Teaching Students How to Rent a Home, Step-by-Step
Why Teaching Students How to Rent a Home Matters
Ah, the sweet scent of freedom! Nothing defines adulthood quite like having a place to call your own. Teaching students how to rent a home equips them with valuable life skills, paving the way for successful independent living.
The Educator’s Role in Preparing Students for Independent Living
As educators, we play a vital role in preparing young adults for life beyond high school, which can include the important task of finding housing. To support this transition, I’ve developed a series of activities designed to help students navigate the rental process. I’ve successfully used this lesson with students in general education, special education, vocational education, adult education–I’ve found that anyone planning to live independently can benefit from this practical, real-world information!
Addressing Diverse Housing Experiences and Aspirations
Housing can be a sensitive topic for many students. Some may feel uncertain about their current living situation, while others might feel anxious about their future options. During this lesson, I try to be mindful of students’ different experiences.
Students also have a wide range of living aspirations. Some dream of staying close to home, while others imagine moving abroad. Preferences may lean toward the quiet of rural areas or the energy of city life, multigenerational family homes or solo rentals. My goal is to expand their understanding of the possibilities and help them identify the housing options that best fit their unique needs and goals.
The Impact of Housing on Well-being
Having a safe, comfortable place to call home is about so much more than just having a roof over your head. Research shows that good housing is closely tied to better physical health, improved mental well-being, and higher overall life satisfaction. It can also strengthen social connections and boost self-esteem.
When we help students learn how to find housing that’s safe, affordable, and reliable, we’re not just teaching them a practical skill—we’re setting them up for a future where they can thrive. A good living situation can be the foundation for building confidence, maintaining relationships, and focusing on personal and professional goals. Preparing students to rent a home is a small step that can make a huge difference in their long-term happiness and success.
Research indicates the importance of suitable housing for overall well-being.
Understanding the Realities of Income vs. Housing Costs
Why Budgeting for Housing Is Essential
Housing is one of the easiest areas for young adults to overspend, making it a prime topic for real-world financial lessons. Careful budgeting is essential to help students avoid unrealistic expectations and unnecessary financial strain. As they take their first steps into adult life, it’s crucial to have honest, practical conversations about the importance of living within their means.
10 ideas to help students start saving for their first rental.
Income vs. Average Rent: The Hard Truth
Many young adults begin their working lives earning minimum wage while trying to find affordable housing. Common advice suggests that no more than 30% of a person’s gross income should go toward housing costs. But here’s where things get concerning:
The average apartment rental in the U.S. runs between $1,500-$1,700 per month. Now let’s do some quick math:
Monthly income for someone making federal minimum wage: ~$1,160
30% of their gross pay (recommended for housing): $348
Average apartment rental cost: $1,600
Funding shortfall: -$1,252
Strategies for Managing Housing Costs
Seventy-eight percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, which makes budgeting even more crucial, especially when it comes to housing. By being mindful of housing expenses and avoiding overspending, it’s possible to create more breathing room in the budget. This might mean making some compromises, like opting for a smaller studio apartment, choosing a more affordable area to live, or even sharing space with roommates. These adjustments can help students keep housing costs manageable while giving them the flexibility to focus on other financial goals.
6 ideas to help save on utilities and lower overall housing costs.
The Rental Housing Search Process
The rental housing search can be overwhelming for students, especially when they’re not sure where to begin. With so many factors to consider—like location, cost, and lease terms—it’s easy to feel lost in the process. By breaking it down into manageable steps, we can help students confidently navigate the search and find a place that fits their needs.
Where to Look for Housing
When teaching students about finding housing, I start by guiding them through different options for where to look. There are high-tech, low-tech, and even no-tech methods—each with its pros and cons.
Online platforms, websites, and apps are great for a quick search, but students shouldn’t overlook more traditional resources like real estate agencies, property managers, or even community bulletin boards and "for rent" signs.
Some of the best deals may never officially hit the market—like a friend of a friend renting out an apartment above their garage. If students can secure housing through family or friends, it can often be less competitive and more affordable, giving them a much-needed edge in a tough market.
How to Look for Housing
When it comes to looking for housing, there are plenty of tips and tricks that can help make the process smoother. Here are a few key things students should keep in mind:
Timing Matters: Housing tends to be more expensive during the summer months, as demand is higher. The market is usually slower from October to December and February to March, which can create more opportunities for better deals when people are less likely to be actively searching or moving during the cold months or busy holiday season.
Team Up: If possible, involve partners or roommates in the search. Having multiple people looking increases the chances of finding something everyone will like, and it can help ease the financial burden by splitting costs.
Look for Deals: Ask about move-in offers, discounts for signing longer leases, or special deals for military service members or college students. You’d be surprised what landlords may offer if you simply ask.
Negotiate: If there are a lot of rentals available, there may be room to negotiate on rent, or you might even get the first month free. It never hurts to ask what the landlord can do to sweeten the deal!
Considering Amenities in a Rental Home
Finally, we talk about amenities. Admittedly, considering amenities is a luxury. Sometimes, simply finding a place to live is enough. However, in the name of broadening students' horizons, it is good to get them thinking about outdoor features, storage space, laundry facilities, parking, safety features, pet options, appliances, and more. Students should prioritize the amenities that are most important to them and filter their searches based on those they can’t live without.
Practical Activities for Teaching How to Rent a Home
House Hunting Practice Activity
At this point in the lesson, we dive into a house-hunting practice activity. Students start by considering the type of housing they want, the area they'd prefer to live in, how much they can afford, and the features that matter most to them. The search methods are flexible—students typically search online through apartment websites, Craigslist, Facebook, and more. Sometimes, I bring in the local newspaper or mailers with rental listings to give them a broader range of options. The more variety, the better!
Next, students find three potential rentals that meet their criteria, record the details on their worksheet, and then we debrief as a class. This usually sparks interesting conversations about the realities of adulting, like prioritizing needs over wants and making tough decisions about what’s truly important in a living space.
Sneak peek at the rental housing search activity from the comprehensive housing lesson.
Filling Out a Rental Application
Next, I provide students with a sample rental application. We begin by reviewing it together, taking the time to explain any unfamiliar terms, such as "SSN" or the difference between gross and net income.
Afterward, I have students fill out the application themselves, creating a "cheat sheet" they can keep on hand for filling out real applications down the road. This hands-on activity not only helps them practice but also gives them a valuable reference for future housing searches.
Rental Housing Vocabulary Practice
To help students master the essential vocabulary for renting, I’ve created a rental housing game set that includes a word search and two crossword puzzles - one with a word bank and one without. Additionally, there’s a terminology sheet to guide them through key rental housing terms.
Some examples of the vocabulary covered in this set include: lease, property manager, background check, eviction, security deposit, and utilities. This activity serves as a fun and interactive way for students to reinforce their understanding of these important terms as they continue their house-hunting journey.
Avoiding Rental Scams
In 2023, there were 9,521 real estate-related scam reports, resulting in losses totaling $145,243,348 (FBI Internet Crime Report). Young, inexperienced renters are especially vulnerable to these types of fraud, which can be both financially damaging and emotionally stressful.
Recognizing Common Rental Scam Red Flags
I start by presenting students with a sample scam Facebook post. They’re given five minutes to review it with a partner, identifying as many red flags as they can. The post includes several classic scam indicators, such as a watermarked photo, an unrealistic rent price, inconsistent information, a sense of urgency that's too good to be true, and a property owner who conveniently claims to be traveling out of the country but is more than happy to hold the house with just a quick wire transfer.
Once students identify the red flags in the post, I show them a sample email I would send to inquire about the property. This gives us a great chance to discuss email etiquette—how to ask clear and respectful questions, and what details to include in a professional inquiry. Afterward, I show students the response from the property owner, and we dive into another round of "spot the scam." Students are usually quick to identify red flags like the owner’s reluctance to show the house in person, repeated efforts to create urgency, and small inconsistencies in email addresses or business names. This activity is always a crowd favorite and helps students hone their scam-spotting skills!
Sample “Spot the Scam” activity from the comprehensive rental housing lesson.
Tips to Protect Against Rental Scams
I follow up with direct instruction on the most common rental scam red flags and specific strategies students can use to protect themselves. Here are a few key tips I share:
Check online reviews and ratings to research the owner or property manager.
Get everything in writing, including agreements, lease terms, and payment details.
Use trusted websites that offer verification services for renters.
Ask for identification and ensure it matches the information on the paperwork.
Verify the rental listing’s authenticity by cross-checking it across multiple platforms.
Be cautious of subleasing offers and confirm subleasing rights directly with the property owner.
Look for signs of recent occupancy—disuse or disconnected utilities could indicate a scam.
By utilizing these strategies, students can feel more confident in their ability to protect themselves during the rental process.
Learning to Read and Understand a Lease
Once students find a rental, dodge the scammers, and complete the application process, the next step is signing a rental agreement. For new renters, this can feel like a daunting step, but it doesn’t have to be intimidating. With some practice, students can learn to read and understand the terms of a lease with confidence.
Common Elements of a Rental Agreement
I begin by reviewing the common elements of a lease, like the rent amount, lease duration, security deposits, and maintenance responsibilities. Then, I provide students with a sample lease document that mimics an actual rental agreement but includes intentionally confusing, contradictory, or concerning details. The goal is to help students identify potential red flags before they sign anything.
In the "Lease Lingo" activity, students begin by reading through the lease silently. Then, they work individually or with a partner to review it again, highlighting key information and noting any areas of concern. Afterward, I guide them through a series of comprehension questions and facilitate a group discussion to go over their findings. If you're interested in using this activity with your students, I'm happy to share a complimentary copy of Lease Lingo.
Navigating Independent Living
After covering leases, we dive into the nitty-gritty of independent living. I share lessons I’ve learned through trial and error while being mindful that students come with different levels of exposure and experience. I adjust my pace and the level of detail based on their interest and engagement, walking them step-by-step through key areas like:
Renter’s insurance
How and when to pay rent (covering things like first month, last month, deposits, etc.)
Procedures for moving
Setting up utilities
Change of address
Communicating with the owner or property manager
Best practices for living with roommates
These topics are essential for a smooth transition to independent living, and I make sure students feel confident in navigating them.
Resources for Renters
I also provide students with some valuable resources to keep on hand for future use. First, I give them a comprehensive move-in checklist that covers everything from financial preparation to rental searching, inspecting the rental, signing the lease, preparing to move, moving in, and getting settled. It’s a helpful guide to keep them organized through each step of the process.
Second, I provide an old-school rent tracker. It’s easy to forget things like how much you paid for the deposit or whether you sent the rent before leaving on vacation. This simple tool helps students stay on top of their rent payments and avoid any mix-ups down the road.
Safety Quiz: Common Household Hazards
Next, we take a fun break with an interactive safety quiz using Google Slides. I like to quiz students on everything from the most common causes of house fires to the dangers of lead paint. It's a great way to engage them while adding an important layer of safety knowledge for independent living. Plus, it’s a nice change of pace!
Sample questions from the Home Safety Quiz included in the comprehensive rental housing lesson.
Moving Out
Last things last, we wrap up by talking about moving out of a rental. Giving proper notice provides an opportunity to reinforce social skills and communication etiquette. I show students a “what not to do” example—a casual, vague text to a landlord—and we discuss why it’s unprofessional and unlikely to result in a good reference. Then, we look at a “what to do” email that models the appropriate tone, including a polite greeting, a clear move-out date, a reason for leaving, a request for a walkthrough, and contact information for returning the deposit.
This often sparks a discussion on how to ensure you get your full deposit back, such as keeping up with small repairs, maintaining cleanliness, and being proactive throughout the rental period. It’s a great reminder that good communication can make all the difference when moving out!
Exit Ticket: Reflecting on the Lesson
We finish the lesson with an exit ticket where students reflect on what they’ve learned. I ask them to identify at least one new thing they’ve discovered and one actionable next step toward independent living.
This lesson, Adulting 101: How to Rent a Home (Independent Living Skills Lesson & Activities, is always one of the most popular of the year. On the surface, topics like security deposits and water bills might seem a little dry, but the truth is, students are excited about the idea of moving out on their own, even as they feel nervous about leaving the safety of their family home. This makes the lesson both relevant and engaging, and they absorb every minute of it!
By the end of the lesson, students walk away with the essential knowledge to rent a home. Whether they’re just starting to think about their future home or are already planning their move, they will be better prepared to handle the challenges of independent living.
If this sounds like something your students would benefit from, you can take a sneak peek at the full lesson.
Happy housing!
Ready-to-use lesson on how to rent home!
