Off-Campus Housing Guide 

Updated August 10, 2021

Living in San Luis Obispo dials you in to the small-town atmosphere, great food and community amenities SLO is known for, all withing walking distance—or a short bike or bus ride—to campus. If you’re looking for housing near campus, plan ahead. Most students start hunting for fall housing as early in winter or spring quarter — though you can still find some options later in the year. 

If this is your first time looking for off-campus housing, here’s a list of resources we’ve compiled to help.

Educated Renters Certificate Program

Interested in learning about your rights and responsibilities as a tenant? In this short, asynchronous online course, you can learn more about your rights and responsibilities as a renter— and earn a certificate to show prospective landlords. To enroll in the Educated Renters Certificate Program, click here. Note: If you do not have a Cal Poly login, you'll need to create a free Canvas Commons account, then search for the course. 

Finding Off-Campus Housing 

Before you start your search for the perfect off-campus bungalow, make sure you have a clear set of parameters to help you narrow down your options, including: 

• Roommates 

• Lease length 

• Distance from campus 

• Budget

Covid-19 Related Rental Accommodations

• 80/20 Rent Relief Plan
• CA Rent Relief Program
• Renter's Checklist

Off-Campus Housing Complexes 

If you have any questions about rates & availability, please contact the individual complexes listed below directly. The inclusion of any apartment does not represent an endorsement of services or facilities, nor does it guarantee vacancies. The University has not inspected or approved of the facilities listed, and therefore does not accept responsibility for the listings. 

You can view this full list in map view here. 

The following properties, or property managers, have agreed to consider Cal Poly's Educated Renters Certificate Program when reviewing tenant applications: 

Apartment and Condominium Complexes

Property Management Firms

Off-Campus Housing Rates

View a summary of off-campus housing rates for comparable one-bedroom apartments in the San Luis Obispo area. 

Community Housing Resources

Here are some affordable housing options in our community that are available to students on an application basis:

Housing Authority SLO (HASLO) Housing  

People's Self-Help Housing 

Family Care Network Housing (foster youth specific)

Online Housing Resources 

Cal Poly does not endorse any of the information found on these websites. The sites are provided as a resource only. 

• Poly Rents - SLO specific rental guide 

• Craigslist - The most popular option here in SLO

• Apartments.com - National searchable platform, many SLO options

• Facebook - Try Marketplace or searching "Cal Poly Class of 20xx" or "Cal Poly Housing, Sublets and Roommates" 

• Zillow, Trulia, Realtor - National rental platforms with SLO options

• Roommate Nation - National roommate finder with SLO options

Mediation 

SLO Solutions offers cost-free mediation and conflict resolution services for San Luis Obispo city residents. This is not a service that is endorsed or administered by Cal Poly, simply another helpful local resource. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (805) 549-0442 or visit www.creativemediation.org/slo-solutions/.