Preparing to rent in Santa Cruz

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Santa Cruz Neighborhoods

Getting Started:

• Renters Workshop: Learn how to conduct an effective housing search, about different contracts and forms, and what you should know about your rights and responsibilities as a tenant.
• Rental Application: It is very important that you have all the necessary paperwork complete before you start your search of a rental. As you may know, the market is very competitive, and these documents will help you to present your best self to your potential landlords
  • Rental Application (PDF)
  • Rental Application Packet Checklist (a list of what to include in your packet)
    • Sample Rental Application Packet (PDF)
  • Letter of Guarantee (PDF)
  • Housing Reference Release (for students who have lived in UCSC campus housing)
  • How to Check Rental References for UCSC Student (PDF) This form will give landlords direction on how to check your UCSC references

Determine your budget:

• Renting in Santa Cruz county is expensive. Not only do you have your rent, but also you will be responsible for (your share of the) utilities, transportation, food, and household maintenance, etc. Be prepared; landlords usually ask for the first month of rent plus a security deposit. A typical security deposit is equal to one month of rent, but can be up to two months' rent for an unfurnished unit or up to three months' rent for a furnished unit.
  • Rental cost statistics
  • Renting with pets
• Rental Forms and Rental Laws: these pages will give you additional resources as a Santa Cruz renter