Housing at UMich as an international student: renting from abroad, safely
How international students at the University of Michigan find housing from abroad — timing, documents, avoiding sight-unseen scams, and why verified sublets beat Facebook groups.
6 min read · Updated July 7, 2026
The core problem: renting sight-unseen
Most international students arrange Ann Arbor housing before ever visiting Ann Arbor. That means every scam pattern in student housing — fake listings, stolen photos, deposits wired to people who don't exist — hits international students hardest, because 'come see the place first' isn't an option from Shanghai or Mumbai.
The fix is not more caution in the abstract; it's process: verify the person, verify the place, and keep the money traceable.
Verify the person before the place
A listing is only as real as the human behind it. Insist on a live video call — not a pre-recorded video — where the person walks the actual apartment and shows the street outside. On Wroomly, every account is verified with an @umich.edu email before it can list or message, so the person on the other end is a named, real University of Michigan student. That single check removes most of the fraud you'd face in open Facebook groups.
Timing and paperwork from abroad
The Ann Arbor lease market moves nearly a year early, but the sublet market moves on your schedule — spring for fall arrivals, November for January arrivals. Sublets also solve the paperwork problem: full leases often want a US credit history, a guarantor, or several months of rent upfront; a sublet from a student typically just needs the agreement, the deposit, and first month.
- Start looking 2–4 months before arrival; set a saved search
- Ask for a live video walkthrough, always
- Expect: written agreement, deposit (≤1.5 months under Michigan law), first month
- Never pay by wire, gift card, or crypto — use a traceable method
- Get the sublease and landlord consent in writing before sending anything
Furnished matters more than you think
Arriving with two suitcases means an unfurnished apartment is an immediate several-hundred-dollar furniture problem with no car to solve it. Furnished sublets — the norm in the big student buildings — let you land, unpack, and start classes. Filter for furnished and weigh a modest premium against the true cost of furnishing from zero.
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Frequently asked questions
How do international students find housing at the University of Michigan?
Most arrange it from abroad: university housing if they get it, otherwise sublets and leases found online. Sublets from verified students are the safest off-campus route sight-unseen — on Wroomly every lister is @umich.edu-verified. Start two to four months before arrival and always do a live video walkthrough.
How can I avoid housing scams when renting from abroad?
Verify the person, not just the listing: insist on a live video call where they walk the apartment, use a platform that verifies identity, and never pay by wire, gift card, or crypto. Get the written agreement and the landlord's sublet consent before any money moves.
Do I need a US credit history to rent in Ann Arbor?
For a full lease, often yes — landlords may ask for a US guarantor, credit history, or months of rent upfront. Sublets sidestep most of that: you typically need only the written sublease, the security deposit (capped at 1.5 months' rent in Michigan), and first month's rent.