How to Get Housing in Berkeley

By rajlego @ 2022-09-08T20:47 (+19)

2025 Update:

There's now an airtable form you can submit to at https://h.raj.quest that I then forward to Berkeley grouphouse managers - they can then reach out to you if they have availability for your dates. 

(note: if you want to stay in SF, check out directorysf.com. If you want a referral, dm me)

Staying with EA’s

Short-Term Housing

• Ask me if I know any local availabilities
  • have a low bar to asking
• East Bay EA/Rationality Housing Board Facebook Group is a good place to ask if anyone has rooms/couches open
• Non-Linear’s EA Houses project is the EA equivalent of couchsurfing
  • You can find a spreadsheet with Bay Area options here

Long-term EA Housing

Options:

• East Bay EA/Rationality Housing Board Facebook Group often has vacancies posted
• Again, ask me if I know any openings
  • have a low bar to asking

Non-EA Housing

Short-Term Housing

• Airbnb
  • expensive
• Hotels
  • even more expensive :(
• Facebook often has people looking to do short-term sublets, usually posted in groups like
  • Bay Area Conscious Community Housing Board
  • Berkeley Housing Group
  • UC Berkeley Off-Campus Housing

Long-Term Housing

• Zillow
  • Pretty standard housing search app
• Apartments.com
  • Pretty standard housing search app
• Craigslist
  • Can be a little sketchier than other apps but is how I found my current 8 bedroom house
• Facebook groups also have people looking to have their lease taken over/fill up vacancies in grouphouses
  • Bay Area Conscious Community Housing Board
  • Berkeley Housing Group
  • UC Berkeley Off-Campus Housing

To Add:

• Calibrations on general Berkeley rent cost
• Recommended areas of Berkeley to stay in