Frequently asked questions

Finding housing is simple with Off-Campus Universe. Our platform curates' listings tailored for students across popular areas like North University Park, West Adams, Expo Park, and University Village. You can search by filters like price range, number of bedrooms, lease length, pet-friendly units, and more. Each listing includes detailed descriptions, photos, amenities, landlord info, and walk or bike times to campus. We also feature move-in-ready apartments that align with academic calendar, especially for Fall and Spring terms. Whether you're looking for a studio apartment, a private bedroom in a shared house, or a fully furnished short-term rental, you’ll find options that fit your student lifestyle. New listings are added daily, and our map view helps you visualize location and proximity to key spots like Ralphs, the Village, the Metro Expo Line, and campus security zones. Visit our "Property Listings" page to begin browsing and lock in your ideal rental.

Off-Campus Universe offers two powerful tools to help students find compatible roommates. First, join our "Roommate Group Chat", where you can post roommate requests, connect with other Trojans in real-time, and explore shared housing opportunities. It's a great solution for students who want informal matches and faster conversations. Second, use our "Roommate Profile Matcher", which allows you to create a personal profile based on your housing preferences, lifestyle habits (quiet, outgoing, etc.), rent budget, move-in timeline, and gender preferences. Our system uses this info to recommend potential matches with other verified students. It’s ideal for new students, international Trojans, or anyone looking for trustworthy, university-affiliated roommates. You can communicate via private chat and explore profiles that align with your criteria. Start your search today or return any time to adjust your roommate filters. Find your match before the next leasing cycle begins!

We accept a diverse range of listings that are safe, accessible, and suited for the needs of students seeking off-campus housing. These include individual rooms, private units, shared apartments, furnished student sublets, short-term rentals, and full homes that cater to group living such as roommates or Greek life. To align with local housing expectations and better serve students, we encourage properties that are within a reasonable proximity to campus, ideally located within or adjacent to the DPS Patrol Zone. Walkable or bikeable distance to school, or easy access to Metro Expo Line stations, is especially beneficial for student convenience and safety. Preferred neighborhoods include North University Park, Adams-Normandie, University Village, and Vermont Square. All listings must feature quality images, accurate rent pricing, and complete amenity details (such as laundry, internet, air conditioning, and parking availability). We ask all hosts to comply with local housing laws and safety standards. As an independent housing platform not affiliated with USC Housing or its partners, we do not use any school branding or licensed marks. However, our mission is to support students by making off-campus options more transparent and accessible. Premium listings that include full descriptions, video tours, and move-in details typically receive higher engagement and lease faster.

Whether you’re a student subletting a room, an individual landlord, or a property manager with multiple units, listing on Off-Campus Universe is easy, fast, and highly visible. Just head to our "Add a listing" page, select your account type, and fill out the listing details including photos, rent price, lease dates, amenities, and what makes your rental appealing to students. All listings are reviewed and go live once approved. We offer two individual plans: Standard Listing: $49.99/month Perfect for single units or student sublets. It includes listing page visibility, dashboard access, and live support. Featured Listing: $149.99/month Includes homepage placement, email spotlight, Instagram post, and top priority in search results. If you’re a manager or landlord listing multiple USC units, we offer 3 scalable Multi-Unit Packages: Package 1 (1–5 listings): $300/month Package 2 (6–10 listings): $500/month Package 3 (11–15 listings): $700/month All multi-unit packages include: A custom-branded microsite Quarterly Instagram promos & email campaigns Highlighted listings on the search page Student referrals Extra listings beyond 15 are just $40/month each, and you can rotate properties year-round. It’s an ideal setup for managers operating on Ellendale, Hoover, 30th St, or Figueroa. 📩 Email owenconrad@offcampus-universe.com to get started.

Yes! Our interactive map view is a top feature for students searching around the school area. It lets you browse housing options based on distance to campus, location within DPS patrol zones, public transit stops, grocery stores, and hotspots like Trader Joe’s or the Village. You can filter listings by rent, number of rooms, lease term, and pet policy. Verified listings are pinned on the map, and you can hover to preview pricing, photos, and available move-in dates. The tool is especially helpful for incoming students or those unfamiliar with LA’s geography. Want to live within a 5-minute bike ride to Leavey Library or be close to the Lyon Center? The map makes it visual and easy. You can also draw custom search areas, which is useful if you're targeting blocks near Greek Row or Jefferson Blvd. Mobile-friendly and integrated with our full listings—this view helps you find housing that fits your lifestyle and schedule.

At Off-Campus Universe, we don’t just list your property — we promote it through a dedicated network of student channels to ensure it gets maximum exposure. Your listing is automatically positioned at the top of our property listings page, where students search daily. Then we push it further by creating a custom Instagram feature on our page with tags, story mentions, and carousel posts. We also post in the Class of 2025–2028 Instagram and Snapchat groups, giving you direct visibility across four years of students. Each listing may also be featured in a weekly email campaign, which goes out to thousands of students subscribed to housing alerts and roommate notices. This cross-platform strategy drives higher engagement and faster lease conversions than generic classifieds. You don’t just get listed—you get marketed directly to the people actively looking.

Need help with anything? We've got you covered. Reach our support team at support@offcampus-universe.com or use the Contact Us form on the site. We respond in 24–48 hours, and often sooner. Whether you need help editing your listing, reactivating a paused post, changing your listing photos, or fixing a payment issue, our team is here for you every step of the way. We also assist with upgrades to featured listings, multi-unit coordination, and troubleshooting profile issues. If your listing suddenly vanished or needs special formatting, we’ll help. Our team works daily with landlords and subletters, so we understand the hyper-local context of your property—from navigating DPS boundaries to optimizing for commuter students. You won’t get outsourced or canned answers—we’re focused on making your listing shine.

Absolutely. Off-Campus Universe is school-focused, and we use direct channels to ensure listings reach students who are actively searching. Your listing will be sent in our weekly email digest, which targets undergrads, grad students, and even transfer students looking for new leases. Listings also appear on our Instagram Stories and are highlighted in our “New This Week” series to keep things fresh and visible. Additionally, we post your listing to Instagram and Snapchat groups for the Classes of 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028. These groups are among the most engaged housing communities on campus. Our team also runs ads during peak leasing periods (Jan–March and June–August), giving you even more reach. We don't just host your listing—we help it stand out in a crowded market.

Definitely. We love spotlighting great properties on Instagram, TikTok, and our email blasts, especially if your listing is photo-rich or located in a prime student area like North University Park, Ellendale, or Adams-Normandie. If your listing has high-quality images, a unique layout, or offers student-friendly incentives like no deposit, free utilities, or short-term flexibility, it has a strong chance of being selected. Our creative team may turn your listing into a TikTok walk-through, Instagram Reel, or carousel feature—often reaching thousands of students. Some of our featured units get filled in just days. Want to get spotlighted? Just email owenconrad@offcampus-universe.com with your listing or flag it during submission. Our editors review new entries weekly and highlight those most likely to engage. It’s your best bet to go viral in the Trojan housing scene.