Agent	One who is empowered to act for or in the place of another, such as a person you have designated with power of attorney to sign a lease or pick up keys for you. (See "Power of Attorney" below.)
Amenities	Attractive or desirable features of a property that serve as a benefit to the residents but that are not necessary to its use. An amenity may be natural (such as location, river view) or man-made (such as a fitness room, a laundry room, bicycle storage room, or garden).
Authorized occupant	A person who is listed on the Authorized Occupant form and is authorized by HRES to live in a Harvard University Housing apartment with the Harvard-affiliate leaseholder (lessee). This could be a nonaffiliated spouse (husband or wife) or domestic partner, a child, a sibling, or a parent. Authorized occupants are not eligible to sign or to be named as a tenant on a Harvard University Housing Lease and may not retain possession of a Harvard University Housing apartment if the affiliated leaseholder vacates the apartment.
Basement apartment	In the United States, a basement apartment is located on the lowest habitable story or floor of the building, usually below ground level.
Block rental apartment	An apartment leased directly from HRES by a Harvard school or department for occupancy by participants in special programs.
Complex	A group of apartment buildings.
Currently Available List	A list of Harvard University Housing units that may be available for immediate rental or have a lease start date in the very near future, that may not have been chosen during the Select window periods, or that may have become available after the View and Select self-service process was completed for the year. The list is open year-round and is available to Harvard affiliates whose Harvard University Housing application has been approved.
Default	Failure to meet legal obligations in a contract, specifically, failure to make the monthly rent payments on a lease.
Departmental Rental Programs	Individual schools or departments occasionally reserve a number of Harvard University Housing apartments for use by their students and faculty. These programs are administered by the school, not by Harvard Real Estate Services.
Domestic Partner	Person living in a long-term relationship with an exclusive mutual commitment similar to that of marriage. Both parties must be at least 18 years of age, share joint responsibility for their common welfare, be financially interdependent, and in a relationship of mutual support and caring.
Faculty Advisory Committeeon Harvard University Housing	The University committee, comprised of faculty members from Harvard’s various schools, that reviews and approves HRES’s annual rent recommendations and ensures rents are set at prevailing market rates (in keeping with the University's fair market rent policy).
First floor	In the United States, the first floor is the floor of the building that is at or nearest ground level. This is unlike many places in Europe where the floors are labeled: ground, 1 (up one flight), 2 (up two flights), etc.
Fixed-term lease	Refers to a lease with set start and end dates. The majority of Harvard University Housing leases start on the date an apartment is available for occupancy and terminate on June 30 annually. Leases may be renewable if full-time Harvard affiliation will continue through the following year, your tenancy is in good standing, and special conditions regarding the apartment or building do not exist. The lease is a legally binding contract outlining the conditions which both you (the tenant or lessee) and the landlord (HRES) agree to meet. Your signature on a lease commits you to pay the amount of rent specified on the lease every month for the duration of the lease, whether you occupy the apartment or not.
Furnished apartment	A furnished apartment in Harvard University Housing is one that contains, at a minimum, basic apartment fixtures and appliances such as a stove or cook top, a refrigerator, cabinets, bathroom and kitchen sinks, a tub or shower, a closet, window blinds or shades or drapes, a light fixture and shower curtain in the bath, plus some basic furniture items (either a couch and a bed with mattress and cover or a futon (bed/couch combination) with mattress and cover; a dresser; lamps; a chest of drawers; and a small dinette table with four chairs. Some apartments may also have a built-in desk or built-in shelving. The apartment does not include concierge services, bed linens, towels, or any cooking, eating, or personal care implements.
Harvard affiliate	For purposes of being eligible to live in HRES Harvard University Housing, a person is considered to be a Harvard affiliate if they are a full-time, current or incoming member of the Harvard graduate student body or a full-time, current or incoming Harvard employee (faculty or staff). Please click here for more information.
Harvard University Housing	A group of approximately 2,900 apartments in Cambridge, Somerville, and Boston that are owned by Harvard University and managed by Harvard Real Estate Services. Occupancy of these apartments is restricted to full-time University graduate students, faculty, and staff (see Harvard affiliate, above).
Harvard Housing Office	This HRES office provides a variety of housing services to students, faculty, and employees of Harvard University and manages the application process for Harvard University Housing.
Harvard University Departmental Guarantee Letter	Visiting faculty, visiting scholars, visiting fellows, and non-benefits-eligible postdoctoral fellows are required to provide a letter, signed by their department, that guarantees the Harvard University
HRES	The initials for Harvard Real Estate Services, a Harvard University department responsible for residential Harvard University Housing, university, commercial real estate, property information, project planning, and other related areas.
HRES Apartment Source Website	This is an online database of private market rental listings as well as apartment sublet opportunities in Harvard University Housing and in the private market that is maintained by the Harvard Housing Office. This database can be searched at no cost from any computer with access to the World Wide Web.
HRES Roommate Center	This is a self-service online database of listings for affiliates who are looking for roommates to move into their apartment and for those looking for an apartment in which to live. This service is offered through the Harvard Housing Office.
Initials	The first letter of each word of a person's proper name (for example, M.J. for Mary Joan Smith).
Jointly and severally liable	In a roommate situation, each person named on the lease (each lessee) is ordinarily billed only for their share of the rent. However, if your roommate leaves and/or does not pay their share of the rent or damage charges, HRES (the landlord) can choose to hold you fully responsible for the rent and damages not paid by your roommate. If you pay the landlord, you in turn can pursue payment from your roommate through legal means.
Kitchen	An enclosed room equipped for preparing and cooking food, but that is not large enough to accommodate a table and chairs.
Kitchen (Eat-in Kitchen)	An enclosed room equipped for preparing and cooking food and that is large enough to fit, at a minimum, a small table and two chairs.
Kitchen (Galley Kitchen)	A separate, small, narrow kitchen area similar to a kitchen on a ship or an airplane, that is equipped for preparing and cooking food It is not large enough to fit a table and chairs.
Kitchenette	An area equipped for preparing and cooking food, but that is part of another room (i.e., the living room/dining area or, in a studio, a living/dining/bedroom).
Landlord	The owner of a property or the agent acting on the owner's behalf. Harvard University owns Harvard University Housing properties, and HRES acts as the landlord and manager on the University's behalf.
Lead paint in apartments	Housing built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint. Lead from paint, paint chips, and dust can pose health hazards if not managed properly. Lead exposure is especially harmful to young children and pregnant women. Before renting pre-1978 housing, landlords must disclose the presence of known lead-based paint and/or lead-based paint hazards in the dwelling. The unit detail information will be available during View and Select windows and for apartments offered through the Currently Available option. If you are an applicant with a child aged six or under, you cannot live in an apartment that contains lead paint. If the apartment you select contains lead paint, HRES will have the lead paint removed or encapsulated before you move in. However, the start of your lease may be delayed by up to six weeks while the deleading and reinspection process takes place.
Lead compliant definitions	1) The apartment that is lead compliant meets all standards under Massachusetts lead regulations for occupancy by any individual. 2) An apartment can have lead but be compliant because the lead paint has been encapsulated or is at a height that is deemed safe by Federal and State regulations. 3) An apartment may be completely free of lead and not be fully compliant because common areas of the building have lead. 4) An apartment that is noted as having full compliance ensures there is no lead anywhere in that particular building.
Lead, letter of full initial lead inspection compliance	There is absolutely no lead in the apartment or common spaces in that particular building or house. There is no requirement to test or carry out operational maintenance in regard to lead.
Lead, letter of lead paint abatement compliance	The apartment has lead paint, yet it is abated to the degree that it is below the acceptable levels in Massachusetts. It is compliant for the occupancy of any individual. The owner is required to inspect on an ongoing maintenance schedule when the apartment is vacant between occupancy.
Lead, letter of lead paint reoccupancy, reinspection certification	The apartment was initially compliant and now has been re-inspected and re-certified for occupancy by any individual.
Lead test	An inspection and test that comprises of a written report and detector scan of the apartment by a certified 3rd party technician. The scan report is forwarded to another independent party for analysis, and then the results are forwarded to the owner with the appropriate letter of compliance.
Lead reinspection test	The apartment was initially lead compliant and there is a continuous maintenance program in place. There is lead in the apartment yet it is encapsulated and/or at a height that is deemed safe by the regulations. The owner has the duty to re-inspect and if there is peeling or exposure, make the necessary repairs and re-test the unit.
Lease	A legally binding contract outlining the conditions that both the landlord and the tenant agree to meet. Leases are usually for one year, although it may be possible to arrange a lease for a shorter period of time. Before signing any lease, read it carefully and be sure you understand everything in it. Your signature on a lease commits you to pay the amount of rent specified on the lease every month for the duration of the lease, whether you occupy the apartment or not.
Lease assumption	A legally binding contract that adds a new tenant (roommate) to an existing Harvard University Housing lease.
Lease commencement date	The date when tenancy and the first date of rent obligation begins.
Lease expiration date	The date when the lease expires and tenancy and rent obligation ends.
Lease liability end date	The date the current tenant's rent obligation ends.
Lease term	The period of time from the lease commencement date through the lease expiration date.
Lessee	Person whose name appears on the lease.
Leasing Office	The HRES office that manages the leasing process for Harvard University Housing.
Leasing System	This refers to the system and database that houses the online process for applying for, selecting, and leasing a Harvard University Housing apartment. The system also is used in connection with HRES’s property information, property maintenance, tenant records, and financial processes.
Liable	Legally obligated; responsible.
Liability	Something for which one is liable; an obligation, a responsibility, or a debt.
Market Analysis	A real estate appraisal term for determining what rent an apartment or property is likely to bring in the local market at a certain point in time. The value is determined by comparing the subject property to similar properties that have recently been rented, those that did not rent, and those that are currently being offered for rental.
Market rent or market value	The highest price that a renter would pay and the lowest price a landlord would accept for rental of a property.
Mediating disputes	HRES does not assist tenants to resolve problems between themselves and their neighbors or between roommates. If student tenants are unable to resolve issues on their own, they are encouraged to seek the help of counselors at their school. Faculty and employee residents are encouraged utilizing the services offered by Harvard through The Wellness Corporation (http://www.wellnessworklife.com).
On-campus	Located on Harvard University’s Cambridge, Allston, or Longwood Medical Area campuses.
One-bedroom convertible apartment	A uniquely configured apartment that can be used as a traditional one-bedroom apartment (a bedroom, a living room, and a kitchen) or in which the living room can be converted to a second bedroom (two bedrooms, a kitchen, no living room). This apartment configuration is a great way to share housing expenses when rented by two roommates.
PDF	A format, created by Adobe Systems, that enables documents to be configured in a way so they can be viewed on any computer system. The free Adobe Reader is required to open PDF documents. Click here to download: (http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html)
Pet-friendly housing	Certain apartments at Botanic Gardens have been designated as “pet-friendly.” At these apartments, a single dog (no larger than 40 pounds when full grown) or a single cat is allowed and must be registered with the Botanic Gardens Property Management Office. Certain breeds (or mixtures of breeds) of dogs are not permitted, and additional restrictions apply. HRES Pet-Friendly Housing Policies and Pet Authorization forms are available from the Botanic Gardens Property Management Office (28 Fernald Drive, Rear Basement, 617-495-5534.
Power of Attorney	A legal document by which you appoint another person to act as your agent to perform legal actions on your behalf. A limited power of attorney specifies a single action or a limited range of actions your agent is authorized to undertake on your behalf (i.e., pick up your keys; pay for, sign, or cancel a lease; sign other legal documents for you). A general power of attorney authorizes your agent to perform any action you could have taken, subject to exceptions specified by you or by law. A full power of attorney bestows total power to your agent. If you use a power of attorney to have a person sign an HRES lease or pick up keys for you, the form must be notarized (your signing the form is officially witnessed) by a Notary Public or an attorney and returned to HRE Requirements vary by state and by country; we suggest checking with a lawyer prior to assigning general or full power of attorney rights.
Prorated rent	Rent calculated for a portion of a month, from the lease start date through the last day of that month. The number of days for the portion of the month is multiplied by the daily rent rate. The daily rent rate is determined by dividing the monthly rent rate by the total number of days in that month, i.e., June = 30 days; March = 31 days, etc.
Rent Ranges	The rents within each building may vary based on apartment size, floor level, and other amenities. The rent ranges specified on our web site show the low and high rents for each apartment size (number of bedrooms) in each building.
Rider	An amendment or addition to the lease.
Renter's insurance	Personal property insurance that covers both property loss and personal liability (protection if any person sustains an injury or loss in your apartment). Such insurance covers personal liability even when you are not in your apartment or house. When discussing your coverage with an insurance representative, you should mention any special conditions such as subletting, roommate coverage, or additional coverage for expensive items. It is your responsibility to insure personal property. Harvard Real Estate Services and Harvard University do not cover the cost of replacing residents' personal items (clothing, computers, furniture, stereos, books, jewelry, etc.) that may be damaged or lost due to theft, fire, water, or vandalism.
RRE	The initials for Residential Real Estate, the housing division of Harvard Real Estate Services. This division is responsible for leasing and management of Harvard University Housing, for serving as a central housing resource for the University, and for providing specialized housing services to University faculty and staff.
Salutation	The title or word of greeting appearing before your name, such as Mr., Ms., Mrs., Dr., or Prof.
Select Window	A one-day period of time when approved housing applicants can go online and select the apartment they want to rent.
Smoke free apartment	In an apartment designated as smoke free, tenants agree that as a condition of their lease, smoking is not allowed within their apartment.
Smoke free building	In a building designated as smoke free, tenants agree that as a condition of their lease, smoking is not allowed within their apartment, in any common area, or outdoors within 25 feet of the building’s perimeter.
Studio	Studios are apartments that ordinarily consist of either one single room with cooking facilities and a separate bathroom, or two rooms: a living room/bedroom combination with a separate kitchen and bathroom.
Sublet	The process where a current tenant re-rents the apartment for a specific amount of time (ordinarily between May and September) to another Harvard affiliate approved by HRE
Supermarket	Also known as a grocery store, this is a large self-service retail market that sells food and household goods.
Tenant	The person(s) authorized to reside in a Harvard University Housing apartment.
Termination/Extension form	A legally binding e-form or paper document by which a tenant extends or terminates their lease.
Transfer	A transfer is a move from one Harvard University Housing apartment to another. Transfers are tightly governed. Please refer to Tenant Policies and Procedures for more information.
Two-bedroom convertible apartment	A uniquely configured apartment that can be used as traditional two-bedroom apartment (two bedrooms, a living room, and a kitchen) or in which the living room can be converted to a third bedroom (three bedrooms, a kitchen, no living room). This apartment configuration is a great way to share housing expenses when rented by three roommates.
Two-bedroom efficiency apartment	A uniquely configured apartment that contains two living room/bedrooms, a shared kitchenette or kitchen dining/area, and one or two baths. This configuration is a great way to share housing expenses when rented by two roommates. Two-bedroom efficiencies can also be used as a traditional one-bedroom apartment (a bedroom, a living room, and a kitchenette or kitchen/dining area).
Unfurnished apartment	The majority of Harvard University Housing apartments are unfurnished, which means they only contain, at a minimum, basic apartment fixtures and appliances such as a stove or cook top, a refrigerator, cabinets, bathroom and kitchen sinks, a tub or shower, a closet, window blinds or shades or drapes, and a light fixture in the bath. Some apartments may have light fixtures in other rooms, additional appliances such as a dishwasher, a washer/dryer, a built-in desk, built-in shelving, and an additional full or half bath.
Unit	An individual apartment.
Utilities	Commodities or services such as heat, electricity, gas, water, or sewer that are provided by public or private utility companies. Heat, hot and cold water, sewer, electricity and/or cooking gas are included in the rent at all Harvard University Housing apartments.
View and Select Window Periods	Assigned time period(s) when Harvard University Housing applicants can go online to see which apartments are available to be leased (view) and choose the one in which they would like to live (select).
View Window	A two-day period of time when approved housing applicants can go online and view all available apartments for rent.
Wheelchair Accessible Unit	An apartment that has been modified in a number of ways to facilitate its occupancy by a tenant using a wheelchair. Floor plans for these apartments show a wheelchair symbol, and the Accessibility Details field in the online Unit Attributes/amenities descriptions will indicate that an apartment is wheelchair accessible. Typically, a wheelchair accessible apartment is larger to allow proper turning radius for a wheelchair. Apartment entry door peepholes may be located both at standard and wheelchair height, and all doors will be wide enough to allow a wheelchair to pass through. Clothes rods in closets may be lower. Kitchen counters and sinks may be lower and open underneath, and the bathroom may contain a lower-height toilet and sink and either a tub with grab bars or a roll-in shower with no tub.

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