Connecting students with Westwood rental companies, UCLA’s Off-Campus Living Fair provided students with a chance to find the perfect apartment.

The off-campus living fair was held in the Ackerman Grand Ballroom from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Jan. 31 and shared various housing options with students. More than 10 leasing agents hosted booths at the event, which was co-hosted by the office of the internal vice president of the Undergraduate Students Association Council.

The fair helped provide some guidance amid the overwhelming process, said Emily Anaya Martinez, a third-year political science and sociology student.

“On top of academics and work, I wish I had more resources and more time, but little by little hopefully we’ll find something,” she said.

Off-campus housing gives students a chance to experience different perspectives, branch out and mature more than living on campus, said Ana Carolina Valencia-Covarrubias, a third-year sociology student.

“Being more in charge of my meals and all that is different from here (on the hill), where you can just go and pick up your food,” she said.

Martinez added that off-campus housing is a great way to prepare for life after graduation.

“I feel like I am going to be able to mature … (by) going grocery shopping every week, talking to landlords professionally and having a good connection with my neighbors,” Martinez said.

Martinez added that although she enjoyed living in on-campus housing, the high cost of living motivated her to consider moving off-campus for the next school year.

Kalyn Mason, a second-year undeclared student, said she is pursuing off-campus housing as a backup option if she doesn’t secure on-campus arrangements. She added that her desire for more of her own space also pushed her to attend the off-campus living fair.

“I want to have this in my back pocket at least so I will have somewhere to live,” Mason said.

Before signing a lease, students hope to find an apartment that fits all their criteria.

Valencia-Covarrubias said an apartment’s distance from campus and her classes is an important factor in her search, adding that the apartment’s maintenance level and recent renovations were also factors she considered.

The university maintains a guarantee of living in university-owned housing in addition to hosting the off-campus fair, UCLA Housing said in an emailed statement. It added in the statement that legal services exist to help students review leases and assist with potential landlord disputes.

“UCLA’s housing guarantee has made it possible to offer incoming first-year undergraduates the opportunity to live in university-owned housing for four years, as well as offer a two-year option for all our incoming transfer students,” it said in the statement.

Mason added that a major influence on her search for housing is the cost of rent in Westwood.

“Some of them are a little bit much,” she said. “Just looking at that and just seeing the best option, the best bang for my buck.”

The Westwood housing market is twice as competitive as other areas he’s worked in, said Ed Leffel, a leasing agent for Linder and Associates. As an agent representing units on Levering Avenue and Strathmore Drive, Leffel said he looks for decent credit scores, good references and guarantors in an application.

He added that the presence of guarantors significantly speeds up the apartment application process. A lease guarantor cosigns the lease and assumes financial responsibility in the event the renter can no longer afford to pay rent.

“If there’s guarantors involved, you’ll have an answer within an hour,” he said.

Martinez also said looking for a suitable apartment has been overwhelming when considering extracurricular and personal responsibilities.

“I haven’t had that much time to really put into the apartment search because I’ve been so busy,” Martinez said. “Looking for an apartment has been another stressor on top of academics and work.”

Some students feel more resources should be provided for the application process.

Martinez said she would value workshops that clarify legal vocabulary and look over documents.

“As an institution, there’s always ways that they can help the students more,” Martinez said. “But I do appreciate this fair that they’re putting on.”