Student Apartment Checklist for University of Kentucky Students
A 26-point checklist to evaluate every off-campus apartment near UK before you sign. Built for Wildcats by the team at Campus Court Lexington.
For University of Kentucky students, the right off-campus apartment near UK comes down to six things: location and access to campus, lease terms and total monthly cost, in-unit features, community amenities, safety and management, and what you verify on tour day. Confirm walk and UK Wildcat Wheels times to your most-used building, request a written breakdown of all fees, inspect the exact unit you would lease, and get every promise added to the lease document. The checklist below covers all 26 questions to ask.
26 Things UK Students Should Verify Before Signing
Use this list on every tour. Each item includes why it matters and a quick note on how Campus Court Lexington compares.
Location and Campus Access
Measure walk, bike and drive times to your specific UK building
Most UK students do not have class at "campus." They have class at White Hall, the Gatton Building, Pence Hall or the College of Medicine. Get the real time to your actual building, not just the campus edge.
Verify UK Wildcat Wheels or LexTran route access
UK Transportation runs the Wildcat Wheels routes around campus, with extensions into off-campus housing corridors. Confirm which route serves the property, how frequently it runs, and whether evening and weekend service is available.
Check proximity to grocery, pharmacy and UK HealthCare
You will make this drive 50 times a year. A great student location is within a short drive of a full-size grocery, a pharmacy, and either UK HealthCare or a 24-hour urgent care.
Test the commute at a real class time
Drive or ride the route on a Tuesday morning between 8 and 10 AM. Lexington traffic looks different at noon than it does before an 8 AM class. Game day weekends are their own category.
Lease Terms and Total Cost
Confirm whether the lease is individual or joint
An individual lease means you are responsible only for your own portion of the rent. A joint lease ties you financially to your roommates. If one stops paying, you can be on the hook. Get the answer in writing.
Get the full cost stack in writing
Ask for a single document that lists base rent, application fee, administration fee, security deposit, parking, pet rent, furniture package and any utilities not included. The advertised rent is rarely the total cost.
Confirm what is included in rent
Internet, water, trash, pest control and sometimes cable are bundled at student communities. Get the list in writing so you can compare apples to apples across properties.
Match the lease term to your academic calendar
Standard student leases run 11 to 12 months. Confirm move-in and move-out dates align with the UK academic calendar, summer plans, and any internship or study abroad timing.
Read the sublease and lease transfer policy
Your plans will change. Internships, transfers, study abroad and graduation timing all alter what you need. Know the cost and process to transfer your lease before you sign it.
In-Unit Features
Confirm in-unit washer and dryer
Shared community laundry adds friction to every week. Full-size in-unit laundry is now standard in purpose-built UK student housing. Verify the actual unit you would lease has it.
Inspect the kitchen finishes and appliances
Quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances, a dishwasher and a microwave hold up through years of student turnover. Cheap finishes in the model unit usually mean cheap finishes in the leased unit.
Test the internet speed in the unit
Run a speed test during the tour. Bundled internet is a major perk only if it actually performs. Aim for 100 Mbps minimum for video calls, streaming and online classes.
Decide on furnished versus unfurnished
Furnished packages save you a U-Haul trip but add to monthly cost. Compare the total annual cost of furnished rent versus unfurnished rent plus your own furniture before deciding.
Open every closet, cabinet and bathroom
A 2 bed 1 bath versus 2 bed 2 bath is a different lifestyle entirely. Storage is the most under-rated feature in student housing. Look at closet space, pantry space and bathroom count for the actual unit type.
Community Amenities
Walk through the study space
Finals week tests every study room. Look for quiet, well-lit space with reliable WiFi, enough seating, and ideally separate group versus solo zones. Ask whether reservations are needed.
Inspect the fitness center
A real on-site gym means you skip the off-campus membership. Look for cardio, free weights, machines and clean equipment. Note whether the gym is 24-hour access.
Tour the pool, lounge and social spaces
Resort-style pools, game rooms, coffee bars and resident lounges shape daily life and weekend plans. Visit at peak time if you can to see how the space actually feels.
Ask for a recent resident event calendar
Active programming builds community. Ask the leasing team to share the past month of events: food trucks, finals week giveaways, pool parties, study breaks. Activity is a quality signal.
Safety and Management
Confirm controlled access, lighting and cameras
Look for controlled-access entry, well-lit parking areas, walkways and stairwells, and visible security cameras. Ask whether cameras are recorded or actively monitored.
Research the management company
A national or regional management company with a track record means more consistent service, better systems and easier escalation when something breaks. Search the company name plus "reviews."
Read recent online reviews
Filter Google reviews to the last 12 months and look for patterns. A single bad review is noise. Three reviews in a row complaining about the same thing is a signal.
Ask about maintenance response times
Get specific numbers. Average response time for non-urgent maintenance, emergency maintenance hours, and the system for submitting and tracking work orders. Test the resident portal during the tour.
Tour Day Questions
Ask to see the exact unit type you would lease
Model units are styled and upgraded. Request to see a real available unit or a recently turned unit that matches the floor plan you would actually sign for.
Take photos of every room and every common area
Photograph the bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, living area, parking, mailbox area, pool, gym and any visible damage. If you tour two communities, take the same shots at each so you can compare directly.
Confirm the application timeline and deposit
UK-area student communities pre-lease six to nine months in advance. Top floor plans go first. Get the application deadline, deposit amount, refundability and the waitlist policy in writing.
Get every promise in writing
If the leasing agent offers a waived fee, free parking, a rate lock or any other concession, it has to live in the lease or in a signed addendum. Verbal promises are not enforceable.
Bring This Checklist On Your Tour
Print this page or save it to your phone before touring student apartments near UK.
Campus Court Lexington at a Glance
Every item Wildcats should verify, answered up front for our community.
UK Student Housing Questions, Answered
The questions Wildcats ask most when comparing off-campus apartments in Lexington.
UK students should evaluate six categories before signing a lease: location and access to campus, lease terms and total cost, in-unit features, community amenities, safety and management, and tour day verification.
Confirm walk, bike and bus times to your most-used UK building, get a written breakdown of all monthly fees, inspect the exact unit type you would lease, and verify every promise in the lease document itself.
Most UK students choose apartments within one to two miles of campus. Anything inside one mile is typically walkable or bikeable. Beyond that, transit access becomes critical.
Confirm whether the property is served by the UK Wildcat Wheels Red Route or another UK Transportation Line, and verify how frequently the route runs during class hours, in the evening and on weekends.
An individual lease means each resident signs only for their own bedroom and is responsible only for their share of the rent. A joint lease ties all roommates to the entire unit, which means if one roommate stops paying, the others are legally responsible.
Most purpose-built UK student communities offer individual leases. Confirm in writing before applying.
Expect a non-refundable application fee, an administration fee, a security deposit, optional parking, optional pet rent and pet deposit, and any utilities not included in rent.
Ask for a written total cost-of-occupancy breakdown so you can compare communities accurately. Many UK-area student communities include internet, water, trash and pest control in base rent.
Most purpose-built student communities near UK begin pre-leasing for the next academic year between September and November of the prior year. Top floor plans and corner units are usually leased by January.
Touring early gives you the best selection and often the best pricing. Communities like Campus Court Lexington and others near campus reward early renewals and early applications.
Yes. Campus Court Lexington at 935 Red Mile Rd is approximately one mile from UK campus with direct access to the Red UK Transportation Line.
The community offers furnished and unfurnished 1, 2 and 3 bedroom apartments and townhomes, in-unit washer and dryer, included high-speed internet and utilities, a resort-style pool, dedicated study rooms, a fitness center, a game room, a resident lounge and a coffee bar. The community is managed by Coastal Ridge Real Estate.
Yes. Campus Court Lexington is a pet-friendly community. Contact the leasing office at (502) 351-8622 for current breed and weight restrictions, pet deposits and monthly pet rent.
Service animals and emotional support animals are accommodated in accordance with applicable fair housing laws.
The Campus Court Lexington leasing office is open Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 6 PM and Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM. The office is closed Sunday.
Schedule a tour or apply online at campuscourtlexington.com or call (502) 351-8622.
Bring this checklist, a phone for photos, a list of your must-haves and deal-breakers, and questions about lease terms. Take photos of every room, the appliances, the parking lot and any visible wear.
If you tour multiple communities, take the same set of photos at each one so you can compare side by side after the day is over.
Yes. Campus Court Lexington includes utilities and high-speed internet in rent for resident convenience.
Contact the leasing office at (502) 351-8622 to confirm which utilities are included for your specific floor plan and any usage caps that may apply.
Ready to Check Off the Wildcats' List?
Schedule a tour, view floor plans, or apply online. Our leasing team will walk through this checklist with you.
Equal Housing Opportunity. Campus Court Lexington is committed to compliance with all federal, state and local fair housing laws. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, disability or any other protected class. Service animals and emotional support animals are accommodated in accordance with applicable fair housing laws.