Are you looking for information about how to find the best room or apartment near UVA?  Here are the details about "on grounds" and "off grounds" housing...

Housing options include
1. UVA dormitories and housing ("on grounds")
2. Apartments and houses ("off grounds")

UVA "On-Grounds" Dormitories and Housing.  Rooms or apartments rented to students by the university.  See: http://www.virginia.edu/housing.
 
"Off-Grounds" Apartments or Houses.  Not owned by UVA.  Usually shared by two or more students, these can be located through:

• http://www.brac.com/  lists available apartments online at their website, where you can search by area, rent amount and number of bedrooms.
• http://uvastudentcouncil.com/offgrounds
• http://www.avenue.org/housing.htm a Charlottesville-area community web site, has an invaluable list of links to realtors, apartments, housing organizations, and more
• http://hoohasit.com/
• http://charlottesville.craigslist.org/
• http://www.move.com/apartments
• The University offers an Off-Grounds Housing Guide for graduate students that includes links to local housing opportunities as well as a list of contact information for local rental property managers.
• “For rent” advertisements on physical bulletin boards around UVA
• Classified ads in the newspaper (Daily Progress, C-ville Weekly, or The Hook),
• Student newsgroups (uva.want-ads.housing)
• Signs in front of apartments for rent. 
• You can find the phone numbers for companies that lease apartments in the Yellow Pages under “Apartments”.  Sometimes it is convenient to contact them and get a real human being to help you find what you are looking for.
  • Read the lease (rental agreement) carefully before signing it.  The lease sets the amount of rent that must be paid each month, the amount of the deposit (called the “security deposit”), monthly utility costs, and the rules & regulations set by the landlord.  It is a legal, binding contract.  The security deposit is required in most cases and paid upfront when you sign the lease, and it is returned at the end of the year after deducting the costs of damages to the place, if any.  Rent must be paid in full by the due date every month.
  • If you have questions or concerns about your lease, contact Student Legal Services, Tel: 924-7524 or see: http://www.student.virginia.edu/~stud-leg
  • What is the location relative to the university and to bus routes?  Are stores or services that you need close by?  Do not simply trust the information  you find on the website of a particular rental company.  Find out EXACTLY how many miles (you can convert it into km later :-) you would have to walk to get to your department and classes.  This must be done before signing your lease.  Contact us if you have questions about the location of a particular apartment.
  • How many months’ notice must you give to your landlord before moving out?
  • What rules and regulations must you follow?
  • Carefully inspect the apartment or room, and report any damage before beginning your lease, as you may be held responsible and charged for any damage.
  • How will you divide the rent, utilities, telephone bills, household chores, food purchases, cooking, and other household expenses?
  • What courtesy rules will each of you observe?
  • Furniture & Household Goods.  University dormitories usually have basic furniture.  Except for a refrigerator and stove, apartments and houses are usually unfurnished.
  • http://charlottesville.craigslist.org/
  • Thrift stores - a great place to buy used furniture
                 + The Salvation Army store at 604 Cherry Ave is the easiest place to start (434) 979-523
                 + Goodwill 1720 Seminole Trl (434) 872-017
                 + Goodwill 1242 Richmond Rd (434) 295-3967
    
  • Yard sales in residential neighborhoods or churches - see “Yard Sales” in newspaper classified ads,
  • “For sale” in the advertising section in the newspaper
  • Used furniture stores - see Yellow Pages under “Furniture-Used”,

Apartments are usually one to three bedrooms with a kitchen and a living room.  Houses sometimes are divided into two separate apartments called a “duplex.”  An “efficiency” is a small apartment where the living and sleeping areas are combined into one room, and is suitable for one person.
 
Leases.  A contract that must be signed in order to rent a room, apartment or house.  Usually, each student signs a lease to rent a place to live for one year at a time.  Talk to your landlord about the possibility of subletting. A sublease is temporarily renting your room or apartment to someone else.
 
Things to Consider when Renting

Things to Consider Concerning Roommates.

Inexpensive and used furniture or household goods can be found at:

New furniture can be purchased from various furniture and mattress stores in Charlottesville (see Yellow Pages under “Furniture-Retail”).  Household goods and appliances are available from Wal-Mart, Best Buy, Circuit City, Sears, Target, or K-Mart.