In this section you will find information on various policies related to Harvard University Housing.

• Tenant and Building Policies and Procedures
• Sample Harvard University Housing Lease
• Pet-Friendly Housing Policy
• HU Housing Air Conditioner Policies
• Rent Policy
• Moving In: Key Pick-up Instructions; Shipments
• Subletting Policies

All Harvard University Housing tenants agree to abide by the HUH Tenant and Building Policies and Procedures.

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View a Sample Harvard University Housing Lease.

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Click below for detailed Pet and Service Animal Policies and a sample Pet and Service Animal Authorization Form.

• Pet and Service Animal Policies
• HU Housing Pet-Friendly Address List
• Sample Pet and Service Animal Authorization Form

The Pet-Friendly Address List shows all apartments where a cat, a dog, or two domesticated pet birds are permitted (restrictions apply and HUH authorization is required). If you select a pet-friendly apartment, an authorization form will be included with your lease documents. Authorization forms are also available from the HUH Leasing Office.

The Policies document applies to permitted pets and to service animals and lists requirements and restrictions. Exceptions to these policies are granted only on the basis of approved requests for disability-related accommodations.

Fish in an aquarium (not to exceed 50 gallons) are permitted at all HU Housing properties.

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General Policies

• Air conditioning is provided at the following properties:
  • 10 Akron Street
  • Banks Street 37, 47, and 69
  • 5 Cowperthwaite Street
  • 29 Garden Street
  • Grant Street 2, 3, 5, and 7
  • Harvard @ Trilogy (170 Brookline Avenue)
  • 28 Hingham Street
  • 21 Robinson Street
  • Soldiers Field Park (window air conditioner)
  • 11-15 Sumner Road
  • 387 Western Avenue
• In apartments with HUH-provided central air conditioning, the systems are able to be operated from May 15 through October 31. NOTE: Central air conditioning will not function when the outside temperature drops below 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cooling elements of window air conditioners supplied by HUH are winterized by October 31 each year.
• You must receive prior approval from your Property Management Office before installing any window or through-wall air conditioner. If permitted, installation must meet the requirements outlined by the Property Management Office. Additional restrictions and fees apply (see below).
• You MUST remove your air conditioner by October 31 of each year and may not reinstall it until the following May 15. Through-wall air conditioners must be winterized and rendered inoperative by October 31 and until the following May 15 of each year.
• Standard window air conditioning units do not fit in all buildings, and some apartments/buildings cannot accommodate any window-mounted air conditioners (e.g., Peabody Terrace).
• Please note that Property Management Office staff members do not install or remove air conditioners.

• 18 Banks Street/8A Mount Auburn Street
• Other properties, except those listed above.

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• In keeping with Harvard University's fair market rent policy that was established in 1983 by a faculty committee, rents for new leases have been set at prevailing market rates. The committee determined that market rate pricing was the fairest method of allocating apartments and that setting rents below market rate would be a form of financial aid that should be determined by each individual school, not the rent setting process.
• Market rates are determined annually by analyzing three years of market rents in neighboring areas and by commissioning a third-party study of current market rents. These published rates are subject to change. Please be advised that the Cambridge/Boston real estate market is one of the most expensive real estate markets in the United States.
• Published rates are subject to change.
• The 1983 faculty committee's five-page letter regarding the University's fair market rent policy is available upon request from the Harvard University Housing Leasing Office.

Tenants may pick up apartment keys on or after the date their lease begins. All lease documents must be signed, received, and processed by the Harvard University Housing Office before keys will be released.

If you need someone other than yourself or an authorized occupant named on your application to pick up keys for you, you must authorize that person by signing a Key Pickup Authorization form. Click here for a blank Key Pickup Authorization form.

The Key Pickup Instruction forms below contain important information about obtaining your keys and making arrangements for parking your moving van or truck.

• Botanic Group Key Pickup Instructions
• Harvard @ Trilogy Key Pickup Instructions
• Mount Auburn Group Key Pickup Instructions
• River Group/Peabody Terrace Key Pickup Instructions
• River Group/Soldiers Field Park and One Western Avenue Key Pickup Instructions

Shipments
HU Housing management offices do not accept or store packages for tenants at any time. Management also discourages the accumulation of packages in entry lobbies and common mail areas, and is not responsible for loss of or damage to items that cannot fit in the provided letter-sized mail boxes. If you are shipping items to your HU Housing apartment, you should either arrange for your packages to arrive after your move-in, make arrangements for packages to be held by the post office or shipping company, or make arrangements with a friend or neighbor to receive and hold your packages.

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