Information for Landlords
Create a Rental Listing
Local real estate agents or landlords can create a listing to be added to the online Off Campus Housing Gateway. Click here to list a rental opportunity. Once there, you will be able to post, modify, or remove your rental information.
You can also submit a flyer to our office to be included in a binder of rental opportunities that is available to students. For more information, email us at osh@umb.edu.
Common Student Rental Problems & Solutions
Renting to college students is different than renting to families, young professionals, or elders. Students may present some challenging situations for landlords: they get up late and stay up late, they may not define loud noise in the same way as their neighbors do, or they may actively avoid conflict with their roommates, landlords, and neighbors.
Below are some common complaints student rentals receive. Try to be an active and involved landlord and work with students to address issues before they occur.
- Excessive Noise
- Illegal or Excessive Alcohol / Drug Use
- Traffic and Parking Problems
- Exterior Yard Upkeep
- Respecting Neighbors and Property
Tips for Managing Your Student Rental
Most of these complaints can be prevented or corrected by individual conversations, a thorough lease, and an active “hands on” landlord. Most UMass Boston students make good decisions and are responsible members of the community, but even these students can benefit from a friendly reminder about important issues.
Here are some tips for successfully managing student rentals:
- Communicate expectations early and often. It is important for tenants to know what will happen if they do not follow the guidelines outlines in their lease. Make sure you talk with tenants about rent, behavior, trash and recycling, repairs, modifications to the unit, exterior maintenance (including snow removal), parking, pets, guests, neighbors, damages, keys, and tenants’ rights.
- Explain the conditions of the lease and your expectations to students. Also, respond to any issues in a timely manner to maintain the respect of your tenants.
- Talk with new tenants about the “culture” of the area, such as when it is appropriate to move furniture or hang pictures, what appropriate “quiet hours” are, where they should dispose of trash and recycling, and what are the rules about parking. Sharing this information with new tenants will help to prevent some problems before they even start.
- If you approach your tenants with a problem, make sure you follow up in writing to all of the tenants as well as the guarantors. This will prevent students from avoiding the issue.
- Introduce your new tenants to the neighbors. Encourage them to exchange phone numbers.
- Be visible, active, and hands on. Make sure you visit the property and schedule regular inspection of the premises to ensure the property is well-maintained.
- Make sure smoke detector batteries are changed regularly and that smoke detectors are always attached to the ceiling.
- Walk through the apartment with the tenants before they move in to document the condition. Do the same at the end of the lease term. Have students sign off on an apartment condition form.
- Make sure all tenants and guarantors sign the lease and receive a signed copy of it.
Share a Concern
UMass Boston truly values its relationship with the Boston area community. We have high expectations for our students’ behavior. If you have a concern about the behavior of our students or an issue occurring in the community, please email the Office of Student Housing at osh@umb.edu. Provide as much detail as possible so we can follow up with the appropriate individual(s). We will not be able to provide you with the specifics of our follow-up, but we will contact you to let you know that your concern has been addressed.
