Travel Nurse Housing Checklist: What to Ask Before You Book

Introduction

Signing a lease sight-unseen is one of the scariest parts of travel nursing. You are committing to a place you have never visited, in a city you may have never been to, based on a handful of photos and a conversation with someone you have never met. Get it right, and you have a comfortable home base for 13 weeks. Get it wrong, and you are stuck in a place that makes an already demanding job even harder.

The difference between good and bad housing almost always comes down to the questions you ask before you book. Nurses who have been burned by nightmare housing learn to run through a mental checklist every time. This guide gives you that checklist from the start so you do not have to learn the hard way.

Use this alongside our travel nurse housing guide for the full picture on finding and securing housing for every assignment.

Before You Even Start Looking

Before you open Furnished Finder or search Airbnb, define your non-negotiables. These are the requirements you will not compromise on, no matter how good the price or how convenient the location seems.

Set your budget ceiling. Decide the maximum you are willing to spend on housing per month. A good starting point is 60 to 70 percent of your housing stipend, leaving the rest as savings. Check the GSA per diem rates for your assignment city to understand what your stipend will likely be.

Determine your commute limit. Most travel nurses set a hard cap of 30 minutes or less. Remember that shift-change traffic near hospitals can be brutal. A 20-minute drive at 2 PM might be 45 minutes at 7 AM.

Identify deal-breakers. Do you need pet-friendly housing? In-unit laundry? A parking spot? A second bedroom for a partner or child? Write these down before you start searching so you do not waste time on listings that will not work.

Set your timeline. Start looking four to six weeks before your assignment start date. This gives you enough time to compare options without the desperation of a last-minute search. If you are heading to a competitive market (major cities, popular travel destinations), start even earlier.

Questions to Ask the Landlord or Host

About the Property

These questions establish whether the property meets your basic needs. Ask every one of them, even if the listing seems to answer them. Listings are often incomplete, outdated, or optimistic.

• Is the unit fully furnished? What specific furniture is included? “Furnished” means different things to different people. Some landlords consider a bed frame and a folding table “furnished.” Ask for a complete inventory or photos of every room.
• Are utilities included in the rent? If not, what is the average monthly cost? Utility surprises can add $100 to $300 to your monthly expenses. Ask about electric, gas, water, sewer, and trash separately.
• Is there in-unit laundry, or is it on-site or off-site? In-unit is ideal. On-site in the building is acceptable. A laundromat 15 minutes away after a 12-hour shift is not.
• What is the internet speed and provider? Ask for the actual speed, not just “fast” or “good.” You need at least 25 Mbps for charting and video calls. Ask the landlord to run a speed test and send you a screenshot.
• Is there dedicated parking? Is it free? In some cities, parking alone can cost $100 to $300 per month. Know this before you commit.
• What floor is the unit on, and is there an elevator? This matters if you are hauling luggage and supplies up three flights of stairs on move-in day.

About the Lease and Costs

This is where hidden costs live. Landlords do not always volunteer information about fees, so ask directly.

• What is the total monthly cost, including all fees? Get one number that covers rent, utilities, parking, pet fees, and anything else. Compare this to your housing stipend.
• Is a security deposit required? How much, and when is it returned? Standard deposits range from one to two months’ rent. Ask the specific timeline for getting your deposit back after move-out. Some landlords take 30 to 60 days.
• What is the cancellation or early termination policy? Contracts get cancelled. Assignments get shortened. If you need to leave early, what does it cost you? The best landlords offer a 30-day notice clause with no penalty. The worst lock you into the full term with no refund.
• Are there move-in fees, cleaning fees, or administrative fees? These one-time charges can add $200 to $500 to your move-in costs. Ask about every possible fee before signing.
• Can you do a lease term that aligns with a 13-week contract? Not all landlords offer short-term leases. Some require six months or a year. Confirm the lease length matches your contract before proceeding.

About the Neighborhood

Your housing is more than four walls. The surrounding area directly affects your quality of life, safety, and daily convenience.

• How long is the commute to the hospital during shift-change hours? Ask the landlord, but also verify with Google Maps at the specific times you would be commuting. Set the departure time to match your shift start.
• Is the neighborhood safe for someone arriving home at 3 AM after a night shift? This is a direct question, and a good landlord will answer it honestly. Supplement their answer with your own research on local crime statistics and neighborhood reviews.
• What grocery stores, gyms, and pharmacies are nearby? Convenience matters during 13-week assignments. Having essentials within a short drive saves time and energy you do not have after a long shift.

Red Flags to Watch For

These warning signs should make you pause, investigate further, or walk away entirely. Every experienced travel nurse has a story about ignoring a red flag and regretting it.

The landlord refuses a video tour or live walkthrough. Legitimate landlords have nothing to hide. If they will not show you the property over a video call, there is usually a reason. Insist on a live tour where you can ask them to show specific rooms, open closets, and demonstrate that appliances work.

Pressure to send money via wire transfer, Venmo, or Zelle before signing a lease. Scammers target travel nurses because you are booking remotely and often in a hurry. Never send money before you have a signed lease and have verified the property exists. Check our housing scams guide for detailed fraud prevention strategies.

No verifiable reviews or references from previous travel nurse tenants. Ask for contact information of past tenants you can reach out to. Landlords who regularly rent to travel nurses should have no trouble providing references.

Listing photos that look too good or appear to be from a different property. Reverse image search listing photos on Google. Scammers frequently steal photos from real estate listings or hotel websites.

A lease with unusually rigid terms or hidden penalties. Watch for clauses that charge excessive fees for early termination, prohibit guests entirely, or require professional cleaning at move-out regardless of condition. Read every word before signing.

The price is significantly below market rate. If a furnished one-bedroom in an area where rents average $1,800 is listed for $900, something is wrong. It is either a scam, in terrible condition, or has hidden costs that will surface later.

Must-Haves for Travel Nurse Housing

These are the features that directly affect your ability to work effectively and recover from demanding shifts. Do not compromise on these.

Reliable Wi-Fi. You need it for charting from home, completing CEUs, and basic personal use. Ask for the speed and provider, and have a backup plan like a portable hotspot if the connection is unreliable.

A comfortable bed. You work 12-hour shifts on your feet. Sleep quality is not a luxury. If the mattress is questionable, bring a mattress topper. See our packing list for bedding recommendations.

A functional kitchen. Meal prepping saves money and keeps you fueled for long shifts. You need a stove or cooktop, a refrigerator, basic cookware, and enough counter space to work. A microwave and a coffee maker are essentials, not extras.

Laundry access. In-unit is ideal, but on-site in the same building is acceptable. Factor in the cost of coin-operated machines if applicable.

Adequate lighting and a quiet environment for day sleeping. If you work night shifts, this is critical. Ask about window coverings, street noise, and neighbors. Bring blackout curtains or a sleep mask as backup.

Proximity to your facility. Under 30 minutes is the standard target. Every minute added to your commute is a minute stolen from sleep, meal prep, or personal time.

Nice-to-Haves That Improve Quality of Life

These features are not deal-breakers, but they meaningfully improve your 13-week experience.

• A gym or fitness center on-site or nearby. Exercise is one of the best coping mechanisms for the physical and emotional demands of travel nursing.
• Pet-friendly policy. If you travel with animals, see our pet-friendly housing guide for detailed advice.
• Outdoor space. A balcony, patio, or nearby park gives you somewhere to decompress that is not inside the same small apartment.
• Flexible check-in and check-out dates. Aligning your housing dates exactly with your contract dates avoids paying for days you do not need.
• A community of other travel nurses. Some apartment complexes and extended-stay properties are known for housing healthcare travelers. Having neighbors who understand your schedule and lifestyle can make a big difference.

The Printable Checklist

Here is the condensed version you can reference for every housing search:

Property Basics

• Unit is furnished with bed, sofa, dining area, and kitchen essentials
• Utilities included or estimated costs confirmed
• In-unit or on-site laundry available
• Internet speed verified (25+ Mbps)
• Dedicated parking confirmed

Costs and Lease

• Total monthly cost confirmed (rent + all fees)
• Security deposit amount and return timeline clarified
• Cancellation and early termination policy reviewed
• Lease term aligns with 13-week contract
• All move-in, cleaning, and administrative fees identified

Neighborhood and Safety

• Commute time verified during shift-change hours
• Neighborhood safety researched (night shift arrivals)
• Grocery, pharmacy, and gym access confirmed

Red Flag Check

• Video tour completed or in-person visit confirmed
• Payment method is secure (no wire transfers to unverified parties)
• Landlord references or reviews verified
• Listing photos verified as authentic
• Price is consistent with market rates for the area

Key Takeaways

• Always ask about total cost including all fees before signing anything. The rent price on the listing is rarely the full picture.
• Request a live video tour if you cannot visit in person. Any landlord who refuses this is not worth your trust.
• Trust your instincts. If something feels off about a listing or a landlord, keep looking. There are always other options.
• Use this checklist for every single assignment to stay consistent and catch issues early.
• Never send money to an unverified landlord, especially via wire transfer, Venmo, or Zelle.
• For the full housing search process, start with our travel nurse housing guide and use Furnished Finder as your primary search platform.

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Related Internal Links

• Travel Nurse Housing Guide
• Travel Nurse Housing Scams
• Furnished Finder Review
• Airbnb vs. Extended Stay for Travel Nurses
• What to Bring to a Furnished Rental
• Travel Nurse Packing List for Housing

Affiliate Placement Notes

• Furnished Finder affiliate link in key takeaways
• Portable Wi-Fi hotspot affiliate link in must-haves section
• Mattress topper affiliate link in must-haves section (linked through packing list)