Moving off-campus is an exciting part of your Michigan experience; however, the transition to living on your own can be overwhelming. Keep these things in mind for a successful year.

When choosing to move off-campus, you should be aware of your rights as a renter under local and state laws.

If you are using a private lease and your rental property is located in Ann Arbor, you should ensure that each of these clauses is included.

The City of Ann Arbor has passed the Early Leasing Ordinance to prevent landlords to show a property until 70 after the start of the current lease.

Renters insurance has the same purpose as homeowner’s insurance; to reimburse you for losses if your personal property is lost, stolen, or damaged. For a comprehensive look at Renters Insurance, please refer to Renters Insurance - Your comprehensive guide.

This article will discuss what is and isn't covered by a renters insurance policy, the best ways to obtain renters coverage, and a few money-saving tips to keep your premiums as low as possible.

Having a dispute with your roommate or landlord? Learn more about the dispute resolution services offered in the Dean of Students office.

Remember that your off-campus neighbors live just feet away. Maintain a positive relationship with students or Ann Arbor residents next door and keep these helpful tips in mind.

U.S. News and World Report recently ranked Ann Arbor one of the Top 10 College Towns in America. With so much to see and do in your off-campus neighborhood, we recommend you explore Beyond the Diag.

Ann Arbor contracts with Recycle Ann Arbor to provide free, easy-to-use recycling collection and processing services.

On top of rent each month, you will likely be responsible for paying many of the utilities for your off-campus house or apartment. Here are some ways to significantly cut costs while reducing your carbon footprint.

Be respectful and stay in control. Please direct your attention to this list of local laws and ordinances.

Always remember to lock your door and review these tips to protect your home and your belongings.

There are many resources provided by the University of Michigan to help you think about your personal safety, talk about safety with your friends, and share responsibility for keeping our campus community a safe place.

Whether you plan to host or attend a party, it is important to stay safe and legal while enjoying a night out. Here are some recommendations to help minimize risk for yourself and your guests.

Staying in the Blue means keeping your blood alcohol content (BAC) at low-risk levels of .06 or below.

SafeRide is a free service that transports students, faculty, and staff to their residence or vehicle in their off-campus neighborhood.

This flow chart will indicate the types of Special Transit Services available to U-M students and explain when to use them.

For many members of the University community, bicycling is the preferred mode of travel around campus. Do your part to stay safe when biking by being aware of this information.

A security deposit includes any rent you pay in advance – please refer to the timeline of what to expect regarding your security deposit at the end of your lease.

Subletting your space is not a decision you can make by yourself. You should read your lease and check with your landlord to find out if you are allowed to sublet your space and if there are any restrictions or guidelines you must follow. This link will help you learn more tips about subletting.

Laptops and other portable electronic devices are easy targets for theft. Learn how to register your device online with the University of Michigan Police Department.

To better ensure that minors at medical risk as a result of alcohol intoxication will receive prompt and appropriate medical attention, in 2012, the State of Michigan adopted a medical amnesty law to remove perceived barriers to calling for or seeking help.

UM Emergency Alert is a free, mass notification system by which the University can notify students, faculty and staff of an active, major campus emergency.

Safety online includes protecting your privacy, staying connected to your support network, deterring identity theft and financial fraud, and managing your social networks so that you share only the information you want to share and with whom you choose.

Don’t be the victim of identity theft; protect your information with these tips from the University of Michigan Police Department and U-M Information and Technology Services.

See Something? Say Something! If you witness criminal or suspicious activity alert the police in a timely manner.

The Ann Arbor Fire Department (AAFD) provides emergency services including fire suppression, vehicle extrication, medical response, hazardous materials, water/ice rescue and technical rescue 24 hours per day.

Concerned about who to contact in an emergency? This information identifies local law enforcement agencies.

Equip yourself with information on crime prevention both on and off campus.

It’s late. You’re studying for finals, so it is going to get later. Here are some ideas to help you be safer and feel safer. Remember, it’s up to you to decide which strategies will best fit into your life.

Practice saying “No.” It is not the easiest skill to learn. If it is challenging to refuse anyone or anything, here are some tips to get you started.

The 2013-14 edition of the University of Michigan Annual Security Report and Annual Fire Safety Report is an excellent resource for issues of campus safety, including emergency services, safety tips, University policies and state laws, and additional support servies.

If you plan to bring a vehicle to campus, make sure you have a place to park and keep in mind that spaces in Ann Arbor are very limited.

If you have a car on campus, consider these tips from the U-M Police Department to keep yourself and your vehicle safe.

The City of Ann Arbor’s Downtown Development Authority (DDA) provides metered parking, public parking structures, attended parking lots, monthly and yearly parking permits for designated lots. Non-metered parking is available on many residential side streets near campus. State law requires that your vehicle be park a minimum of three feet from any driveway and 15 feet from fire hydrants.

Not being able to find a parking space in your neighborhood can be a frustrating experience. The City of Ann Arbor has initiated a program that serves as a solution to many of the parking problems in residential neighborhoods, this brochure will explain more.

As Wolverines, it is important to show our maize-and-blue pride while respecting the Michigan community, other fans, and our competitors. Keep these tips in mind for a safe and fun game-day experience.

The student stadium guide provides an in depth look at the new General Seating information.

When it snows in Ann Arbor, the city depends on its citizens to be helpful, responsible, and aware of the need to remove all snow and ice from the public sidewalks including walks and ramps leading to a crosswalk. Keep this information in mind during the winter months in Ann Arbor.

The City of Ann Arbor performs a variety of winter street maintenance procedures depending upon the type and amount of precipitation. Review this information for up-to-date snow plow status information during winter storms.

Michigan weather can change at any moment. Be prepared in the event of a tornado or severe thunderstorm with these safety tips from the U-M Office of Emergency Preparedness.

Washtenaw County Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service provides referrals for $30 to receive 30 minutes of legal advice.

Legal resource Center of Ann Arbor can assist with free services like filing forms, etc...

Legal Services of South Central Michigan provides free legal services in certain civil cases to low income persons.