So you and your future roommate are looking at UNF apartments together, but there is a problem. Your new roommate has a pet, and it is coming to your new home as well. For those of us that have been in this situation, the main reason is usually that you want to room with your friend, even if your friend has some furry company. So what do you do about all of this?
If your allergies are extremely severe, I would advise finding a new roommate or doing roommate matching at one of the apartments near UNF. If your allergies aren't too terrible however, this may be a manageable situation. This is something that you and your roommate need to discuss as soon as possible, as it may affect where you live and how you live.
The one major thing that both you and your roommate need to understand, is that you are both going to have to make some sacrifices. The first sacrifice you are already making is that you are living with a walking allergen. The second sacrifice you are going to need to make is to allow this walking allergen to leave your roommates room.
Won't this make the whole allergy situation worse? Well it could, but keeping an animal such as a dog or cat locked in one room for an entire year is cruel. Animals need space to move around just like we do. Don't worry though, as there are several ways to ensure that the animal's happiness does not come at the expense of your own.
This is where your roommate is going to come in. There are several things he or she will need to do to ensure that whichever of the UNF apartments you live is actually livable for you. The first sacrifice your roommate is going to have to make is in regards to cleaning. He or she should be willing to vacuum the living area at least two to three times a week.
If you are both still looking at UNF apartments and have not made a choice, I would advise looking for a unit with hardwood floors. Carpet is much harder to clean, and is a trap for animal hair and dander. If you are going to live somewhere with carpet, you may have to look into buying a hypoallergenic vacuum.
Something else your roommate needs to be willing to do is train his or her animal not to go on the furniture. Cleaning dander off of furniture can be more difficult than cleaning it off the floor, it is also far more likely to cause an allergic reaction. This is particularly easy with dogs, but can be difficult with cats, as cats like to be higher off the floors. If your roommate's pet is a cat, make sure that he or she provides the cat with an alternative to the furniture, such as a cat tower.
The final and most basic thing that both you and your roommate need to enforce is the seclusion of your room. For no reason whatsoever, should the pet ever be in your room. Your room needs to be completely free of allergens so that you can sleep at night without worry of sneezing. Always keep your door shut and train the animal to avoid that area, and everything should go smoothly.