Living Off Campus

• There are new features on the Off-Campus Housing Database that virtually allow you to see a space before signing onto a lease; listings may now have up to 100 photos and accompanying videos.
  • HERE you can find screenshots illustrating these updated features.
• Coordinate with landlords and/or real estate agents to provide a live virtual viewing via FaceTime, Google Meets, Zoom, etc., or have them provide photos or pre-recorded video of a tour of each space.

Advocate for a "Worry-Free" clause to be included in your lease. There are two kinds of "Worry Free" clauses:

1. Students and their co-signers would have the option of leaving the lease. 
2. Students and their co-signers would have their monthly rent reduced.

If you find yourself in a lease while taking online classes:

• Rent Reduction/Release: Contact your landlord or property manager to negotiate a better rent rate for the lease agreement or ask if they would release you from the lease altogether given online instruction. Know, however, that they may do neither, and could operate under the legal expectation that you pay the monthly rent.
• Alternative Rental Payment Plan: Speak with your landlord or property manager to see if an alternative payment plan can be created to work better for your particular financial situation.
• Late Fee Waiver: Speak with your landlord or property manager to see if they would be willing to waive late fees for overdue rent payments due to financial difficulty.
• *Note: Some landlords may ask for proof of financial distress, including evidence of reduced work hours from your employer.

In addition to the resources listed in the “How can students who have already signed leases financially protect themselves?” section, the following resources may or may not apply to you:

• Eviction Suspension: No tenant can be evicted from their space for late payments through August 18, 2020 or 45 days from the lifting of the MA state of emergency, whichever is first, except in emergency cases unrelated to payment. This does not mean that tenants won’t be sent to eviction court for late payments, but simply that they would not be forced to move out before the end of the moratorium. A separate notice must be sent for each late rent payment.
• Utility Shut-Off Suspension: No utilities are to be shut off due to late payment for the duration of the state of emergency. All payments will be due after the emergency has ended, however. Students should work with their utility providers to arrange alternative payment plans, if necessary.
• RAFT Program: This program helps keep households in stable housing when facing eviction, foreclosure, loss of utilities, and other housing emergencies caused by loss of income and/or increase in expenses.
• Food Resources During COVID-19: From the City of Boston and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

• Boston College
• The City of Boston
• State of Massachusetts