When living in Fulbright Residence, other fees such as meal allowance, parking fee, sundries, electricity, water and internet (except compulsory basic health insurance) are all covered in the Housing cost, which is the main difference from those of Private Accommodation. 

More detailed comparison can be found here

Comparison of expenses among different types of accommodation can be found here.

First, get to know yourself. Take time to think through some basic questions about where and how you want to live will help narrow down potential rental locations. 

• Do you want to live by yourself or with roommates? Are you comfortable living with stranger(s)? 
• How do you choose a roommate? 
• How much can you afford to spend? (consider rent, utilities, transportation cost, grocery cost, Internet/cable) 
• What type of accommodation do you prefer (house, apartment, shared apartment, studio, room, dorm)? 
• Do you need a short-term lease or a long-term lease?  
• Do you have your own vehicle, or do you use public transportation? 
• What is the proximity to the nearest supermarket or market? What about the nearest coffee shop or restaurant? Think about what you’d like to be nearby and then map out if the places are located within the area to see if the location is suitable for you. 

Now you have an idea of where you want to live. The next step is to meet with your landlord, property manager or realty agency. They are the ones who work alongside you for the term of your lease. The list below provides you with questions you need to ask when considering a rental: 

Rent-related questions 

• What’s included in the rent?  
• Are any utilities included within the rent?  
• What’s the average monthly cost of each of the utilities if they’re not included in the rent?  (Water, electricity, internet, parking, gas, etc.)
• Is there any potential additional fee that we have not talked about? (administration/paperwork processing fee, signing lease at a later date fee, etc.) 
• How will temporary residence registration be done? Will the landlord cover it? 

Amenities-related questions 

• Does the house/apartment/room have air conditioning?  
• Does the house/apartment/room come with any furniture?  
• What is the laundry situation? Is there any washing machine located in the building? 
• Is parking available? If yes, is there an additional cost? If no, is there any parking lot nearby? 
• Is there any on-site recreational facility (swimming pool, gym, yard, etc.)? If yes, is there an additional cost or is there any policy to use them?  
• Is there a secure area for mail and inbound packages? 
• What types of customization can you make to a property (paint, nails for hanging pictures, etc.)? Which ones are prohibited? 
• Is there any on-site maintenance? What will maintenance cover? 
• What is the procedure of reporting maintenance or concerns? What is the turn-around time for getting a maintenance issue fixed?  
• Will the property be deep cleaned before tenants move in? What does deep cleaning entail? 

Security-related questions 

• When are quiet hours? Is there any curfew? 
• What are guest policies? Are there any guest restrictions? 
• Is there on-site security and/or property manager? 
• Will facilities staff or the landlord enter your apartment to conduct inspections, and how much notice do they need to give prior to entry? 

Pet-related questions 

• Are pets allowed? What kind of pets will be allowed? (dog, cat, small pets like hamster or goldfish, etc.) 
• Is there any additional fee to have a pet? 

You should always conduct a formal walkthrough with your landlord or realty agency before signing a lease. When you visit the property, make sure that: 

• Double check the addresses to make sure you are visiting the correct unit. Some agencies are in charge of many rental properties, and it is possible they have made a mistake. 
• Make sure the amenities match what is advertised in the listing and ask questions regarding missing or damaged items. 
• Test out light switches, locks, doors, windows, and other facilities to identify current or potential problems. You can use the list below for reference: 

Lighting: Is there a good amount of natural light?  

Locks: Do they work properly? Would you feel safe being alone at night? 

Faucets: Are they leaky or rusty? 

Toilets and water pressure in the shower: Are they working properly? 

Walls: Are the walls well taken care of? Any marks, holes, patches?  

Closet size: Is the closet size right for you? 

Cupboard size: Does it provide you with enough storage space? 

Carpeting/Floors: Is the flooring clean? 

Appliances: Are they up to date? (Old appliances can skyrocket your electricity bill!) 

Outlets: Check the location and number of outlets and see if they work. 

Air Conditioning: Do ACs work properly? 

• Take some time to walk around and see the neighbors (if possible). Do your neighbors seem friendly and easy to get along with? 
• Note your first impression about your landlord (if you’re renting directly through a landlord). Does he or she seem trustworthy? 

You may feel a rush to sign, but make sure you read thoroughly over the details. If there is anything unclear, ask for clarification. Lease agreement is usually detailed to protect both parties.  

When considering a contract, you need to be aware of the terms relating to the rental as follows: 

• Tenancy period (by year or by month) 
• The contract should detail the room rate and other costs 
• Start date and end date of the tenancy 
• Whether the Landlord intends to continue renting the house at the end of the contract 
• Whether there is a “testimonium clause” that allows the parties to terminate the contract after a certain period of time due to incidents. 
• What is the deposit and what is the condition to get back the deposit after liquidating the contract. 

Scammers can be very persuasive and often they seem legitimate. If you are looking for rentals on websites that anyone can access, you’ll be more susceptible to encountering a scam. Be aware of red flags, such as: 

• Rental amount is unusually low in comparison to the average rates for the area 
• Landlords refuse to meet you in person, stating that they are out of HCMC/out of country 
• Landlords ask for deposit money before property viewing or lease signing 
• There is an unusual sense of urgency 
• Property listings include robotic language, obscure phone numbers 

How to avoid rental scam 

• Visit the property with the landlord/agency 
• Never pay money in advance of seeing the rental 
• Always meet the landlord or realtor in person before signing rental documents or sending money.