Off-Campus Student Living hosts Undergraduate Student Off-Campus Housing Information Sessions in September and February each year, and Graduate Student Off-Campus Housing Information Sessions in April, May, June, and July, to educate students about the process of moving off-campus. Session recordings can be found on our YouTube page.
Begin your search early; up to three months in advance of your tenancy, if possible. This lead time will allow you to:
- Research the rental market and become familiar with areas where you want to live.
- Seek out and interview potential roommates to ensure living compatibility.
- Explore the Off-Campus Housing Database for rental listings posted by local landlords, real estate agencies, properties, and property management companies.
- Conduct a thorough apartment hunt, find trusted real estate agents, and connect with potential roommates.
Please know, however, that every situation is different and many students find housing in the months and weeks leading up to the start of the academic year. You may feel pressure to sign a lease a year in advance; for full-time undergraduate day students, this would mean signing for an apartment in September of your sophomore year to live in during your junior year. Please resist the narrative to sign so early. There are new apartment listings posted every day throughout the year. Students who rush to sign often miss great opportunities that become available later.
On the Off-Campus Housing Database, you as a student can review apartment listings, post a roommate profile, add your own sublet listings, and review resources. Log in using your Agora Portal username and password, or register as a “Guest” if you await those credentials. Helpful resources include:
No, it isn’t necessary to use a rental agent to rent an apartment, as leases can be signed directly with individual landlords. However, searching for apartments without the aid of a rental agent may be more stressful and time consuming. If you use a rental agent, expect to pay a Finder’s Fee of one month’s rent upon signing the lease; this fee is negotiable. Only licensed rental agents can charge a Finder’s Fee for their services and you confirm their licensure by searching HERE.
Your rental agent should provide well-organized and coordinated appointments to view all apartments in a timely and efficient manner, including pick-up and drop-off at your home/campus. Rental agents should provide application and lease, with all addendums, at the same time for review by you and your guarantor. They should make a diligent effort to collect all required application materials for presentation to the landlord, and give accurate and timely responses regarding your application status. Once you are approved for housing, and having signed the lease, they should efficiently collect all upfront costs, including the Finder’s Fee.
If you are considering utilizing Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, or other sites, please heed caution. As with anything, do your research to ensure that you are entering an optimal space for you. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Common signs of fraud include:
- Being asked to send money via Western Union, MoneyGram, or prepaid Visa cards.
- Landlords, property managers, or rental agents who insist that you send money urgently, either before you have had time to explore the unit or before completing a rental application.
- Landlords or rental agents who refuse to provide their information or to meet in person.
We highly recommend that you do not sign a lease, provide personal information, or make payments until you have seen the space, reviewed the lease, and made any changes to/inquired about any clauses that you are uncomfortable with. For your protection, insist that everything be put in writing, including payment receipts, lease agreements, and any promises from the landlord, property manager, or rental agent.
The City of Boston has a zoning ordinance that prohibits more than four unrelated undergraduate students from living together in a house or apartment. We strongly recommend that you follow this ordinance, as failure to do so can create unsafe living conditions and be the impetus for large social gatherings, which invariably draw the attention of the Boston Police. While some rental agents and property owners have encouraged students to bypass this ordinance by putting only four names on a lease, we discourage you from doing so.
It is possible, but unlikely.
The majority of BC students receive three years of on-campus housing with the live-off year taken during their junior year. If students with three years of university housing decide to live off campus their sophomore year, they must also live off campus their junior year; the junior year off is non-transferable. A student's housing guarantee can be found in their admissions letter, though you can call Student Services at 617-552-3300 or 800-294-0294 to confirm.
The university housing appeal process is available to full-time undergraduate day students who do not wish to live off campus because of profound circumstances. Students who appeal for an additional semester/year of university housing should select their reason for not being able to live off campus (Medical, Financial, Returning from Leave, or Other) and submit their appeal through the Agora Portal. Due to a limited number of available beds, Residential Life is unable to approve the majority of requests for on-campus housing. Residential Life staff review and decide all appeals on an individual, case-by-case basis, and we may contact and confer with staff from other departments as needed. For more information on Housing Appeals, click HERE. If you have any questions regarding your appeal, please email the Housing Assignments team at placement@bc.edu.
On average, students living with housemates off-campus spend between $900 and $1,000 each per month for rent, absent utility expenses. Take a look at our rental cost comparison based on location and accommodation type.
Utility costs vary widely depending on the type of heat and what is included in the lease. If you are in a multi-unit, radiator-based building, you likely will not have to pay for heat, though if you rent out an entire home, you likely will. Simply ask the landlord or previous tenant since each building will be different. In general, expect to spend an amount equal to 20% of your monthly rent if you live alone or 10% of your monthly rent if you live with roommates.
If you are interested in living in an apartment after reviewing both its application and lease, your group may be asked to submit a “holding deposit” to indicate your intent to rent the apartment if your application is accepted. This deposit--typically one month’s rent--should not be released to the landlord until after you have been approved for the apartment; it is generally rolled over to become the first month's rent.
Upon signing the lease agreement, you may have to pay the following up front:
- First Month’s Rent
- Last Month’s Rent
- Security Deposit
- Lock and Key Change Fee
- Finder’s Fee (if you used a real estate agent)
Traditionally, each of these payments--save for the lock and key change fee--are one month’s rent. Legally, the security deposit cannot be more than one month’s rent, but can be less. If your Finder’s Fee is more than one month’s rent, you are getting a bad deal.
Note: Landlords cannot legally charge non-refundable application fees, though it is legal for rental agents to do so.
A Finder’s Fee--paid to the rental agency by you and your roommates--represents the total compensation received by the agency for locating your apartment, negotiating and gaining the landlord’s approval, preparing and circulating lease documentation, and coordinating your move-in. Traditionally, this fee is one month’s rent, but can be less and it is negotiable. If your Finder’s Fee is more than one month’s rent, you are getting a bad deal.
A security deposit is a set of funds that are used by the landlord to cover unpaid rent or the cost of damages to the unit that you cause beyond normal wear and tear. Within 30 days of receiving the security deposit, your landlord must place it in a separate, interest-bearing account at a Massachusetts bank, and provide you a receipt with the following information:
- The name and location of the bank where the money is being held.
- The account number.
- The amount of the deposit.
If a landlord or agent takes a security deposit, they must give you a signed, separate statement of the present condition of the apartment, including a comprehensive list of any existing damage. This condition inventory is due to you upon the landlord’s receipt of the security deposit or within 10 days after your tenancy begins, whichever is later. For more detailed information on security deposits, click HERE.
Security deposits should be returned within 30 days of the lease’s end with any interest earned on the funds during your tenancy. If your landlord does not return the security deposit within that time frame, or if you dispute any deductions from the security deposit that your landlord made, you should send a demand letter asking for the immediate return of the amount in dispute. You should make three copies of the letter to confirm notice to the landlord:
- One for your records.
- Another to be mailed to your landlord by first class mail.
- A third to be sent to your landlord by certified mail, return receipt requested.
If no payment is received after you send the demand letter, you can proceed to Small Claims Court seeking three times the disputed amount in damages. You may also seek triple damages if your landlord fails to hold the security deposit in a separate bank account. For more detailed information on demand letters, click HERE.
Please visit the Off-Campus Housing Database to create a roommate profile and review others’ profiles. Take a look at our step-by-step Guide to Creating a Roommate Profile. We also recommend utilizing your social networks to search.
Roommate conflicts are a common occurrence for student and non-student tenants alike. We recommend drafting a roommate agreement at the start of your time living together, a template for which you can find HERE. Putting responsibilities in writing, and revisiting these expectations at least once a month, will help prevent future conflicts. Please note that roommate agreements cannot conflict with terms of the lease agreement.
Tenants on the same lease are usually “jointly and severally liable” for the unit. As such, everyone on the lease is treated as one entity, equally liable and equally protected. This means that if one of your roommates cannot provide their portion of the rent, you and your other roommates are responsible for making the rent payment on time and in full.
In Boston, leases are typically 12 months in length, lasting from September 1 to August 31 of the following year. Please note that Boston College classes begin prior to September 1 each year. As such, we encourage students to negotiate an early move-in date with landlords, property managers, or real estate agents prior to signing a lease.
If you do not have a regular source of income that can provide a means to pay your rent, or do not have a good credit history, it is likely that you will need a “co-signer” or “guarantor,” terms often used interchangeably. Most apartments rented to undergraduate students require a guarantor, for if you cannot pay the monthly rent, the landlord will expect the guarantor to pay on your behalf. While a guarantor is someone who takes on your financial obligations under the lease, they do not live in the apartment. Often a student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) act as a guarantor, assuming the parent(s)/guardian(s) have good credit and sound finances. Take a look at our Guarantors Overview for more information.
Yes. Within 30 days of the lease’s signing, the landlord is required to provide you with a copy for your records.
A “sublessee” is someone who subleases your space from you for a varying amount of time and from whom you would typically collect the monthly rent for payment to the landlord. Most leases prohibit subletting without the landlord’s permission, so confirm your subletting ability with your landlord. Upon confirmation, please visit the Off-Campus Housing Database, log in using your Agora Portal username and password, and create a sublet listing on the Housing section of the site. You are also recommended to create a roommate profile on the Roommates section of the site. Take a look at our “How to Sublet” guide, which will walk you through these and other steps to find and secure a sublessee.
A “sublessor” is someone who sublets their space to you for a varying amount of time and to whom you would typically pay the monthly rent for subsequent payment to the landlord. Please visit the Off-Campus Housing Database, log in using your Agora Portal username and password, and search for sublessors on the Housing or Roommates sections of the site. If you are an international exchange student, check out THIS guide on how to create a “Guest” profile and search for sublet listings. Otherwise, take a look at our “How to Sublease” guide, which will walk you through these and other steps to find and secure a sublet.
Aside from subleasing a space, other flexible options include renting a room in a private home or utilizing a short-term housing company such as AirBnB. Additionally, consider pairing up with a friend living off-campus for the full year. In this arrangement, you and your friend share a bedroom for one semester. When you move out, your friend stays and continues paying the rent without needing to find a direct roommate. You, as the short-term roommate, would pay more than your fair share during your stay to make the arrangement a more attractive offer.
As with any contract, you can break the lease. However, you will be responsible for paying the outstanding rent until the landlord can find another tenant. If you fail to continue paying, your landlord can take you to court. As such, if you must break your lease, try to find someone else to move into your place to avoid making continued payments. Try to have this new tenant sign a new lease or assign your lease, as opposed to subletting your space. When you sublet, you are still responsible under the lease and would have to pay the rent if your sublessee does not.
If you rent on a month-to-month basis, you can move out after you give written notice 30 days in advance to your landlord. The landlord can also give you a 30-day notice to move for no reason if you are on a month-to-month lease.
Check your lease to see who you should contact for unit maintenance, though you should always work with your landlord or property manager to have any repairs made in your apartment. If they do not respond to your requests or fail to make proper repairs, call your local Inspectional Services Department (ISD). ISD enforces the Massachusetts sanitary code and can require landlords to address code violations in the unit.
Parking regulations vary from town to town and from summer to winter, and some do not allow any overnight parking. Check with the municipality in which your apartment is located. Please be aware that most street parking around Boston College is restricted to residents of Brighton or Newton only.
Please refer to the Boston Neighborhood Parking Permits Process. However, here are some helpful tips:
- Title Requirements: To register your vehicle in MA, you must first...
- Insure your vehicle in Massachusetts.
- Acquire the original vehicle title in your name.
- Convert your original vehicle title to a Massachusetts title.
- Registration Requirements: When registering your vehicle, you should...
- Indicate that your car is “principally garaged” at your apartment’s address.
- Permitting Requirements: To complete the parking permit application, you should...
- Submit an electronic copy of MA vehicle registration to the City of Boston w/ proof of residency.
Note: If you do not live in one of the City of Boston neighborhoods, then you will not be able to apply for a neighborhood parking permit. Instead, check with the municipality in which your apartment is located for residential parking information.
Please see BC Parking Permit Information for processes and costs associated with parking on campus.
There are various BC Shuttle routes to facilitate free transportation around and between campuses. You can see the route and bus location using Transloc. The B Line of the MBTA's Green Line also makes its final stop at the foot of Boston College's main (Chestnut Hill) campus. Student MBTA Passes can be purchased through the Office of Student Services and are discounted 11%. More information can be found HERE.
This answer really depends on whether you have a car, your comfort level taking public transportation, and your own personal interests! Most undergraduate students live in the Brighton neighborhood or Newton/Chestnut Hill; most graduate students live in Brookline or Newton/Chestnut Hill. Access to MBTA Transit or the BC Shuttle may influence where you are interested in residing. Take a look at the Neighborhood Profiles & Descriptions we’ve put together to help narrow your search.
There may be some confusing words or phrases you come across during your housing search. We've put together some terminology definitions HERE that will help you better navigate the off-campus apartment search process.
Consider some short-term options:
- Find a semester sublessor. In addition to our “How to Sublease” guide, check out THIS guide on how to create a “Guest” profile and search for sublet listings.
- Negotiate a short-term lease with a landlord or property manager by paying more per month than you would normally for a 12-month lease.
- Sign a 12-month lease and find a sublessee to take your space when you leave the United States. In addition to our "How to Sublet" Guide, check out THIS guide on how to list your sublet.
- Pair with a person who will be at BC for the year. Sharing a bedroom allows you to leave after a semester while your roommate stays and can continue to afford the rent without needing to find a new roommate.
- Consider a homestay program.
Most students will start their online search three months in advance which gives them a good idea of locations, costs, and time to connect with potential roommates.
- Virtual Search: Some students will rely on photos, videos, friends, or trusted real estate agents to learn about the listing well enough to feel comfortable making arrangements via email.
- In-Person Search: Others may do their research online, but wait until they arrive in the Boston area before they search or sign a lease. If this is the case, plan to arrive a minimum of seven days early and book a hotel in the area. You can find a list of nearby accommodations HERE; please note the hotel’s distance from campus and public transportation.
Unless otherwise specified, apartments will come unfurnished. Often, students can purchase used furniture from the previous tenants of their apartment, though there are options to both rent and purchase furnishings in the area; please find a list of those options HERE.
Many landlords and property management companies will ask that a credit report be run as part of your rental application. They may also ask for a U.S.-based guarantor in place of or alongside that report. This information will confirm you have the funds to pay for the apartment or that your guarantor will pay in the event that you cannot. Take a look at our Guarantors Overview for ways to demonstrate financial standing in the event that you cannot produce either a credit report, guarantor, or both. While not listed on the document, you can also show your I-20 or U.S. savings account statement as both have income information on them. If these options do not satisfy the landlord, you may have to look for another apartment.