View a list of short & long-term accommodations in San Francisco, find roommates, get to know the city, or list your off-campus apartment for rent.
Off-Campus Rental Information
This Off-Campus Rental listing service, called Places4Students, connects landlords and apartment seekers who are looking for long-term off-campus housing accommodations. Features also include a Roommate Finder for UCSF students.
Housing for students in joint UCSF-UC Berkeley programs
If you are in a UCSF-UC Berkeley joint medical program (JMP), you are eligible for both UCSF and Berkeley campus housing. We encourage you to learn more about Berkeley’s housing options.
Apartment Hunters Resources
The off-campus housing search can be challenging in the San Francisco rental market. Here are some helpful resources to look for your new home. We also have a workshop recording you can watch!
Questions to ask about a rental property
Financial questions:
•How much is the deposit? Is it negotiable?
•Are any utilities included? How much do they usually cost?
•Has there been a recent rent increase?
Amenities:
•What appliances are included? Are there washer/dryer hookups(if washer/dryer is not included)?
•Does the unit have off-street parking? Are parking permits required for street parking? Is there a garage?
•Is the unit furnished?
Other:
•Is there public transportation nearby? How far?
•Are the residents responsible for the upkeep of landscaping?
Have a pet you want to live with?
Finding a place that is pet-friendly in San Francisco is difficult, but not impossible. To enhance your chances with a potential landlord, consider creating a pet resume.
•Mention anything about your pet’s age, activity level, and/or breed traits that help make your dog or cat a “good resident.”
•Give examples of your pet’s good behavior and your responsibility. Has your dog been to obedience school or had special training? If your dog has lived in apartments before and is accustomed to it, say so.
Beware of Scams
The internet is full of scams for housing. Here are some tips to help avoid some of those scams.
How to Detect a Rental Scam
•Rental amount is unusually low in comparison to the average rates for the area
•Landlord is unable to show you the rental; claims to be out of town, state, or country
•There is a sense of urgency
•There are requests made of advanced payments through wiring, cashier’s check, money order, escrow service, Western Union, or MoneyGram
•Landlord does not ask for rental application or reference check
•A third party is involved
•Ad and/or correspondence has misspellings
•Excessive use of capitalization
How to Avoid a Rental Scam
•Never wire money, nor pay money in advance of seeing the rental
•Always meet the landlord or property manager in person before signing rental documents or sending money
•Never give out bank account information
•Contact the county assessor’s office to look up property ownership: http://www.sfassessor.org/
•Do a web search of the landlord’s name
Additional Guidelines for renting off-campus
- When looking for an off-campus rental property, you will increase your chances of securing housing if you have a strong reference. Your department or supervisor can provide a reference letter for you.
- Setting up Utilities and Cable without a Social Security Card/Number - Some tenants have obtained services by going to the cable office in person and presenting the Housing Agreement (lease) and passports. This may also require a security deposit to be held in the event a customer gets behind on payment.
- If you do not have a work permit, you may use the TIN that the UCSF Registrar has for you in their records. This is the number that you may have used on your financial aid application. If neither of these work, we recommend that you contact the International Students office for guidance.
- Renters Insurance protects yourself and your personal property. We strongly recommend you purchase renters insurance for as little as $10/month.
UC Home Loan Program - Mortgage Origination Program
The Mortgage Origination Program (MOP) is a recruitment and relocation tool to assist qualifying new faculty in purchasing their first home near campus by offering a below-market rate mortgage. Eligibility for MOP participation is restricted to faculty with appointments in the Academic Senate series (Professor/ Ladder Rank, Professor In Residence, or Professor of Clinical X) or members of the Senior Management Group (SMG) within the first two years of their eligible appointment. Faculty with appointments in the Adjunct or Health Sciences Clinical series are not eligible to participate in this program. Please visit Academic Affairs for more information.
Relocation Services - San Francisco Relocate
What does Full Service Relocation Service mean?
- Rental Finding Services
- Area Orientation
- School Search
- Moving Services, including purchasing or renting furniture
- International Client Support
San Francisco Affordable Housing Options
The Mayor’s Office of Housing & Community Development offers resources for finding “affordable rental housing” in San Francisco. Visit this site for more information about the various programs the City offers, and to find out if you qualify.
UCSF Housing Services is unable to participate in the Housing Choice Voucher Program (formerly known as Section 8). However, you may find more information about this program and learn if you qualify on the San Francisco Housing Authority website.
NOTE: UCSF Housing Services provides links to this information for your convenience only. The University makes no representation as to the availability, condition, or suitability of any of the listed resources or establishments. Eligibility for these programs is limited to those who meet qualifications based on income/salary, household size, etc.
