What is a housing agreement holder?

This is the person that holds the lease to the apartment and the person responsible for financial obligations. Housing agreement holders must sign a 12 month Housing Agreement and are solely responsible for all aspects of renting the apartment including: paying the security deposit, the monthly rent, the monthly utility charges, and any charges for damages to the apartment or adjoining facilities. Housing agreement holders who seek to have roommates with whom they can share the cost of the apartment are solely responsible for identifying and securing eligible roommates.

Who is eligible to be a housing agreement holder in the Graduate Village?

To be a housing agreement holder, you must be accepted at URI as a full-time matriculating graduate student, or a full-time matriculating non-traditional undergraduate student (25+ years of age or living with a spouse/child). Post-doctoral appointments and visiting faculty are accommodated depending on the availability.

Note: You are considered a full-time graduate student if you are carrying a minimum of 9 credits per semester, or a minimum of 6 credits per semester with a full-time assistantship. Undergraduate students are considered full time carrying a minimum of 12 credits per semester.

Who is eligible to be a roommate in the Graduate Village?

As a housing agreement holder, you may have immediate family members (including same-sex partners) or eligible URI roommates live with you. Eligible URI roommates include:

• matriculating graduate students of at least part-time status
• matriculating non-traditional undergraduate students (see #1 for criteria)
• visiting scholars, and
• post doctoral fellows
• graduate students who are enrolled for 1 continuous or dissertation credits

Note: Agreements between housing agreement holders and their roommates concerning financial matters and living arrangements are private agreements, and do not affect the contractual relationship between the housing agreement holder and URI.

When I fill out the application, what am I applying for?

You are applying to be a housing agreement holder of an apartment in the Graduate Village Apartments.  We cannot offer you an apartment if you are planning to be at URI for less than one calendar year.

When should I apply for graduate and family housing?

AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! You can apply for housing any time after you have submitted your application to the university. There is no application fee to get on the Graduate Village waiting list, and there is no penalty for removing yourself from the waiting list if you find alternate housing. Due to high demand for these apartments, the waiting period can be 6 months or more during peak demand times. We cannot guarantee that an apartment will become available for you by a specific date.

How do I become a roommate in the Graduate Village?

You can be a roommate in the Graduate Village if you meet the eligibility guidelines (see second question). Many prospective roommates post a notice on the bulletin board located at the entrance to the apartment complex, or in our office stating that they want to be a roommate. You can also post and view ads at the Graduate Student Association and the Facebook page. In addition, we recommend that you contact your department to see if they know of any graduate students who are looking for roommates.

What happens after I apply to be a housing agreement holder?

Your name is added to our waiting list. We contact you via email prior to the date that you need the apartment if an apartment becomes available. Please remember that we cannot guarantee that an apartment will be available on the date needed. Communicate with our office regularly to determine where you stand on the waiting list.

What happens after I am offered an apartment?

You will receive an email offering you the apartment, then you have up to 24 hours to respond to the email offer to let us know if you are interested in the apartment. We will help you schedule an appointment to view the apartment. If you are too far away to view it, you can either request photos of the apartment or have someone you know view it for you. After you view the apartment, you have up to 24 hours to let us know whether or not you will accept the offer. If you choose to accept the apartment, contact us to schedule your move-in appointment.

What if I want a different apartment than the one offered?

If you don’t want the apartment that you are offered, your name will either be placed at the bottom of the waiting list with a new prospective move-in date, or you can request to be removed from the waiting list.

What happens during the move-in appointment?

On the day that you move into your apartment, you will come to the office to meet with the Office Assistant for your move-in appointment. At this appointment you will review and sign the housing agreement, pay your security deposit (check or money order only – made payable to URI), and receive your apartment and mailbox keys. Move-in appointments are conducted during normal business hours. Arrangements can be made for arrivals outside of office hours based on staff availability. The day you sign your housing agreement is the day your rent begins.

How can I find people to be roommates in my apartment?

You can post an ad on the bulletin board in the apartment complex (located at the entrance), in our office, and you can also post and view ads at the Graduate Student Association and the Facebook page. You can also contact your department to see if they know of any incoming graduate students in need of housing.

Note: Agreements between a housing agreement holders and their roommates concerning financial matters and living arrangements are private agreements and in no way change the contractual relationship between the housing agreement holder and URI.

How many people can live in an apartment in the Graduate Village?

Per the RI State Fire Marshall and the URI Department of Safety and Risk Management, the occupancy levels are as follows:

• 2-bedroom apartments: Maximum of 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children
• 3-bedroom apartments: Maximum of 4 adults or 2 adults and 3 children

Why is the rent for first floor apartments less expensive?

We provide 2 air conditioning units as well as a dehumidifier in our first floor apartments and ask tenants in these apartments to use these appliances to maintain the appropriate climate. Electric bills can be higher in these apartments, so we compensate tenants by offering them at a reduced rent.

How will I be billed for the rent?

We mail bills out to each apartment on, or about, the first of each month. The bill includes for that month’s rent, Wi-Fi fee, and the prior month’s electricity usage. The bill is delivered to your apartment’s mailbox, located at the entrance to the apartment complex, by the US Postal Service. The bill must be paid in our office by the 15th of each month.

Are utilities included in the monthly rent?

No, utilities are not included. Water is supplied to the apartments at no extra cost to the tenant. Heat and hot water are electric and included in your electric bill.  University Wi-Fi is provided and added to your bill as well.

How will I be billed for electricity?

Each apartment has its own electric meter. Your electric bill is based on the number of kilowatt hours used. URI charges you the same rate that the electric company charges the University. Bills are calculated using the less expensive industrial rate rather than the more expensive residential rate you would be charged off campus. We add the electric charges to your monthly rent bill each month, and you pay it when you make your rent payment.

What is provided in the apartment?

All of our apartments are unfurnished. The kitchens have full-size refrigerators and stoves/ovens.

Are there any one-bedroom apartments available?

No, there are only two-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments in the Graduate Village.

Do the apartments have URI cable, internet, or phone service?

The apartments have high speed wireless internet. Cable and phone services are not included, but you can set those up through a local provider such as Cox Communications after you move in, if you choose to have them.

Can I have pets in the Graduate Village?

Only fish in tanks that are 20 gallons or less are allowed in any on-campus housing.

What are some of the other housing resources in the area?

The Graduate Student Association has an online bulletin board where people post notices when they are looking for a place to rent, are looking for roommates, or are trying to rent a place that they own. You can view other people’s ads and post your own.

The Office of Commuter Housing has a listing of apartments and houses for rent off campus.

The Office of International Students and Scholars can answer questions about making the transition to URI.

Office of Disability Services can assist students with disabilities who need housing accommodations.

What is a security deposit for?

The security deposit is payable with a check or money order (we cannot accept cash or credit/debit cards) in the amount of one month’s rent made out to URI.  When all inspections are completed after you move out, the staff will determine if there are any charges for outstanding rent, your final electric bill, excessive cleaning, damages, etc. Your security deposit will be used to pay those charges, and any remaining balance will be returned to you.

How do I get my mail?

Each apartment is assigned a US Postal Service mailbox located at the entrance to the Graduate Village.  On this card you must write your name, your roommate(s’) name(s), and your apartment number. You must put this card in your mailbox so that the letter carrier knows who is living in your apartment and will deliver mail to you. The letter carrier will not deliver mail if there is no name card in the box or if the mail is addressed to someone who is not listed on the card. Please remember to change the card as your roommates change. Extra cards are available at the Graduate Housing Office.

Where can I do my laundry?

Our 100 apartments are located in 7 buildings. Each building has a laundry room with two washing machines and two dryers. The machines are coin-operated.  Clothes lines are located throughout the grounds.

Is there parking available in the apartment complex?

Yes, there is a parking lot surrounding the apartment complex. Residents with cars can purchase a parking permit from Parking Services. Cars displaying the URI resident parking permit are allowed to park in the apartment parking lot. Cars without a parking sticker may receive warnings, tickets, fines, and risk being towed at the owner’s expense.  Please refer to the Parking and Transportation Services website if you have any additional questions.

Will my rent ever increase?

Yes, possibly. The Rhode Island Board of Education meets every year on June 30th to approve tuition, fees, and housing rates. These rates become effective July 1st for the next fiscal year. We will notify you in advance of any proposed rent increase.

Can I switch my apartment?

Housing agreement holders are assigned to one apartment for their tenure as a housing agreement holder. Each time the housing agreement expires, staff will contact the housing agreement holder regarding steps to renew the housing agreement for the same apartment. Alternatively, the housing agreement holder may decide to move out of the apartment and may become a roommate in a different apartment in Graduate Village or find housing elsewhere. Roommates may switch apartments within Graduate Village.

Can I transfer my housing agreement to my roommate?

No. The Graduate Village Housing Agreement is not transferable to roommates. An apartment can be transferred to a spouse if s/he meets housing eligibility criteria. Transfers to spouses are only approved for one additional year, with the maximum amount of time for the family to occupy an apartment being 4 years. Transferring the Graduate Village Housing Agreement to one’s spouse requires administrative approval.

Are there any community facilities in the Village?

We have a Community Center, Community Garden, and playground that are available for residents to use.  Anyone interested in using these facilities should come to our office and we’ll be happy to answer your questions.