Taking the Renters' Workshop makes your off-campus housing search easier. You learn your rights and responsibilities as a tenant and receive a Certificate of Completion to show landlords you are a knowledgeable prospective tenant. It helps you optimize your rental housing experience for your entire duration at UCSC.

The intended audience is the first time renter and those new to California; however, the information provided is beneficial to all tenants and landlords.

The workshop is divided into different topics. You can navigate through the topics with the left hand menu or with the links at the bottom of the each page. The topics cover:

• Preparing: Considering your needs and budget, picking house mates, understanding different rental agreements, situations to avoid, rental ad scams, making an impressive Rental Application Packet
• Searching: Community Rentals’ rental listings program, other resources, when to look, what to say when you call, meeting the owner, how to inspect the rental
• Moving In: Condition of Rental Property Checklist, starting a rental folder
• Living In: Setting up a shared household, being a good neighbor, being a good host, fun things to do in Santa Cruz, landlord obligations, tenants rights and responsibilities
• Moving Out: Giving legal notice to vacate, move-out steps, security deposit return laws, what to do when there are problems
• Resources: Links to CRO Forms and Resources web page and CRO contact information

“Why should I take this workshop?”
Many students face challenges in the rental market, especially when entering it with no history for landlords to verify. This workshop can help. You receive a certificate after passing a test and completing an evaluation at the workshop’s end. Landlords and managers often accept this certificate as a “reference” along with your on-campus rental references. Many won’t rent to undergraduates without it. A knowledgeable tenant makes a better tenant, and good landlords know this.

NOTE: Your certificate will be emailed to you during Community Rentals' office hours (M-F 8 a.m.-5 p.m.). The certificate is not auto-generated.

“What if I have more questions?”
We provide links throughout the workshop to detailed resource flyers for you to look at. They are repeated at the end of the workshop, and are available on our Rental Resources page.