This page is for »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ students who are looking for housing near campus, including apartments, houses, and roommate opportunities.
If you are looking for help managing your relationship with a current landlord or roommate, refer to the Off-Campus Student Resources page.
Please note the Disclosures for Renters & Landlords at the bottom of this page.
Off-Campus Student Life partners with Off Campus Partners (powered by Apartments.com) to provide an . You can browse local listings, filter by your preferences, and explore different neighborhoods near campus. Each listing includes a map so you can see how far it is from the St. Paul or Minneapolis campus—helping you find a place that fits both your lifestyle and commute.
Listings are submitted by landlords or property managers and approved for content by OCSL staff. Please note that the »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ does not inspect, verify, or endorse any rental listings that appear on this list. The appearance of any listing does not indicate any endorsement by the university.
The St. Thomas housing and roommate list is updated each weekday when new information is received. Please contact us at (651) 962-6138 or offcampus@stthomas.edu with any comments, questions or concerns.
In the , Students can also create listings indicating their need for a roommate or sublessor.
Students looking for a St. Thomas roommate can advertise their current room availability, view other students' room availability, or find someone who is also looking for a new place to live. When finding a roommate, it is important to discuss a wide range of topics before signing the lease to ensure you are compatible. Taking time to share your expectations now will help reduce future conflicts.
You can also sublease your space on the off-campus housing listing system. Before subleasing your space, be sure to think about these key items:
Before you begin your housing search, you should consider your options and preferences. You may need to re-evaluate your choices as you enter the housing market, but it is helpful to start with some guidelines:
Writing down your must-haves and priorities can help you stay focused on what matters most, rather than being influenced by a listing photo alone.
Give yourself at least a few weeks to find housing. Make an appointment to view the units you are considering. Many landlords do not appreciate prospective tenants arriving unannounced, and most landlords are required to give current tenants at least 24-hour notice before showing a unit.
Some landlords require prospective tenants to pay an application fee. Many landlords do not. If required, the fee is used to cover the cost of checking the tenant's references. Tenants should ask whether application fees are refundable and request a receipt of payment.
There are many housing options available near St. Thomas, so don't feel pressured to sign a lease too early. You can wait until closer to your move-in date before signing a lease.
A great way to start your housing search is by attending one of our Off-Campus Housing Fairs. Held each October and March, these events connect you with a variety of local property managers and housing vendors, making it easy to explore your options and ask questions in one place.
A landlord may take your name and say they will get back to you after reviewing all applicants. Check back and remind the landlord that you are still interested.
If you find a place you like, be prepared to leave a deposit. Make sure you get a receipt for any deposits made. The receipt should specify whether the deposit is refundable if you do not rent the space and how the deposit will be used if you rent the space (e.g., as part of the security deposit or first month's rent).
There are many places to find listings of available housing. We think the best for our students is our , a database of properties available for rent. These properties include houses, apartments and duplexes that are vacant or shared. The »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ does not inspect properties or endorse particular landlords. Listings are accepted with the expectation and understanding that the landlord or agent is in compliance with all state, federal and local housing laws and any regulations pertaining to rental properties.
You may also consider asking friends. If you know students who will be vacating their place, ask them to provide information about their landlord and property. Or take a walk through the neighborhoods to see if there are any for rent signs. You can also try the local newspapers. The Star Tribune and Pioneer Press are the two major daily papers for the St. Paul/Minneapolis area and both have housing listings in their classifieds section.
St. Thomas wants to prepare students for the responsibilities and realities of living off campus in a family-oriented neighborhood. A core function of Off-Campus Student Life (OCSL) is to educate students about their rights and responsibilities when living off-campus.
Helping students manage their relationships with homeowners and landlords, understanding »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ norms around our campus, and problem-solving challenges they may encounter are some of the areas where staff can assist. Contact us by emailing offcampus@stthomas.edu.
Renter 101 is an introductory overview as you begin thinking about living off campus. Students are encouraged to watch before starting their off-campus housing search.
The is designed to provide students with fundamental resources and knowledge about living off-campus. Students will learn about living off-campus responsibly, maintaining their property, developing good relationships with permanent residents, and becoming part of the »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ around campus. STEP covers:
STEP is offered as a self-paced Canvas course, available to all current St. Thomas students.
Questions about STEP can be directed to Off-Campus Student Life at offcampus@stthomas.edu or 651-962-6659. Or visit us in person in ASC 218 ().
The »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ does not inspect, verify or endorse any rental listings that appear on the Off-Campus Housing Listings website. The appearance of a rental unit dos not indicate any endorsement of either the owner or the property by the university. We do not screen or endorse roommates. We urge caution and ask that you fully research a property and landlord/owner before committing to a lease. We do not accept responsibility for landlord/tenant disputes, and recommend that you use free legal advice and city options for managing conflicts.
The »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ housing and roommate list is updated each weekday that new information is received. Please contact us at (651) 962-6138 or offcampus@stthomas.edu with any comments, questions, concerns or to post a housing or roommate listing.
Become familiar with your rights and responsibilities. Read "Renter Resources" and know the ordinances in the area you are renting. As an example, one of the least known or understood ordinances relates to over-occupancy. In the City of St. Paul, no more than four unrelated persons may live in a single family dwelling - even if it has more than four bedrooms (unless it is classified as a rooming house.) Visit the city's website to find a listing of all St. Paul city ordinances. And check out our In the Neighborhood Brochure (page 1, page 2).
You can call the St. Paul Citizen Service Office at (651) 266-8989 to determine whether any complaints have been filed against the property you are seeking to rent. You can also look up the property online.
Please note, the »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ does not inspect, verify or endorse any rental or roommate listings that appear on this list. The appearance of a rental unit does not indicate any endorsement of the owner, property or individual by the university. We urge caution and ask that you fully research a property, landlord/owner, or potential roommate before committing to a lease/agreement. We do not accept responsibility for landlord/tenant disputes, and recommend that you use free legal advice and city options for managing conflicts.
The »Æ¹ÏÊÓƵ, at its sole discretion, may decline to post any listing for any reason. Listing on the site is not an endorsement of any property and does not signify St. Thomas approval of any property.
The Minnesota Attorney General publishes information about Landlord and Tenant Rights and Responsibilities. The St. Paul Association of Responsible Landlords (SPARL) is a great way to familiarize yourself with city ordinances and codes. You can contact SPARL at (651) 647-6810. Another way to become informed of ordinances and codes is to check the City of St. Paul site.