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Questions for Searchers
Questions for Listers
Web Site and Database Questions
Questions for Searchers Fax your acceptance/offer letter to the OCHA office at 212-854-5333. Please include an e-mail address in the fax. Allow 24 to 48 hours for our response. We will send you a user name and password by e-mail so that you can access the database from any computer.
We cannot issue a user name and password to you until you provide proof of your affiliation. As soon as you receive your acceptance letter, fax it to the OCHA office at 212-854-5333. Please include an e-mail address in the fax. Allow 24 to 48 hours for our response. We will send you a user name and password by e-mail so that you can access the database from any computer.
As long as one of you is affiliated with Columbia and has a University Network Identification (UNI) and password to search, you can access OCHA's Housing Registry database. Alumni are eligible to use OCHA's database provided they have proof of affiliation. The three types of proof OCHA accepts are:
Your old CUID will not be accepted. Fax your proof of affiliation to 212-854-5333. Please include an e-mail address in the fax. Allow 24 to 48 hours for our response. We will send you a user name and password by e-mail so that you can access the database from any computer.
To send an e-mail to a lister, click on the "Inquire" button on the bottom of the page describing the individual listing. The lister's e-mail address will not be revealed, but you will be able to send him/her a message.
No, there is no fee to search the OCHA database. No, all of the available rooms and apartments are listed in OCHA's Housing Registry database. There are no additional listings in the OCHA office. You can search the database from any computer anywhere. Reasons to visit the OCHA office are to get in-person advice, maps, and hand-out materials on a variety of real estate-related subjects as well as to use OCHA's computer workstations.
Bring sufficient traveler's checks to cover the first month's rent, security deposit, and possible broker's fee. Or, have readily available funds in the same amounts in a local bank account so that you will be able to provide certified checks. Landlords do not accept personal checks or credit cards and it is not advisable to use cash when renting an apartment. Expect delays with money transfers whether you are opening a new account or transferring funds within the same domestic bank. It could take three to five business days for domestic checks to clear and seven to ten business days for international checks to clear. Bring the following financial documentation for either yourself or your guarantor:
Landlords require that you or your partner/roommate combined earn 40 to 50 times the monthly rent as your annual income. If you don't qualify, you will need a guarantor who can provide documentation that he/she earns 75 times the monthly rent as his/her annual income.
Do not pay the rent or deposit and do not move into the space. Contact the OCHA office to make us aware of your complaint.
Contact the OCHA office to make us aware of the problem. OCHA has some information available regarding tenant/landlord issues. In addition, if the problem is between two members of the Columbia community, Columbia's Ombuds Office at 212-854-1234 may be able to help you. Please keep in mind that OCHA does not screen either owners or tenants, and apartments are not inspected or "approved" by Columbia or the employees of OCHA. Listing of accommodations does not constitute recommendation of such facilities, nor is the accuracy of the description verified by OCHA. Columbia assumes no responsibility in connection with the rental agreement and recommends that any agreement between the tenant and landlord be put in writing. OCHA reserves the right, but does not have the obligation, to remove or edit any listing for any reason. Anyone is free to list available housing with OCHA. All listers must be aware that their listed apartments are offered in accordance with applicable University, city, state, and federal statutes and regulations governing equal opportunity and non-discriminatory access to housing. OCHA will not knowingly accept any listing which appears to violate these statutes and regulations. Any question regarding policies of OCHA should be directed (in writing) to the Manager, Off-Campus Housing Assistance, Columbia University, 419 West 119th Street - Lower Level, New York, New York 10027. Questions for Listers Anyone can list with OCHA as long as he/she is either the primary tenant, owner of the apartment, or a licensed real estate broker. We accept listings in the metropolitan New York City area. You don't have to be a student or an affiliate of Columbia to list. You may not list for someone else.
You must speak to an OCHA representative by telephone or in person to establish your own online account. Once you have an account, you'll be able to place and manage your listings yourself from any computer. No, there is no fee to list. Columbia University offers the OCHA database as a free service to the community.
Yes, OCHA accepts exchanges. You can enter "$0" in the "Rent" and "Deposit" boxes on the listing form. You have up to 254 characters to explain the details of the exchange in the "Other Information" box on the listing form.
OCHA accepts listings of rent stabilized sublets as long as you follow the subletting guidelines of the New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR). The DHCR oversees rent stabilized apartments. Go to their Web site at: www.dhcr.state.ny.us, click on "Rent Administration," then on "Fact Sheet #7" for the subletting guidelines.
OCHA follows University, city, state, and federal statutes and regulations governing equal opportunity and non-discriminatory access to housing. You may enter a request for a male or female roommate or a smoker or non-smoker.
Contact the OCHA office during business hours. If you've already set up an online account, we can e-mail your account information.
The expiration date will appear on the confirmation page that you will see on your screen immediately after you submit the listing. If you entered an e-mail address in the listing, the expiration date will also be e-mailed to you. My listing is about to expire, how do I renew it?
If your listing has expired and you have not yet rented your apartment and would like to continue listing with OCHA, you will have to enter it as a new listing. The system is not designed to allow you to renew a listing that has expired.
It means that your listing has expired and cannot be renewed. Listings stay in the system for only three weeks and then are automatically and permanently removed. You can avoid this message by renewing your listing before it expires.
When you submit a listing to OCHA, you receive an immediate confirmation message by e-mail that confirms that the listing was received. It then takes 24 to 48 hours for the listing to be processed before it appears on the Web site. Web Site and Database Questions If you are unable to access the OCHA Web site, try accessing the Columbia University Facilities main Web site at http://www.columbia.edu/cuf. If you also have trouble accessing this Web site, it means that our Web site is down for technical reasons and that you should try again later. Also, if you are using a firewall make sure it is not blocking the Web site.
If you are unable to enter the Housing Registry to search or list an apartment, there are a few possible explanations:
If you have tried all of the above and are still unable to enter the Housing Registry, please send an e-mail to the OCHA Webmaster . While I was in the Housing Registry, I received the following message: "Your session has expired. Please re-enter from your College Web site." What should I do? Your session has expired because you haven't accessed any page on this site for 30 minutes or more. If you believe you have received this message in error, please check the following:
If you have tried all of the above and it still doesn't work, please send an e-mail to the Home > Housing >Off-Campus Housing Assistance (OCHA) > OCHA FAQ |
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