Student Housing

When choosing a neighborhood, be sure you map it to know how far it is from TUSDM and what transportation options you’ll be able to access. Please note, while many of our students live in Chinatown and downtown area (Beacon Hill, Back Bay, the South End, and parts of South Boston are considered walking distance to campus), rental costs have risen significantly over the past five years in these neighborhoods. Be sure you investigate all your transportation options before settling on a target neighborhood.

Many apartments are listed with realtors who charge a standard fee equal to one month’s rent if you end up renting an apartment they showed you. It is possible to find apartments without a fee. These are usually listed directly by the owner on Craigslist or found by word of mouth.

You can expect to pay a small application fee to apply for an apartment you like (approximately $75). It will usually take one month’s rent as a deposit to have the realtor de-list the apartment. This should generally be refundable if you choose not to sign, but make sure to ask first before giving them a check. At least two additional months’ rent will be due at lease signing; all together, you may pay:

• First month’s rent
• Last month’s rent
• Security deposit (three months’ rent at signing; the security deposit is returned to you at lease end, less assessment of apartment damage)
• Some realtors also charge a key deposit, which is a small fee returned to you at lease end when the keys are turned in.

The decision to have a roommate should be based on how willing you are to share your space with another person and how much you are willing to spend on the apartment. Living alone, without sharing costs, can be an expensive proposition. With increasing numbers of roommates, costs go down. On the other hand, more roommates can lead to conflicting schedules, lifestyles, and personalities. We urge you to carefully consider roommate prospects before signing a lease.

There are many ways to find an apartment. Some options include:

• Online: www.boston.com, www.craigslist.org, www.padmapper.com can give you a general sense as to cost, location, and amenities available in different areas. Be aware that many of these apartments on these sites are listed through realtors and will charge a fee, usually equal to one month’s rent, to sign a lease.
• Realtors: There are many trustworthy, no-fee realtors in Boston, and it’s a good idea to contact more than one as they each have different listings. Your best chance to see multiple units on one visit will happen while using a realtor. They will likely also drive you to each unit, making the search more efficient.
• JumpOffCampus: TUSDM has partnered with JumpOffCampus, an online housing resource available to all Dental students. The site offers a variety of features to assist you with searching available apartment listings, search and post sublets, and offers a Marketplace for you to advertise furniture, electronics, etc., that you are trying to sell.

Renters insurance is important to have and can protect you against fires, snow and water damage, theft, and more. Get a quote at InsuranceQuotes.org.

There are many wonderful aspects of life here in Boston; unfortunately, owning and driving a car is not one of them. Especially within Boston city limits, off-street parking is usually an expensive proposition, while on-street parking is often difficult to find consistently. If you do not have a specific need for a car in your first year (such as a commute requiring one), we strongly recommend that you leave it at home.

Some things to keep in mind as you consider whether to bring your car to school:

• Within 30 days of moving to Massachusetts, you must either:

1. Register your car with the police department of the city you live in and with Tufts University Police here on the Boston campus. The relevant form for the city is located at: http://www.massrmv.com/.

OR

2. Register your car with the state of Massachusetts as a Massachusetts resident at the Registry of Motor Vehicles. Failure to comply with this state law may result in a fine. To register a car in Massachusetts, you must first obtain an insurance policy through a licensed Massachusetts insurance agent. Insurance rates are set by the state but vary according to where you live, what kind of car you have, and your driving history; these rates tend to be quite expensive within Boston city limits. Registration Conversion fees and title fees, plus a license conversion fees apply. If you never paid a sales tax on your car in your home state (NH residents, for example), you will be required to pay a 6% tax on the sale price of your car. For more information on registering your car, check the RMV website at http://www.massrmv.com/.

• If you live in a Boston neighborhood that requires an on-street resident parking permit, you must follow one of the above procedures before you can qualify for a permit. Resident parking permits are obtained at Boston City Hall and are free of charge. For more information about resident parking permits, please visit the city of Boston website: http://www.cityofboston.gov/parking/residentparking/
• Posner Hall residents will NOT qualify for a Chinatown resident permit. You would have to store your car at a private garage, which in the vicinity of campus will cost upwards of $350 per month. We strongly discourage students intending to live in Posner from bringing a car.
• Students who commute by car may park at select garages. On weekdays, students can park at 120 Herald Street or 5 Traveler Street. On weekends, students can park at 274 Tremont Street. Spaces are available on a first come first served basis. You must bring your student ID and car registration to be issued a decal from the Parking Office. Learn more about student parking or contact the Parking Office at 617-636-5580.

Find videos and information about security deposits, simplifying the search, inspecting apartments and more at the jumpoffcampus.com learning center.