Short-Term Housing Options
The University of Pittsburgh and its affiliated medical center welcome thousands of visitors every week. Although most visitors come for the day, many spend the night, some stay for a week or more, and still others remain for several months. Finding convenient and affordable housing in the University area can be a, challenge for visitors. Available options include hotels/motels, bed and breakfasts, boarding/rooming houses, corporate suites, extended-stay suites, and flexible-term apartment rentals. Off-Campus Living also can help you find a roommate or connect you with someone who wants to sublet an apartment. Temporary housing options such as home stays and house sitting/housing exchanges are options that international students and visiting faculty may find appealing.
Hotels/Motels
Off-Campus Living maintains a list of hotels and motels. Some hotels may offer reduced rates and/or special rooms for longer-stay customers. High occupancy rates in Pittsburgh hotels have resulted in rising prices overall and smaller discounts for extended-stay visitors.
Bed and Breakfasts
View the bed and breakfast establishments in the Pittsburgh area. The accommodations have become more expensive recently because of a shortage of hotel rooms in Pittsburgh and also because of recent interest in this style of housing by leisure and business travelers.
Boarding/Rooming Houses
Off-Campus Living does not have a program to support this type of housing arrangement. This type of accommodation is of mixed quality and convenience. It is an older housing format that is generally less expensive than hotels and motels but with few amenities.
Occasionally, families or homeowners will make one or more bedrooms available in their homes for rental. The agreement might permit full use of the house or be restricted to specific rooms or activities. Care should be taken to understand the intent and compatibility of people when considering such an arrangement. A family also might provide a room and meals in exchange for light housekeeping or child care in the home. Although this can be a positive experience for all involved, it also has a potential for abuse and should be undertaken with considerable caution.
Corporate Suites
Corporate suites are furnished, often luxurious apartments intended for visiting executives or others with significant housing allowances or expense accounts. Limited numbers of such accommodations are available in some apartment complexes or hotels. They may be reserved through the management of a hotel or apartment building. In addition, several service agencies coordinate multiple units in different areas of the city. Sometimes there is a minimum stay requirement. Off-Campus Living maintains a list of corporate suites.
Extended-Stay Suites
There are several extended-stay hotels and suite hotel facilities in the Pittsburgh area. Rates may be quoted weekly or monthly, and units range from a single hotel room to a suite with kitchen. Amenities may include swimming pools, exercise rooms, social programs, Internet access, and limited bus service. Off-Campus Living has compiled a list of extended-stay properties.
Flexible Lease Apartments
Some apartment managers offer leases of less than 12 months. Negotiating a shorter lease may require paying a higher monthly rate. Establishing utility, telephone, and similar apartment services can be difficult for very short-term rentals unless they are incorporated into the lease terms and handled by the landlord. Download a list of apartment complexes that advertise short-term or flexible leases.
Sublets
It often is possible to assume an existing lease or sublet an apartment from a current renter. You might even obtain the lease at a discount depending on the circumstances. Subletting is a contractual relationship to which all three parties—landlord, lessor, and sublessor—must agree. In some cases, the original lease agreement is terminated with the original tenant and a new lease is prepared for the successor. In other cases, the first renter will lease directly with the sublessor. For more information, refer to the ins and outs of subletting. Off-Campus Living also maintains a sublet service to assist members of the University community who are considering this housing option.
Roommates
In the University area, there often are apartment renters looking for roommates to share their apartments and housing expenses. Much like landlords, most tenants want long-term, stable living relationships rather than a succession of short-term visitors. However, both the spring term (January to May) and the summer session (May to August) find students looking to replace roommates who have graduated or transferred. You should expect to sign a lease and provide a security deposit and references. Refer to the roommate matching service offered by Off-Campus Living.
Home Stays
International visitors in particular often wish to stay with host families and share their everyday living experiences. Both the visitor and the host family are typically prescreened by the sponsoring organization for compatibility. Temporary home stays may be arranged by Pittsburgh Council for International Visitors.
House Sitting/Housing Exchanges
Some home or condo owners like to arrange for someone to live in their homes during extended absence. Exchanges may be arranged formally by third-party organizations for a fee or informally arranged by bulletin board or Internet postings. Both parties generally require credit and/or reference checks. Exchange opportunities in the University community may be listed with Off-Campus Living, but we do not have a formal program to support this type of housing arrangement.