WWU OFF CAMPUS LIVING
Living off-campus introduces plenty of new choices and new responsibilities. Off Campus Living is here to help you learn about the basics of renting, your rights & responsibilities as a tenant, and accessing basic needs. We also point you to important links on safety, commuting, and getting to know the Bellingham area. This website is intended to give you an overview of what you can expect—and what is expected of you—as an official Bellingham resident….. Basically, we’re all you need to know about adulting.
Office Hours
Our Peer Advisors will be hosting open office hours so Off Campus Living can be more available to assist students in their needs. Please drop-in in Viking Union 420 with any questions you have about housing as well as any concerns you may have with your living situation off campus.
- Drop-in office hours: Mon-Fri 2:30-4:30 pm
Email offcampusliving@wwu.edu to schedule a meeting outside of open office hours.
Upcoming Events
Roommate Speed Dates
Join fellow Western students for quick, rotating
conversations to meet lots of people and find your next
off-campus roommate. Snacks included.
January 23rd, February 13th, and March 13th. 2:30-4pm. VU 565.
Housing and Hashbrowns
Moving off campus for the first time? Join Off Campus
Living and learn about looking for housing, submitting
an application, understanding your lease and
identifying landlord red flags.
February 22nd. 10 am-noon. VU 565.
House Hunt Lab
Get in the moment assistance on your housing search!
Join Off Campus Living at the Haggard Hall computer
lab to get hands-on tips and pointers as you search and
apply for housing.
February 27th. 3:30-5 pm. HH 112.
Housing Fair
Meet local landlords, property managers and renter
support agencies and find out how they can support
you as a renter, whether it’s with housing, rental
assistance or tenant education and advocacy. Plus, win
prizes & get free stuff
March 6th. 10 am-2 pm. VU MPR.
Off Campus Housing Marketplace
Looking for an apartment, room in a house, roommates, or subleases?
Take the Ready, Set…Rent! Crash Course
Take this 30 minute course on CANVAS now! You can learn all you need to know about signing a lease, your rights and responsibilities as a renter, and how to find a safe and comfortable place to live. 30 minutes now will save you time, money and friendships in the future!
Want to learn more about renting and renter’s rights? Check out one of these webinars from Solid Ground!
Sign Up For Our Newsletter!
Rental Registration and Inspection Program
The City of Bellingham’s Rental Registration & Safety Inspection Program was approved by the Bellingham City Council on March 9, 2015, after more than ten years of public involvement and proposals. RR&SIP is designed to ensure that all rental housing units comply with specific life & fire safety standards and are providing a safe place for tenants to live. All rental property owners are required to register their property every year and submit the property to inspection every three years.
Here is a link to a list of the properties that have been registered in the program. If your property is not listed, it may not be safe to live in, contact the City of Bellingham to report the issue.
If your property is on the above list but there are issues with life and fire safety standards like non-functioning windows, handrails, electrical or heating, you can report it to the City here.
Landlord Rating Survey
Off Campus Living has launched the 2023 Landlord Rating Survey! If you find an email from us in your mailbox asking you to rate your landlord, do your fellow Viks a favor and complete our survey! Find out what your fellow Vikings said about their landlords last year!
