Off-campus housing near Hofstra University: a student guide
Hofstra University sits in Hempstead and Uniondale in central Nassau County. Plenty of students live off campus, whether for more space and privacy, a quieter place to study, or because campus housing does not fit their schedule. This guide covers what to look for and how to avoid the most common problems.
Where students look
The neighborhoods around campus in Hempstead, Uniondale, East Meadow and Garden City are the most practical, because you can walk or take a short drive to class. The closer you are, the less you depend on parking, which is limited around campus at busy times.
Furnished or unfurnished?
Most Long Island rentals are unfurnished and want a 12-month lease. That means buying a bed, a desk and kitchen basics, setting up utilities and internet in your own name, and paying rent through the summer even if you go home. A furnished room or home rented by the month or semester avoids all of that: you arrive with a suitcase, and one monthly payment covers rent, furniture and utilities.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Is the term by the semester or month, or a full 12-month lease?
- What does the monthly price include: utilities, Wi-Fi, furniture, laundry?
- How long is the walk or drive to campus, and is there parking?
- Is the bedroom private, and is the bathroom private or shared?
- Is there a quiet place to study, like a desk in your room?
- Who do you call when something breaks, and how fast do they respond?
- Can a parent or guarantor sign or pay if needed?
Avoiding rental scams
- Never pay a deposit before you have seen the place, in person or on a live video walkthrough.
- Be wary of prices far below everything else nearby, and of anyone who will not speak on the phone.
- Do not pay by gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency.
- Get a written agreement that names the landlord or company, the dates and the total cost.
Getting around without a car
The Long Island Rail Road's Hempstead station is a short drive or bus ride from campus, with trains toward Jamaica and Manhattan. NICE buses run along Hempstead Turnpike and Front Street and connect to the Hempstead Transit Center. Many students near campus simply walk.
Furnished housing a short walk from Hofstra
Rent Long Island is a local veteran-owned company with furnished rooms and homes about a 14-minute walk from Hofstra, ready for the semester, with one simple monthly bill. Tell us your program and dates, and we will reply the same day.
See also: Student housing · Featured listings