacy? If not, are there buses in close walking distance to the apartment that could take me to these destinations every day of the week?
    • What safety precautions does the complex take to ensure my safety within my apartment as well as on property?
    • Are there additional costs for vehicle parking for myself or friends who visit?
    • Is there on-site*** maintenance, security, and/or property managers?
      • ***this means they live on-property and would be available 24/7 for emergencies
    • Are there any safety or health concerns associated with the property (mold, lead paint, etc)?
    • Are there bike storage areas?
    • What is the refund policy for security deposits?
    • Is there a secure area for mail and inbound packages?
    • What types of customizations can I make to a property (paint, nails for hanging pictures, etc)? Which ones are prohibited?
    • What are the rules/restrictions surrounding temporary guests?
    • What pets are allowed on the property, and what are the rules surrounding their care while on property (for example, are dogs required to be on a leash)?
    • Can I guarantee that I live with roommates that DO NOT own pets?

Neighborhoods Close to TTU

The neighborhoods known as Tech Terrace (south of campus, from Indiana to University Ave and 19th to 34th streets) and Overton (east of campus, from University Ave to Ave. Q and 4th to 19th streets) have individual family homes that are popular with Texas Tech students due to their proximity to campus.

These homes are likely not furnished, but many areas are walkable to campus. Tech Terrace also has a bus line that serves it.

Apartments in Walking Distance of Campus

Many student apartments offer more than a typical apartment residence, and these additional perks could be things like roommate-matching services, furnishings, academic year leases, community programming, bus routes to campus, etc.

Off-Campus-Housing Marketplace - Find an Apartment!


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NOTE: Signing a contract or lease agreement is a binding legal document. Be sure you have selected the place you want to live and understand all the information in the document before you sign. SIGNING IS BINDING.

Disclaimer:
This map, though not exhaustive nor an endorsement of any kind by Texas Tech University or the Office of International Affairs, acknowledges these apartments' proximity to the university and as a result their popularity with the Texas Tech student body. Many of these apartment buildings also exclusively serve college students* and are within walking distance of the campus.

Legal advice and Free assistance from Student Law

Texas Landlord/Tenant Rights: Know the law when you rent!

Living Off Campus - Common Difficulties  

Housing Discrimination in Texas - Know your rights

Apartments that offer leases with FULL Cancelation Addendums

What is an Addendum? - An addendum is an item of additional information or material added at the end of a document, typically in order to supplement something. 

A Lease Cancellation Addendum for international students who need to sign a lease for an apartment before arriving in the country but are not 100% sure they will be attending in the coming semester. 

For Example: Shravani is planning on attending TTU in the Fall, but due to some visa issues, there is a chance she might not be able to come until Spring. 

She still would like to book an apartment. She signs a lease with a cancellation addendum that provides her a 100% refund if she cancels before a certain date in September. Now Shravani feels secure that she has an apartment ready for her if she comes to TTU in the Fall, but if she has to defer and come in the Spring she can cancel her lease with no financial loss. 

Apartments that offer a Lease Cancellation Addendum

Centre Suites Student Living

"Living well, made easy!"

Contact for more information:Makayla.martinez@assetliving.com
Justin.lopez@assetliving.com 

(806) 747-7700

Address: 2300 Glenna Goodacre Boulevard,
Lubbock, Texas 79401

Centre Suites

TTU Student Legal Services

Student Legal Services

OFFICE HOURS/NOTARIES

Student Legal Services (SLS) is fully open.
Please call (806) 742-3289 to set up an appointment with an attorney. 

Notary services are available too. You only need a notary appointment if you have numerous documents.  Please walk in if you only have one or two documents.  

Location:
Student Union Building Rm. 307 Lubbock, TX 79409-1017

Email:studentlegalservices@ttu.edu

Legal Advice:

Texas Landlord/Tenant Rights: Know the law when you rent!

Living Off Campus - Common Difficulties  

Housing Discrimination in Texas - Know your rights

TTU Student Legal Service - Landlord/Tenant Questions 

Additional Resources

Walking Distance to Tech

Walkscore.com: An invaluable tool that allows you to insert an address and find out how friendly the location is for walking, biking and/or using public transit to reach needed resources and locations, like the TTU campus. It evens allows you to look at a "travel time map" and see your accessibility by foot, car, or public transport within a given amount of time.

Lubbock Bus System

Citibus 

• Citibus provides on- and off-campus bus service in Lubbock under the direction and guidance of Texas Tech's Student Government Association.

  • On-campus service is free to anyone on the Texas Tech campus. Students may ride for FREE on any Citibus off-campus route by showing their Texas Tech ID card. For up-to-date schedules and maps,  visit http://www.citibus.com/texas-tech-route-schedules.php 

    • DoubleMap Bus Tracking App: Citibus offers DoubleMap for live bus tracking. Download the app through the App Store or Google Play store. Search for "Citibus (Lubbock)" in the location selection after downloading.

*Note: Public transportation is not used widely, outside of the student population. Because of the vast area Lubbock covers, many people use cars to get around. Consider also exploring Lubbock via a car share service or by sharing rides with a friend or roommate. 

Roommate-Matching & Apartment Forums

Seeking a roommate or want to hear perspectives from current students? These forums could help you:

 Roomsurf Roommate Matching site 

 Livesomewhere.com's Roommate, Subleases & Apartment group 

 TTU Parent's Off Campus housing forum