Your Guide to Living Off Campus

54 Pages·2012·2.87 MB·English

Your Guide
to Living
Off
Campus
Of Campus Student Services
W e
lco
to
m e
ALLSTONBRIGHTON
ROXBURYDORCHESTERSOUTH
BOSTONNORTHEASTERN
ROSLINDALEMALDEN
CHARLESTOWNCAMBRIDGE
MISSION HILLBROOKLINE
SOMERVILLEJAMAICA PLAIN
BACK BAYEAST BOSTON
SOUTH ENDFENWAYKENMORE
Connecting you from Campus to Community
OFF CAMPUS STUDENT SERVICES
Of Campus Student Services is dedicated to supporting your needs as an
of-campus or commuter student. We ofer a number of resources (like this handy
guide), special programs and events to help you stay connected to campus, and
serve as a link to your new neighborhood. . We can help with landlord issues, keep
you informed on renter’s rights and responsibilities, and assist you in searching for
of-campus housing.
We are located in the Curry Student Center, Room 226 or online at
www.northeastern.edu/ofcampus and
CONTENTS
WHERE TO LIVE? 4
Neighborhood Descriptions
FINDING AN APARTMENT 7
Things to Consider
Of-Campus Housing Database: Search for properties, roommates, and realtors
Sublets
Rental Scams
Apartment Safety Codes
UNDERSTANDING YOUR LEASE 11
WHERE TO LIVE? 4 HEALTH, SAFETY, AND SECURITY 33
Top 10 Points to Check in Your Lease
Get to Know the Area Stay Clean and Infestation Free
Paying the Rent
Boston Neighborhoods Apartment Safety and Security
Security Deposits
Renter’s Insurance
Renter’s Rights and Responsibilities
Personal Safety
Landlord’s Rights FINDING AN APARTMENT 7
Alcohol and Other Drugs
Before You Begin
OFF-CAMPUS LIVING 101 18 Sexual Assault
The Apartment Search
Safety Escorts
Explore Your New Neighborhood Of-Campus Housing Database
Safe Haven
Move-In Day Subletting
NU Alert
Be a Good Neighbor Rental Scams
Get Involved in the Community (Center of Community Service) Apartment Safety Codes
Boston Living (Dining, Grocery Stores, Attractions, etc.) and Inspections GETTING TO CAMPUS/
Helpful Smartphone Apps ALL ROADS LEAD TO NU 41
UNDERSTANDING YOUR LEASE 13 MBTA Information
Stay Connected to Campus
Parking Services
Leases Defned
Curry Student Center
Biking in Boston
Top 10 Points to Check
Campus Activities and Student Organizations
Paying the Rent
Campus Recreation
Security Deposits COMPLETE RESOURCE GUIDE 44
On-Campus Dining Options
Co-op Connections Renter’s Rights and Responsibilities Apartment Condition Checklist
Landlord Rights Apartment Hunting Checklist
What Every Of-Campus Student Should Know Eviction Housing Code Checklist
Living with Roommates Roommate Selection Worksheet
Northeastern Code of Conduct OFF-CAMPUS LIVING 101 20 Guide to Subletting
Responsible Party Hosting Northeastern Directory
Explore Your New Neighborhood
Moving Out City of Boston Directory
Move-In Day
Where to Go When Problems Arise
Rental Unit Standards
School Closings and Cancellation Notices
Be a Good Neighbor “I AM NORTHEASTERN” 51
HEALTH, SAFETY, AND SECURITY 22 Get Involved in the Community
Live • Shop • Eat Boston
Stay Clean and Infestation Free
Smartphone Apps
Apartment Security
Renter’s Insurance
Stay Connected to Campus 27
Personal Safety
Curry Student Center
GETTING TO CAMPUS/ALL ROADS LEAD TO NU 25 Campus Activities and Organizations
Campus Recreation
MBTA Information
Dining Options
Parking Services
Co-op Connections

Biking in Boston- Hub way Service
What Every Of-Campus 29
COMPLETE RESOURCE GUIDE 30
Student Should Know
Helpful Guides found on our website:
Living with Roommates
Apartment Condition Checklist
Northeastern Code of Conduct
Apartment Hunting Checklist
Responsible Party Hosting
Housing Code Checklist
Moving Out
Roommate Selection Worksheet
Where to Go When Problems Arise
Guide to Subletting
School Closings and Alerts
On-Campus Resources
City of Boston Resources
GETTING TO CAMPUS / ALL ROADS LEAD TO NU... 40
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MBTA and Parking Information
School Closings and Cancellations
TELEPHONE RESOURCE LIST 43
GET
TOKNOW
thearea
For more details on the neighborhoods in
and around Boston, visit
www.cityofboston.gov/neighborhoods.
N
W e Malden
Charlestown East Boston
S
Somerville
Cam b r i d g e Back Bay
South
E nd
Kenmore South
Allston Fenway Boston
Northeastern
University
Brighton Roxbury
Brookline Mission
Hill
Dorchester
Jamaica
Plain
Roslindale
West Roxbury
 Neighborhoods in
Boston
Hyde Park
 Neighborhoods outside
Boston
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WHERE TO LIVE?
Boston Neighborhoods
Boston ofers a tremendous variety of communities in which to live. The city
is divided into many neighborhoods, each of which has its own character. For
more information on Boston neighborhoods, go to www.cityofboston.gov/
neighborhoods. For a cost comparison of average rents by neighborhood, visit
www.neu.edu/ofcampus/getstarted.
Allston/Brighton
• Home to: Commonwealth Ave and variety of apartment buildings and styles
• Neighbors: Mostly students (BU, BC)
• Proximity to campus: 3 miles
• T Access: Green Line “B” and “C” trains
• Commute to Campus: 30 minute train ride
Back Bay
• Home to: Boston Public Library, Newbury Street, and the Prudential Center
• Diverse and trendy shopping
• Victorian brownstone architecture, higher rents
• Neighbors: Mostly professionals and some students (NU, Emerson)
• Proximity to campus: 1 mile
• T Access: Green Line (all trains) and Orange Line
• Commute to Campus: 15-20 minute walk or 10 minute train ride
Fenway
• Home to: Symphony Hall and the YMCA
• Neighborhood closest to NU
• Mix of private condos and student apartments
• Neighbors: Mostly students (NU, Berklee, Boston Conservatory)
• Proximity to campus: Less than .25 miles
• T Access: Green Line “E” train
• Commute to Campus: 5 minute walk
Jamaica Plain
• Home to: JP Licks and the Arnold Arboretum
• Variety of housing and a strong sense of neighborhood
• Neighbors: Mostly families
• Proximity to campus: 3 miles
• T Access: Green Line “E” train and Orange Line
• Commute to Campus: 15 minute train ride
Kenmore-Fens
• Home to Fenway Park, the CITGO sign, and the “Fens” recreation area
• Larger apartment buildings
• Neighbors: Mix of students (NU, BU), families, and young professionals
• Proximity to campus: 1 mile
• T Access: Green Line (all trains except “E”)
• Commute to Campus: 15 minute walk or 15 minute train ride
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Mission Hill
• Home to: Mission Church and Fitzgerald Park
• Triple decker apartments
• Neighbors: Diverse population of students (NU, Wentworth, Mass Art)
and long-time residents
• Proximity to campus: 1-2 miles
• T Access: Green Line “E” train and Orange Line
• Commute to Campus: 15-20 minute walk or 5 minute train ride
South End
• Home to: Boston Medical Center and Boston Center for the Arts
• Victorian style brownstones
• Neighbors: Mix of families, young professionals and some students
• Proximity to campus: 1 mile
• T Access: Orange Line
• Commute to Campus: 10-15 minute walk or 5 minute train ride
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FINDING AN
APARTMENT
7
Before You Begin Your Search
• What is your budget? What can you aford? Don’t forget about utilities.
• Do you have a co-signer?
• Do you want to live alone or share space and expenses with a roommate?
• How many roommates do you want?
• How close to campus do you need to be? How will you commute? Consider any
associated costs(T-Pass, gas, parking, etc.)?
• Do you have furniture? Note most apartments in the Boston area are
unfurnished.
• What amenities are priorities: air conditioning, laundry facilities, extra storage?
• Have you identifed a reputable realtor? Most landlords list their properties
with real estate agents. who typically charge a “broker fee,” equivalent to
one month’s rent.
APARTMENT HUNTING CHECKLIST
Get it Online
To make sure you cover your bases download our Apartment Hunting Checklist
at www.neu.edu/offcampus/getstarted.
THE APARTMENT SEARCH
Off-Campus Housing Database
The best place to begin your search is to use Northeastern’s FREE Of-Campus
Housing Online database. NU students can search and post apartment listings,
look for NU roommates, and fnd our list of preferred realtors.
Follow these steps to register and use the database
1. Go to northeastern.edu/ofcampus/apartment
2. Click on the Search/Post button
3. Go to ‘Register’ in the top right-hand corner; Select ‘Northeastern
University Community Members’
4. Use your Husky e-mail address and create an account (make sure you
complete the entire registration form!) You will receive a confrmation link in
your inbox.
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