Columbia University Housing
Guide To Living
Guide To Living
Cancellation by the Resident
The Terms and Conditions of the Residence Occupancy Agreement are binding for the entire occupancy period. However, under certain circumstances, Housing Services permits the termination of the Occupancy Agreement, subject to the conditions described below, including payment of charges for administrative expenses and the cost of re-letting the space.
A. A student who desires to terminate this Agreement must submit notice to Housing Services. The resident will continue to be charged for occupancy until proper notification has been received by Housing Services, the premises have been vacated, the keys have been returned, and the requirements in Resident Responsibilities (B) have been met (“effective date of cancellation”). Any such notice must be submitted by Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested, to Housing Services, 2960 Broadway, MC 3004, New York, NY 10027, be emailed to housing@columbia.edu or via the online Room Cancellation Form. Notice of withdrawal or cancellation of admission or cancellation of registration to other University offices does not constitute notice of cancellation to Housing Services.
B. A resident canceling this Occupancy Agreement for any reason prior to taking occupancy will incur certain charges for administrative costs and for expected cost to the University for re-letting the space. These charges (which, along with other charges described herein, constitute liquidated damages and are not a penalty) are described in the clauses below.
The following charges apply to first-year students only:
If written notice of cancellation is received (postmarks will not be considered) by Housing Services:
1. On or before the occupancy start date for an academic year Occupancy Agreement, there will be a charge of $250.
The following charges apply to returning students only, i.e., sophomores, juniors, and seniors:
If written notice of cancellation is received (postmarks will not be considered) by Housing Services:
A resident canceling this Agreement after occupancy is responsible for paying an administrative fee plus the prorated room charge as set forth in the Cancellation Proration Schedule. Prorated room charges for students who cancel this Agreement for any reason other than medical leave of absence, required military service, withdrawal, or graduation from the University include an amount to cover the cost of re-letting the space. Under the Proration Schedule, such students are required to pay 50 percent of the room fee for the entire year if the effective date of cancellation is after October 15 and 100 percent of the room fee if the effective date of cancellation is after March 1. Students who cancel this Agreement because of leave of absence, required military service, withdrawal, or graduation will be charged the weekly prorated room charge through the effective date of cancellation.
Students intending to cancel and check out at the endof the fall term who do not check out by the date specified by Housing Services will be billed an additional charge for housing during winter break asset forth in the Cancellation Pro-ration Schedule.
Refunds due to students will be credited first togovernment-funded financial grants, loans and other aid. The remainingbalance, if any, will be distributed to the student.
Terms and conditions regarding refunds andcharges to students will be deemed amended to the extent required by applicablelaws in effect as of the date of this Agreement. In that connection, to theextent required by law, Housing Services may waive the administrative fee as well as all or part of the charges described in clauses 1 (for first year students) and clauses 1 through 6 (for upper-class students) tostudents who cancel this Agreement because of withdrawal, graduation or leaveof absence. If such charges are waived, the student will continue to beresponsible for the prorated charge for occupancy through the end of the day onwhich the effective date of check-out occurs.
Customer Service Center
118 Hartley Hall - (212) 854-2775
Hospitality Desk
Hartley Lobby - (212) 854-2779
General Inquiries
housing@columbia.edu