Student/Tenant Issues
office of the dean for student development
Roommate Issues
Life gets very busy during the school year, and living with a group of students can present a few challenges. You can minimize challenges by creating a roommate agreement that will help make life a little easier. An agreement can include as little or as much information as you want, anything from how doing dishes gets delegated to who pays what bills. Here is a sample roommate agreement that you can use, or you can build your own.
Students can also utilize Mediation Services to settle disputes (mediation@bc.edu)
Paying Bills
Paying the bills is an issue that students often struggle with in their apartments. Utilities must be turned on or transferred to someone in your house when you move in. Setting up a method of paying utilities ahead of move in is important too. Whether it's creating a bill paying account that everyone contributes to or dividing the bills when they come in, it pays to have a plan. It's also important to remember to turn your utilities off when you move out. If you don't, someone else may get "free" heat or electricity for a few months and you will have to pay the bill.
Community Relations: Be a Good Neighbor
Living off-campus can be a rewarding experience and a time of personal growth. While living in the off-campus community, we encourage you to think of yourself not only as a student at BC but also as a member of the Brighton, Allston, or Brookline community. Much as you are a member of a community in your hometown, there are similar expectations from your neighbors here.
Landlord/Tenant Relations
As a tenant, you have a legal contract with your landlord or his or her agent. There are established rules for both of you based on state law. For example, your landlord must give notice before he or she or anyone else comes into your apartment. It is the landlord's responsibility to fix defects in the apartment, such as leaks. It is your responsibility to leave the apartment in a reasonable condition when you move out.
The most important thing to remember about your relationship is to communicate in writing and to keep copies, which creates a record that will help resolve disputes should they arise.
Apartment Condition Regulations
When you move into your apartment, it must minimally meet a standard of cleanliness and safety and must be inspected within 45 days of tenancy to ensure that it meets all city codes. Inspections are conducted by the Inspectional Services Department of the City of Boston. When you pick up your keys, ask the landlord if an inspection has been scheduled. Inspectional Services can be contacted at:
Moving In or Out
When you move into any new apartment, it may be useful to document the condition of the apartment and keep the documentation for your records in case of a dispute when you move out. Photographs or video records are easy to create. Remember to also document the date that the images are taken, such as holding up the daily newspaper in one of your shots so that the date is readable.
It can also be helpful to plan a few things before moving in. The neighborhoods near BC are often very crowded when students are moving in and out of their apartments. Coordinate with your roommates and other students living in your building if possible and stagger the times you will be moving. This will help keep the streets less congested and help you avoid parking issues with local authorities.