Signing a lease
Student Legal Services
Before signing a lease, we highly encourage students to have one of the attorneys at Student Legal Services review the document to help you understand what you’re agreeing to. You can visit their website to schedule an appointment. This service is free to students!
Avoiding Rental Scams
A short note from Gnorman the Gnome about avoiding rental scams. Featured in the 2025 Housing Guide.
Example Plain Language Lease
An example of a typical landlord/tenant contract; in other words, the rental agreement between a tenant and a landlord. Please note this is just an example and leases can vary from property to property.
Example Sublease Agreement
This is an example contract for the purpose of subletting property, such as renting a room for the summer. Please note this is an example and you should always check with your landlors about their subleasing process.
Sample Rental Application
A sample rental application. This is just an example of what some rental applications may look like.
Colorado Law
This resource outlines Colorado’s fair housing laws that prohibit discrimination in housing based on protected characteristics like disability, race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, and source of income. It covers key provisions including reasonable accommodations, assistance animal rights, and how to file discrimination complaints. Visit ccrd.colorado.gov for more information.
utilities & Budgeting
About Utilities
Chapter 3 of the Off-Campus Life Student Handbook covers finding utility services, and tips and tricks for saving money and energy!
Budget Worksheet & Financial Education
Check out this simple editable PDF for creating a budget!
For more budgeting support check out the Canvas Financial Education programs. Canvas Credit Union provides comprehensive financial education programs designed to empower Colorado communities with the knowledge and skills needed to achieve long-term financial wellness and stability.
Credit Reporting
When applying for a new living space, many landlords will perform a credit check. This report will allow them to see if you have any outstanding debts, late payments, or other detrimental factors lowering your credit score. By doing this, they decide if you are “trustworthy” to make rent payments. You are entitled to three free credit reports a year through annualcreditreport.com, which uses reports generated by the three reporting agencies; Equifax, Experian, and Transunion. A higher credit score doesn’t necessarily mean that you will be sent a lease, but it certainly will aid in the effort. You can keep your credit score high by making on time payments to credit cards or loans, aiming to keep your credit usage below 30% monthly, and paying down any debt you may have!
Living Relations
Student Resolution Center
The Student Resolution Center is a free resource to students who may need to navigate complex living relations. They offer conflict resolution services as well as student conduct services.
Roommate Conversation Guides & Living Agreements
The Student Resolution Center has created two helpful documents to aide in navigating living relationships.
- Roommate Conversation Guides: The SRC designed these in partnership with UVH. These are intended to help students have the conversations that can create a healthier living environment.
- Living Agreement: This document is for student who benefit from a more formalized structure.
Community Mediation
The city of Fort Collins offers mediation services that can help with neighbor conflicts, landlord/tenant conflicts, or roommate conflicts. Mediation is a structured conversation between two or more people in conflict, led by two skilled mediators. Mediation is a proven method used around the world. Our mediators are professionally trained volunteers dedicated to our community. Community Mediation doesn’t cost you anything except your time. It is a free and confidential resource for people who live or work in Fort Collins.
The Art of Roommating
Thi guide provides practical advice for students on how to successfully live with roommates. It covers essential topics including communication strategies, conflict resolution, roommate agreements, and specific discussion points about finances, cleanliness, guests, and personal boundaries to help prevent and resolve common living situation problems.
Move-In & Move-Out
Move-In Guide
A move-in guide featuring Chappel Gnome that provides practical tips and advice for students moving into rental properties, covering everything from move-in inspection and creating roommate agreements.
Notice of Intent to Vacate
This is a template form that tenants can use to formally notify their landlord of their intention to move out, including details about the move-out date, unit inspection arrangements, and forwarding address for deposit return.
Move-Out Guide
A move-out guide featuring Chappel Gnome that provides practical tips and advice for students moving out of rental properties, covering everything from cleaning requirements to getting security deposits back.
Basic Needs & Other Resources
Basic Needs Resources
Rams Against Hunger Food Pantry
Operating from The Office of Student Leadership, Involvement and Community Engagement (SLiCE), Rams Against Hunger offers services supporting students, faculty and staff experiencing food insecurity, including a food pantry, meal-swipe program, pocket pantries, and assistance with federal aid eligibility. This approach seeks to normalize conversations around food insecurity while affirming dignity. The pantry hopes to ensure that basic needs don’t interfere with academic success, living out the creed that Rams take care of Rams.
RamRide Food Operations
RamRide & The RAH Food Pantry offer a delivery service for on- and off-campus students, faculty, and staff who are unable to come in person. RamRide Food Ops makes deliveries every Friday from 2:30 – 4:00 pm. Note: RamRide Food Ops is designed for students, faculty, and staff who cannot come to, or transport food home from, the Rams Against Hunger Food Pantry. This is a limited service and it’s asked that only individuals who meet these requirements fill out the application.
RamRide Secure
As many CSU students continue to face financial insecurity, RamRide is positioned to support transportation security needs through RamRide Secure. Research shows students may struggle completing errands, getting to jobs, or attending classes without adequate transportation, making them less likely to access other basic needs. This program complements existing transportation options by providing students up to $150 in credits for Lyft rides or Spin E-Bikes and E-Scooters, available through rolling applications subject to review. RamRide Secure is designed for temporary transportation issues (stolen bike, broken car) or health concerns that hinder educational access, but not for long-term transportation gaps or convenience preferences over existing public transit options.
Student Case Management
The Student Case Management & Referral Coordination office provides crisis prevention and intervention services. In difficult or crisis situations, students may find it challenging to navigate the academic consequences, university processes, and campus and community resources available. Student Case Management consults with students, faculty, staff, families, and providers to offer guidance on the next best steps. Additionally, Student Case Management can assist students in accessing public benefits programs like SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and Medicaid.
CSU Health Network
The CSU Health Network provides comprehensive health and wellness services tailored to the diverse needs of the university community. Located at 151 W. Lake Street (corner of College Ave. and Prospect Rd.) in Fort Collins, the Health Network and Medical Center can be reached at (970) 491-7121. Current students can access mental health and well-being resources, health screenings, and support for transitioning mental health care to campus services, along with the You@CSU Student Success Resources Portal. International students receive specialized support through the International Student Health Insurance Plan, while new and incoming students benefit from dedicated undergraduate and graduate checklists to navigate campus health services. The network also supports parents, families, and support systems with important information and guidance on using health insurance within the CSU Health Network, ensuring comprehensive care for the entire campus community.
Center for Family & Couples Therapy
The Center for Family and Couple Therapy is a comfortable therapy center located on the Colorado State University campus that has been serving Northern Colorado since 1991. Their therapists use evidence-based interventions and work from various therapeutic theories to treat a wide range of individual, couple, and family issues. The center welcomes all clients regardless of race, gender, class, sexual orientation, ethnicity, age, ability, family form, relational status, religion, or presenting problem. They offer flexible scheduling with evening sessions, daytime sessions when available, and telehealth options when appropriate, conducting a brief phone intake before scheduling the first appointment as soon as possible. The CFCT also houses the CSU Trauma and Resilience Assessment Center (CTRAC), expanding their comprehensive mental health services.
CSU Surplus
Student Disability Center
The Student Disability Center provides support for students with both permanent and temporary disabilities. This can encompass physical disabilities, chronic illness/health conditions, mental health conditions, learning disabilities, temporary disabilities.
Larimer County: Office of Housing Stability
Larimer County acknowledges the growing need for stable and affordable housing to be available to all its community members. The Housing Stability Office works to address the area’s top housing needs through regional coordination, land use code reform, and expansion of housing resources.