OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING  

Finding housing in Boston can be difficult but it is not impossible. To find housing that meets whatever requirements you may have, you must be prepared to put a great deal of planning and effort into your search. The following information has been designed to aid you in that search.

In addition, the Office of Housing and Residence Life offers whatever few listings for apartments that we receive from landlords, students, and/or realtors. These listings are posted on the Off-Campus Housing bulletin board in the Student Center, located at 24 The Fenway.

If you would like to come by the Office of Housing and Residence Life, we will be happy to give you the limited information we have on specific listings, and we will try to answer any general questions you may have about off-campus housing.

When to start looking for an apartment
Things to do before you begin your search
Descriptions of Boston and area neighborhoods
Average prices of apartments in the Boston area
Where to look for off-campus housing
Roommate Matching Services
Things to keep in mind as you look at apartments
Important information when looking over a lease
Tips on moving
Places to stay in Boston while conducting your search
Resources for miscellaneous housing concerns

WHEN TO START LOOKING FOR AN APARTMENT

When you should begin your search for off-campus housing depends on when need to move. Some students live in Boston during the summer and thus need housing for the entire year. Otherstudents leave Boston for the summer and need housing from September to May. Keep in mind that tenants must give their landlords 30 to 60 days notice before vacating an apartment. Therefore, May vacancies are normally listed in March and April, and September vacancies are normally listed in July and August.

Locating a room, apartment, or place to share is difficult if you are not in the Boston area. Unless it is absolutely impossible, you should plan to visit Boston a month or more before starting school here, allowing several days at that time to search for housing. Late August and the first week in September are the most difficult times to look for housing in Boston because you are competing with many other students.  

Most landlords will require you sign some type of lease before you move in.  In Boston, the lease often runs from September 1 to August 31. Therefore, if you need an apartment starting in May, you are likely to be taking over a lease from a previous tenant. This practice is referred to as subletting.  Sometimes subletting is in violation of the terms of the lease.  Check with the landlord, and review the prior tenant's lease before subletting.  Some people sublet an apartment for the summer only and plan to return in September, so make sure you know before subletting an apartment whether you have an option to renew the lease in the Fall.

THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOU BEGIN YOUR SEARCH

Regardless of when you will be looking for an apartment, there are many things to consider in advance of your trip to Boston. Try to get a map of Boston and begin to familiarize yourself with the sections of the city. There are a number of websites that can help you such as:

www.boston.com, www.ci.boston.ma.us, and www.bostonusa.com. You can also get a map from The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce (617) 227-4500, The Greater Boston Visitor's Bureau (800) 888-5515, or perhaps the Automobile Association of America.

Think about...

• Do you want to be within walking distance from The Boston Conservatory?
• Are you willing to commute by public transportation?
• How much of a commute is acceptable?
• Do you hope to find a place of your own (an expensive proposition) or are you willing to share an apartment?
• Do you want a bedroom to yourself?
• How much are you willing (or able) to spend on rent?
• Are you interested in trying to find someone who already has a place and needs a roommate?

Many students don't try to find their own apartment. They prefer to look for someone who already has a place and needs a roommate. The best way to do that, of course, is if you have a friend who already lives in Boston. Perhaps you know someone from your area or country who is studying in Boston. Or maybe you have a friend or relative who lives in the Boston area. Any connection(s) you may have can be helpful.

DESCRIPTIONS OF SOME SECTIONS OF BOSTON AND AREA NEIGHBORHOODS

The Boston area is diverse and has many distinct neighborhoods. A brief description of some general advantages and disadvantages of each are listed below.

ALLSTON/BRIGHTON
Advantages: access to public transportation; average rents; access to shopping
Disadvantages: quality of housing; resident parking only

BACK BAY
Advantages: proximity to campus; access to public transportation; quality of housing; access to Boston's social life
Disadvantages: higher rents; high rate of condo conversion; lack of parking

BEACON HILL
Advantages: access to public transportation; safety; quality of housing; proximity to downtown
Disadvantages: higher rents; lack of parking; smaller sized units

BROOKLINE
Advantages: access to public transportation; quality of housing; community atmosphere
Disadvantages: higher rents; no overnight street parking

CAMBRIDGE
Advantages: average rents; area colleges; access to public transportation; community atmosphere
Disadvantages: lower quality of housing                                     

EVERETT
Advantages: lower rents; residential environment
Disadvantages: lower quality of housing; transportation

FENWAY/KENMORE
Advantages: proximity to campus; average rents; access to public transportation
Disadvantages: quality of housing; lack of parking

JAMAICA PLAIN
Advantages: lower rents; residential environment; access to public transportation; community atmosphere
Disadvantages: safety in some locations

NEWTON
Advantages: quality of housing; suburban environment; safety
Disadvantages: distance from campus; higher rents; transportation

NORTH END
Advantages: access to public transportation; proximity to Fanueil Hall and Haymarket
Disadvantages: higher rents; lack of parking; high rate of condo conversion

QUINCY
Advantages: lower rents; residential environment
Disadvantages: distance from campus                  

ROXBURY
Advantages: lower rents; access to public transportation
Disadvantages: safety in some locations; quality of housing       

SOMERVILLE
Advantages: lower rents; access to public transportation; residential environment
Disadvantages: quality of housing; distance from campus

SOUTH END
Advantages: access to public transportation
Disadvantages: higher rents; lack of parking; safety in some locations

WATERTOWN
Advantages: quality of housing; residential environment; slightly lower rents
Disadvantages: limited overnight parking; public transportation takes more time

AVERAGE PRICES OF APARTMENTS IN THE BOSTON AREA

As you begin your search for housing, you will realize that prices are steep in Boston, but they will range over the spectrum. The following table gives a variety of rates for unfurnished apartments in the Boston area, as reported by numerous real estate agents.  Of course, prices will vary depending on the area in which you rent, the quality and size of the apartment, and whether or not the landlord charges for utilities.

Again, these prices are just a guide. It is possible that rents will be lower or higher than the amounts listed here, depending on where the apartment is located, its size and condition, as well as other factors.

WHERE TO LOOK FOR OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING

Because Boston is defined by neighborhoods, you'll need some understanding of the different areas to make sense of the apartment listings.

The Boston Conservatory is located at the intersection of the Back Bay, Fenway, and Kenmore areas.  Most ads for all these neighborhoods will appear under the Back Bay heading with a notation which will tell you in which sub-neighborhood the apartment is located.  The Back Bay, Fenway, and Kenmore sections, as well as the area known as the South End, are within walking distance of The Boston Conservatory.

The Boston Conservatory is approximately three blocks from the "T", (Boston's subway system) at the Hynes/Mass Ave stop and can be reached by public transportation from all of the city's outlying neighborhoods and suburbs.

In general, as you get further from the center of Boston, housing costs decrease somewhat.  Using a Boston map and the classified section of the newspaper, you can get an idea of what is available in the various sections of the city.

In reading the classifieds, it is important to note that you will find two types of listings. One is an apartment or room being offered by a building owner (landlord).  The other is a listing placed by a realtor (real estate agent).  If you can deal directly with a landlord, you will probably save money.  Some landlords don't bother listing their available apartments in the newspapers.  By walking through the areas looking for "apartments to rent" signs and landlord telephone numbers posted on buildings, you can sometimes get leads on unpublished availabilities.

NEWSPAPERS

The Boston Globe, www.boston.com
The Sunday Real Estate Section of The Boston Globe has the largest available section of housing in the Boston area.

The Boston Herald, www.bostonherald.com
The classified section in The Boston Herald is not as large as The Boston Globe.  The paper's largest real estate section for the week is in Friday's edition. 

The Boston Phoenix, www.bosotonphoenix.com
This paper has some listings of shared living arrangements in Boston and the near suburbs. Landlords with few properties tend to advertise directly through these classified ads.

The Cambridge Chronicle, www.townonline.com
Has listings for Cambridge, Somerville, and Medford (cities just outside of Boston).

The Patriot Ledger, www.patriotledger.com
Listings for the South Shore area.

ON THE WEB

www.boston.craigslist.org
No-fee apartments listed by brokers and by owner. It also has a section on sublets and people looking for roommates. It is updated daily.

www.bostonapartments.com
This site lists apartment rentals of all types, as well as people seeking roommates. It also has a listing of numerous agencies in the Boston area with links to their web pages.

REAL ESTATE AGENTS

If you do decide to work with a real estate agent, you might want to keep the following precautions in mind:

• You should not have to pay a fee just to look at the listings.
• Before looking at any apartments with an agent, find out if he/she intends to charge a fee just for looking at an apartment .
• Take time to thoroughly inspect the apartment - never rent an apartment without seeing it first.
• Don't let an agent pressure you into a hasty decision.
• Realtors can charge up to one month's rent as a "finder's fee", but only if you actually sign a lease.
• Check the rental application to be sure it has the exact information of the apartment you are interested in - the address, apartment number, and price.

The following is a list of real estate agencies in The Boston Conservatory area*:

A&S Realty                   
271 Newbury Street, Boston, (617) 267-3485
www.aandsrealty.com

Beacon Realty Trust 
contact: Steven Handler 
248 Newbury St., Boston, (617) 266-7142,
www.beaconrealtytrust.com

Boston Off-Campus Apartments
70 Westland Ave, Boston, (617) 421-1661 ext. 10

Boston's Preferred Properties
57 Gainsborough Street, Boston, (617)859-3838,
www.bppinc.com

Boston Union Realty
79 Westland Ave, Boston, (617) 421-9111,
www.bostonunionrealty.com

Cabot and Company
213 Newbury Street, Boston, (617) 262-6200,
www.cabotandcompany.com

The Charles Realty
257 Newbury Street, Boston, (617) 236-0353,
www.bostonapartments.com/charles

Commonwealth Realty
957 Commonwealth Ave. , Boston , (617) 787-6960,
www.Bostonapartments4u.com

The Copley Group
109 Queensberry Street, Boston, (617) 247-3070,
www.thecopleygroup.com

ERA Real Estate Company
316 Newbury Street, Suite 41, Boston, (617) 262-1900,
www.bostonrealestate.com

Kunevich & Lau
241 Washington Str., Brookline, (617) 731-1015

Boston Realty Advisors
715 Boylston St., Boston, (617) 375-7900
www.bradvisors.com

1st Step Realty
1620 Commonwealth Ave., Brighton, (617) 264-4900
www.fsrb.us

(see the Boston Area Yellow Pages for additional Real Estate Agency Listings)

* The Boston Conservatory does not endorse any of the listed real estate agencies or roommate matching services.  This information is presented only to assist you.  Those agencies listed were selected based on proximity to The Boston Conservatory (thus, they may have more listings for the area around the Conservatory).  The Boston Conservatory cannot guarantee the quality of service or accommodations and cannot be responsible for the action of any realtor or landlord.

ROOMMATE MATCHING SERVICES

Roommate matching services match people who are searching for an apartment with people who already have an apartment.  They charge a fee to list you in their books or computer and allow you access to other listings they have. Of course, they don't guarantee you'll find exactly what you need.

The Roommate Connection
phone & fax 617-262-5712
toll free: 1-800-278-7427
www.roommateconnection.com

Matching Roommates
(617) 232-2600
toll free: 866-859-7666
www.matchingroomates.com

THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND AS YOU LOOK AT APARTMENTS

• Is the apartment near a supermarket, bank, laundromat, public transportation, or place of worship?
• Is parking available on the premises or on the street?  Will on premise parking cost extra? Can I do without a car?
• What type of security measures exist (is there a peep hole, dead-bolt locks on door, lock on the entryway into building)?
• Does the doorbell work?
• Does the apartment need painting?  If so, will the landlord pay for it?  Will he/she provide labor and materials or just materials?  What is the maintenance procedure in common areas?
• Are there signs or bugs or rodents?  (Check under sinks and kitchen cabinets)
• Is there sufficient storage space?
• Are the appliances in good working order?
• Are radiators or heat vents in good condition?
• Are pets allowed?
• Is the water pressure from the sink and shower adequate?
• What is the neighborhood like?
• What is the procedure for reporting problems? Can I get help 24 hours?
• Walk along the street at night.  Are there enough street lights?  Do you feel comfortable?
  

FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS

Arranging the finances for an apartment you've found can be a little complicated.  It is legal for a landlord to require you to pay your first month's rent, last month's rent, and a security deposit (equal to a month's rent) in advance.  Your payment will have to be done in some readily negotiable form.  A personal check, particularly one drawn on a bank outside this area, probably will not be accepted.

It is a good idea to set up a bank account in Boston in advance with your funds deposited in such a way as to be negotiable right away (i.e., without having to wait days for checks from home area banks to clear).  Depositing your money by traveler's check, bank wire, or some similar method will allow you to get the money (in the form of a check from a local bank) out of your account as soon as you need it.

The Office of Housing and Residence Life has information on banks close to The Boston Conservatory.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION WHEN LOOKING OVER A LEASE

• Check to make sure your lease includes the following information:
• Renewal terms, vacancy notice, and subletting rules.
• Statement of who pays for electricity, gas, oil, and hot water.
• Whether a parking space is included and if there is a fee (it should be written in the lease).
• Make sure all agreed upon repairs are written into the lease before you sign it.
• Explanation of landlord's right of entry.
• Specific information on security deposit.
• Exactly when is your rent due, is there a grace period before it is officially considered late, and if you must pay any late fees when your check is late.
  

TENANCY AND LEASE INFORMATION

There are five types of tenancy:

1. TENANCY-AT-WILL - A tenant-at-will occupies a unit on a month to month basis, with or without a written agreement.  Termination of tenancy may be undertaken by the landowner or tenant without reason, at any time.  To terminate tenancy, written notice must be given 30 days or one full rental period under tenancy-at-will.
2. LEASES - A lease is a written agreement between a landowner and a tenant that allows the tenant to reside in an apartment at a set rent and under certain conditions for a specified period of time. A lease is legally binding for both tenant and landlord and cannot be easily broken.*
3. SUBLEASING - A tenant who sublets for any portion of time covered in the lease usually needs permission of the landlord.  Under a sublease agreement the subtenant has the use of the premises, but the original tenant remains ultimately responsible for the rent and the condition of the apartment.
4. ASSIGNING - A tenant who wants to vacate an apartment without intending to return before the end of the lease may assign the lease to another person, with the assent of the landlord.  The original tenant can still be liable for the apartment unless the landlord and the original tenant reach an agreement releasing responsibility. 
5. TENANCY-AT-SUFFERANCE - When a person resides in a premise against the wishes of the landlord and without lawful right, the occupancy is a tenancy-at-sufferance.  This is a temporary situation.  The landlord will now proceed against the tenant for eviction. The tenant still has the obligation to pay rent.

READ YOUR LEASE!  Remember that leases are written to protect the landlord more than to protect you, so read everything carefully before signing!  If there is anything you do not understand, or if you find clauses confusing, ask questions.  Most landlords use standard rental provisions.  Make sure these provisions are clear.  If there are any clauses you don't agree with, ask the landlord to delete that section, and both of you should initial the change.  Any agreed additions to the lease should be written in and initialed by both parties.  Put everything in writing and be sure to get a copy of the lease.

* Please note: As a student, you may be required to have a co-signer (such as a parent), who guarantees payment of the rent.

TIPS ON MOVING

BEFORE MOVING IN

• Be certain you are given a receipt for any money paid to the landlord and that this receipt states specifically what the payment was for.
  
• Call utilities and arrange for gas and electricity.  Don’t expect your landlord to do this if he/she is not paying for gas and electricity. A deposit is sometimes required.
  
• Call your landlord to find out what phone company you need to go through and arrange for phone service.  A deposit is usually required.
  
• Obtain names and telephone number(s) of person(s) immediately responsible for the maintenance of the premises.
  
• Arrange for the protection of your property in case of theft.  If your property is not covered by your parents' home owners/renters insurance, you may want to obtain a "personal articles floater policy" to cover your valuable possessions.

AFTER MOVING IN

• Be courteous, always greet your neighbors when you see them in the hallway of your building or on the street, never pretend like you don’t see them.
  
• Do your neighbor favors.  Offer to carry groceries, hold doors, water plants or feed pets while they are away.
  
• Inform your neighbors when you are having a big party, and break it up before two in the morning.  Do not have more than two big parties a year.  Keep parties inside the house or apartment.
  
• Be a model musician.  Some noises that may be commonplace to you, may be annoying to your neighbors.  For example, most people can be understanding, but hours and hours of scales can tax on others’ nerves.
  
• Hold your neighbor to the same high standards.  If you have a neighbor who is noisy or otherwise difficult to live with, let your concerns be known.  Politely ask the person to turn the music down if it bothers you.  If your neighbor is extremely disruptive, consider informing the building management, the block association, or the police.

PLACES TO STAY IN BOSTON WHILE CONDUCTING YOUR SEARCH

TEMPORARY HOUSING

Beantown International Hostel
222 Friend Street, Boston, (617) 723-0800

Berkeley Residence
Boston YWCA, 40 Berkeley Street, Boston, MA, (617) 482-8850           

Greater Boston YMCA
316 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA, (617) 536-7800 

Hostelling International
12 Hemenway Street, Boston, (617) 536-9455          

Longwood Inn 
123 Longwood Avenue, Brookline, MA, (617) 566-8615                     

SUMMER HOUSING

Garden Halls Residences
60 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA,
(617) 267-0079 or (617) 236-8031 

Hostelling International
1105 Commonwealth Ave, Boston,
summer reservations: (617) 779-0900      

HOTELS

Back Bay Hilton
40 Dalton Street, Boston, MA,
(617) 236-1100 or (800) 874-0663      

Best Western Terrace Inn
1650 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston , MA
(617) 566-6260

Copley Plaza
Copley Square, 138 St. James Ave., Boston, MA,
(617) 267-5300                     

Copley Square
47 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02116,
(617) 536-9000                    

The Eliot Hotel
370 Commonwealth Ave., Boston,
(617) 267-1607

Howard Johnson
1271 Boylston Street, Boston, MA,
(617) 267-8300

The Lenox Hotel
710 Boylston Street, Boston,
(617) 536-5300

Oasis Guest House
22 Edgerly Road
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 267-2262 or (800) 230-0105

Park Plaza Hotel
64 Arlington Street
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 457-2491

Sheraton Boston
39 Dalton Street, Boston,
(617) 236-2000

The Midtown Hotel
220 Huntington Ave.
Boston, 02115
(617) 262-1000 or (800) 343-1177

463 Beacon Street – Guest House
463 Beacon Street
Boston, 02115
(617) 536-1302

Note: The Boston Conservatory cannot guarantee the quality of accommodations and service and cannot be held responsible for the actions of any representative of the temporary housing facilities listed above.

RESOURCES FOR MISCELLANEOUS HOUSING CONCERNS

• Boston Bar Association
  (617) 742-0625
  
• Boston Housing Court
  (617) 788-8485
  
• City of Boston Inspection Services
  (617) 635-5300
  
• Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination
  (617) 727-3990
  
• Mayor's Office of Fair Housing
  (617) 635-4408
  
• Rental Housing Resource Center
  (617) 635-4200
  
• Small Claims Advisory Service
  (617) 497-5690
  (offers free advice regarding housing complaints)