Bar graph depicts ranges of bedrooms for five leasing companies, as of Oct. 26. Credit: Faith Schneider| Managing Design Editor
As Ohio State students start to navigate the University District’s off-campus housing market, leasing companies’ websites can be difficult for first-time renters to search through.
Each leasing company varies in how many properties they manage, where those properties are generally located and policies related to pets and utilities. Read on to learn about some of the more well-known leasing companies’ information to make the most of the off-campus renting experience.
OSU Properties
OSU Properties, also known as George Kanellopoulos Properties, lists properties in the University District on the website ranging from one bedroom rooms. More than half of the properties it manages have five to seven bedrooms.
Most of these properties would be considered in the northern section of the University District, with addresses on Oakland, Northwood, Norwich and Maynard avenues, though a few residences are as far south as Pennsylvania and Ninth Avenues.
According to the company’s sample lease, utilities (gas, electricity, cable, internet and water) are not included in rent, and tenants must set up accounts with approved utility companies before move-in, but some properties individually note if utilities are included in rent. It is also noted in the sample lease that no pets are permitted.
Hometeam Properties
Hometeam Properties manages almost 1,000 properties in the University District, ranging from studio apartments to houses with as many as 11 bedrooms. Most properties are in the studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom categories.
According to the company website’s filters, most properties are located in the central and southern areas of the University District, although there are properties sprinkled throughout.
Utilities like water and gas are included in a Hometeam Properties tenant’s rent, but others, such as electricity, cable and internet, are not.
Hometeam Properties does allow pets, as long as they have been registered through their animal registration form.
Buckeye Real Estate
Another familiar leasing company in the University District is Buckeye Real Estate, which lists properties, from studios and one-bedroom units up to eight-bedroom houses on its website.
Buckeye Real Estate’s managed residences are generally spread evenly throughout the northern, central and southern parts of the University District, according to the company website’s map.
The Buckeye Real Estate website did not disclose information about utilities. Pets and animals are permitted with prior written consent from Buckeye Real Estate.
North Steppe Realty
The North Steppe Realty website lists properties ranging from studio/one bedroom homes to up to eight bedrooms. Most properties managed are located in the central University District, generally east of Ohio State’s campus.
According to their website, North Steppe Realty tenants are responsible for utilities in their own name. The company also states that each lease and property can have different policies.
“Tenants are responsible for putting utilities in their name prior to moving in as well as taking them out of their name at the end of their lease term,” the website stated. “Please refer to your lease as to what your responsibilities are.”
The website stated similar policies surrounding pets — each property is different and tenants are advised to look at their individual lease.
Inn Town Homes & Apartments
Inn Town Homes and Apartments lists properties on their website from one-bedroom homes and apartments up to the largest home with 10 bedrooms. Of the listings, most properties were in the three to five or more bedroom range.
Inn Town Homes and Apartments have a large prevalence on Norwich and 12th Avenues, with properties on many other streets in the University District spread throughout their listings.
Inn Town Homes and Apartments’ FAQ page states that water and lawn and exterior maintenance are included in rent, while residents must arrange all other utilities upon move-in. It also identifies pet-friendly properties and outlines the process for adding a pet to a lease.
