Housing
Apply now for our Premium housing!
Premium Housing
Along with convenience, we strive to keep our housing options SAFE, affordable and provide the J1 student with as many amenities as possible. Along with the required furnishings and included utilities, many locations provide on site laundry, central air conditioning, outdoor space for hanging out with your friends, wifi internet, T.V., and a few even come stocked with games and activities to help you feel at home in your new city!
While we understand that the price you pay for rent may seem high compared to your home country, please remember that these units are typically at the high end of the rental spectrum and the landlords providing them are going the extra mile to ensure you have a quality experience.
We provide high quality housing in a variety of locations around Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. A few of our most sought after options are only 1 mile from Great American Ballpark in Newport, KY.
We place students based on several criteria including price, location, unit availability and the length of their stay. We also take into consideration your cultural needs and preferences to make sure everyone is comfortable!
Unlock top-notch housing in prime locations around the city for a fair price!
Enjoy fully equipped accommodations, socializing with your fellow J1 students and cultural exchange with your new American friends!
Dive into exciting events connecting you with opportunities to expand your horizons!
Limited space available—apply now!
Local Amenities
Stores
Find all of your major, local grocery stores like Aldi and Kroger. There is even a TJ MAXX outlet and Target store all in one place, the Newport plaza!
The levee
There are beautiful riverfront views of and fun cultural activities, fireworks and festivals at Newport on the Levee. Walk across the Purple People Bridge to downtown Cincinnati for more!
Restaurants
You can find a variety of restaurants, dining, and fun local coffee shops, within walking distance from your house!
Transportation
For inexpensive and easy transportation use the Tank bus, the streetcar, or Cincinnati Red Bikes!*
*We do NOT recommend using the e-scooters due to the high incidence of injury among last years J1s.
Housing Check In
It is good to check in with your landlord before you arrive at your housing location. This will ensure a smooth arrival process.
If you have not done so online, this is when you will sign your lease agreement, pay your housing deposit and first months rent as well as meet your new landlord and your new roommates.
It will also ensure that you are traveling to the correct location! Remember, you are in a new country with different customs and travel options than you have at home and no one wants to start out lost!
How to get to your Housing
Arrival day:
When planning your trip to Cincinnati, we suggest flying into Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG). The airport is conveniently located and is only a 20-30 minute car ride to your housing.
If you do not land at CVG, be prepared to arrange transportation from the airport to your destination in the city. You will need to decide if you are taking a bus, train, or even catching another flight into town!
When you arrive to the airport you can take the TANK bus using the Transit app; you can take the 2X bus which will take you to CINCINNATI DOWNTOWN.
From there you can take any of the bus routes to your housing
Cost: $1.50 USD
Note – you should check the bus schedule here:
All routes: https://www.tankbus.org/fixed-routes/
2X: https://www.tankbus.org/bus_routes/airporter/
OR you can download the app from Here!
If you do not want to try out the public transportation options, you can take an Uber or a Lyft to the housing.
Please note that this will require an active Debit or Credit card that is accepted in the U.S.!
Cost: 30-50$
Housing Changes
We understand that sometimes things change and you want to change your housing. This is allowed under the program rules however please keep the following in mind:
- If there is an emergency situation, you will want to notify your Sponsor Agency immediately because this will let them know not to send other students to the location and it may also allow you to receive your deposit and any rent you have paid.
- If you are changing your housing for a non-emergency situation – maybe you don’t like the location or the other students who are there or the rent is not what you would like – you will need to notify your original landlord immediately. You might not receive back your deposit or any rent you have already paid, this will be up to the landlord to decide based on the terms of the lease agreement you signed.
Please Remember: You signed a contract and although you are NOT an American Citizen, you are still required to uphold your obligations! You are also subject to housing laws in the state you are living in and can possibly be evicted or held liable for breaking your lease agreement or any local or federal laws.
Note: As a J-1 Visa holder there are other rules about housing that you MUST follow! If you DO MOVE for ANY REASON (safety or otherwise), you MUST INFORM YOUR SPONSOR WITHIN 10 DAYS. If you do not, you MAY LOSE YOUR J-1 Visa status!
Note: If you do move and you have NOT YET RECEIVED your SSN and have other bank paperwork being mailed to your original housing, you will need to fill out an Official USPS Change of Address form. You can do this online at the link provided in the text, or in person at a local USPS office. If you opt for the online option, be prepared to pay a small fee of $1.10 USD and provide a credit or debit card in your name for identity verification. If you opt to do it in person, there is no fee required.
HOUSING F.A.Q.
Q: How much is rent?
A: Rent is $450-500 a month per student with a $250-500 deposit that is refundable at the discretion of the landlord.
Q: Why is some rent less?
A: Not all locations offer the same amenities or close location and is priced accordingly.
Q: Why are some deposits less?
A: We are working with different landlords who have different rental policies; you will receive your information once we ‘match’ you with a housing location.
Q: How do I pay my rent and/or deposit?
A: It will be up to the landlord. Some landlords will prefer a cash deposit and rent upon arrival and for the duration of your stay, others will agree to electronic transfers. You will learn this when your final housing choice is made and you are in contact with your individual landlord.
Q: What are the cancellation and refund policies?
A: At your landlords discretion. We have a reasonable group of landlords who understand that some students may want to change locations. Please remember that for these landlords, keeping units open for the summer work/travel season does mean that they must to turn down long term tenants, and it does impact their business. They may not always be open to refunding deposits on short notice.
Q: How many Students will share each house/bedroom/bathroom?
A: The units are shared apartments with 2- 4 students in a bedroom with 8 to 12 students sharing a kitchen and common areas. At least one location has a large outdoor shared common area. Bathrooms are going to be shared, we keep it to between 4-6 students per full bathroom with bathing facilities.
Q: What is provided?
A: All units are required to provide furnishings like beds and essential furniture (tables, chairs, etc.), basic kitchen utensils, linens and towels, internet access and include utilities such as gas and/or electricity and water. Some sites have central air conditioning and free laundry access while others will have pay laundry or access nearby to paid laundry.
Q: Will there be other people living in our house who are NOT J-1 students?
A: We have a strict policy that landlords may only have J-1 students and may not have outside people staying in the same unit as the J-1 students. They may have other tenants in the same building.
There are a few exceptions to this, such as when a student(s) is matched with a family who might want to rent a bedroom to them for the summer. This would fall more along the lines of a ‘host family’ situation and does not apply to the ‘no outside tenants’ rule.
Are you interested in becoming a landlord?
Contact us for more information.