General Information

 

Welcome to South Campus Commons! We are happy that you have signed a lease with us for the upcoming year. As a resident, you are financially responsible for the entire lease term, which is approximately 11.25 months. Residents who do not plan to live at South Campus Commons for the summer should understand that while lease transfer is an option, you are bound by the terms of the Lease until you have successfully transferred the lease for your apartment to another eligible student. Please see below for information about the Lease Transfer Process.

Each January, our resident lease renewal process begins. You will be given the option to stay in your current bedroom for another year, transfer to another bedroom or another apartment, bring friends into your apartment, or leave SCC altogether.

 

Lease Transfer process

Read below to learn how to submit a Lease Transfer Request.

Additional information can be found on the UMD Department of Resident Life webpage.

General Information

On occasion students inquire about the difference between “Subletting” and “Lease Transfer” for their apartment. Hopefully this information will shed light on the difference between the two and why South Campus Commons requires the Lease Transfer Process.

Subletting means that you are allowing someone to use your apartment that you are renting for a period of time in return for payment. When subletting you are still financially responsible for the apartment and any damages that might occur even though you are allowing someone else to rent from you. Please review the section on “Illegal Subletting” for more information on this process.

Lease Transfer is the official process of transferring financial responsibility for your South Campus Commons lease to another eligible student prior to the lease end date in July.  Any students who study abroad, graduate, withdraw from the University, or need to leave due to financial constraints, must use this process.   Once you transfer the lease of your apartment, your individual lease is formally ended which means that you will no longer have access to your space and community services and you are released from your financial obligation.

This formal process, which is completed through the Leasing Office, is necessary in order to protect the original leaseholder. Therefore, the process outlined below must be followed for a Lease Transfre to occur.

The Process

The following information is designed to help you navigate the Lease Transfer process, through which you can end your lease early by transferring it to another eligible student. Please review this information carefully, as you retain financial responsibility for your apartment until the Lease Transfer process has been completed in its entirety. We recommend submitting the Lease Transfer Request 2 – 3 weeks before your desired lease transfer date. However, finding a re-lessor can be sometimes be difficult, so we recommend that you start looking for a re-lessor as early as possible.

  • Step 1: Lease Holder finds a re-lessor (an eligible student who is interested in taking over your lease). It is the Lease Holder’s exclusive responsibility to find a re-lessor.
  • Step 2: The re-lessor must complete a Commons/Courtyards Leasing Application in order to be able to complete the Commons/Courtyards Lease Transfer Form.
  • Step 3: The Lease Holder and Re-lessor must each submit the Commons/Courtyards Lease Transfer Form in the StarRez Portal.
    • After the re-lessor is approved, the Lease Holder will be prompted to complete their leasing paperwork online.
    • Once the Lease Holder has completed their portion of the Lease Transfer agreement, the re-lessor will be contacted by the leasing office to complete their Lease, Guarantor Form, Lease Transfer Agreement, and Confirmation page.  This must be submitted within 48 hours.
  • The Lease Holder retains financial responsibility and rights to the space until the re-lessor has completed the process.  If the re-lessor does not complete their paperwork by the deadline, rights and responsibilities for the space remain with the original lease holder and the process will need to be restarted.

 

Eligibility

A re-lessor’s eligibility will be determined after the Lease Holder and Re-lessor have completed the Lease Transfer Form.  Lease Transfer eligibility is determined by the University of Maryland’s Department of Resident Life and generally includes the following:

  • Students must be in good academic, financial, & judicial standing with the University to be eligible to sign a lease.
  • Re-lessor must be the same gender as the lease holder (unless the lease holder is in a pre-designated mixed-gender apartment)
  • Fall and Spring Re-lessors must be undergraduate students, have been in college for at least one semester (freshmen are NOT eligible to re-lease in their first semester), and registered full-time at the University of Maryland, College Park.
  • Summer re-lessors may be undergraduate students who are affiliated with the University of Maryland College Park.

 

Who is Eligible? Fall Re-leasing Spring Re-leasing Summer Re-leasing
Fall First Semester Freshman at UMD N Y Y
Spring First Semester Freshman at UMD N/A N Y
UMCP Undergrad enrolled for Fall Y Y Y
UMCP Undergrad who was enrolled in the Spring N Y Y
UMCP Undergrad Enrolled only in the Summer N N Y
Student returning from Study Abroad Y Y Y
Transfer Student (must have Confirmed Enrollment for Semester in which they want to re-lease) Y Y Y
Non-UMD student who wants to live in friend’s apartment while friend is gone and isn’t affiliated with UMCP N N N

* needs documentation if not a UMD student

For more specific questions about renewal eligibility, please email the Manager for Housing Partnerships with the Department of Resident Life, at pppleasing@umd.edu.

Connecting Lease Holders and Re-Lessors
  • The OCH Database: A Resident Life resource that The Courtyards and South Campus Commons Lease Holders can use to post their vacancy and potential Re-lessors can use to search for vacancies.
  • Maryland Community Housing Facebook group: A housing resource that requires an @umd.edu email address to access.
  • The Courtyards and South Campus Commons Wait list: As a Re-lessor, you can join The Courtyards and South Campus Commons wait list by completing a Common/Courtyards Leasing application. Lease Holders can request this list so that they can reach out to interested students all at once.
  • You are also encouraged to use word of mouth! Ask your friends if they know of anyone looking to leave The Courtyards or South Campus Commons or if they know anyone who wants to move in to South Campus Commons or The Courtyards.
Deadlines
  • Lease Holders and Re-lessors can submit the Commons/Courtyards Lease Transfer Request Form anytime, but Lease Transfer appointments are only available between the 4th and the 20th of each month (except August, February, and March).
  • Failure to complete your appointment by the 20th of the month will result in you retaining financial responsibility for the following month.
    Re-lessor approvals can take 2-4 business days to process after the both the Lease Holder and Re-lessor complete their Commons/Courtyards Lease Transfer Forms. The re-lessor will not be evaluated for eligibility until both parties have completed their Lease Transfer Request.
Process Requirements
Current Resident:
    • Your $100 lease transfer fee. This must be paid in certified funds*. Personal checks and cash are NOT accepted.
    • You must have a zero balance.
    • If your transfer fee and balance are not paid at least 2 business days prior to your leasing appointment, they must be paid at the appointment in certified funds.
    • Installment payments are due on the first of each month. The person in possession of the lease on the 1st of the month is responsible for the installment payment. Installments are not prorated and Capstone will not issue refunds for installments owed prior to the lease transfer. Any exchange of money relating to partial installment payments or personal refunds is solely between the leaseholder and the re-lessor.

*Certified Funds are available from a teller at your financial institution in the form of a cashier’s check. Money orders are available at 7-Eleven, CVS, The United States Post Office, Giant, and other retail locations.

 

New Resident:
  • $300 lease reservation (applied toward first month’s installment payment). Check or money order made payable to “The Courtyards” or “South Campus Commons.”
  • Social Security Number. While your card is not required, you must be able to provide your SSN.
  • Completed Guarantor Form
Moving Out

At your Lease Transfer appointment, you will select the current resident’s move-out date and the new resident’s move-in date.   The move-out date will be at least three business days before the new resident’s move-in date.  All belongings must be removed from the apartment, even if you are studying abroad and plan to return to the apartment or to South Campus Commons in the future.

Illegal Subletting

Illegally subletting a South Campus Commons apartment to an unapproved individual is strictly prohibited.  If you are found to be illegally subletting your apartment, the leaseholder and the illegal re-lessor may be referred to the University of Maryland judicial process according to the Rights and Responsibilities handbook, Section B, 26.  As the illegal re-lessor, you will be required to move out of the apartment immediately or go to the Leasing Office sign a lease at South Campus Commons.

Failure to check in through the Landlord is subject to a $200 administrative charge.  Failure to check in or out at a designated Service Desk is also subject to a $100 improper check in/out fee. Furthermore, current residents who do not properly check their keys into a Commons staff member at the Service Desk are subject to $75 core replacement fee for the apartment lock AND a $75 core replacement fee for the bedroom lock AND a $25 replacement fee for the mailbox key. Only legal leaseholders will be permitted to sign out the replacement keys in such circumstances.

To avoid incurring these charges and judicial sanctions, and to preserve the security of our community, it is imperative that all residents use the Lease Transfer process outlined here.

Renewal

2024-2025 Renewal Lease Information

Renewal Intention Forms are available ONLINE via the StarRez portal beginning January 8.  You will need to provide your Guarantor’s contact information so they may be provided the online Guarantor Form when you complete your lease.

The deadline to submit your Intention Form is 11:59pm on February 8, 2024.

  1. To complete your Intention Form, go to your StarRez portal.
  2. Select Commons / Courtyards Leasing Application, and then Commons / Courtyards Leasing 2024-2025
  3. Complete your Intention Form by selecting the best option for you.
    1. Returning to Same Bed
    2. Do Not Wish to Renew (Select this if you are graduating or not returning for 2024-2025)
    3. Transfer
  4. Submit your completed Intention Form.

If you are pulling an eligible student into SCC, you must include their information on your intention form.  The student being pulled in will also need to list you on their application.

You must complete your Renewal Intention Form even if you do not plan to return to South Campus Commons for the 2024-2025 lease year. Any current South Campus Commons resident that does not submit an intention form online by 11:59pm on February 9th will NOT be permitted to sign a lease at South Campus Commons for 2024-2025.

If you select same-bed, after submitting your intention form, the DocuSign hosted lease will be available within your StarRez portal application. 

If you select transfer or are part of a special program, your DocuSign hosted lease will be available within your StarRez portal application after your group has completed the apartment selection module in the StarRez portal. 

Who is eligible to renew?

Students who will be entering their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year of undergraduate study in Fall 2024 who are in good standing with the university are eligible to renew their lease. Students who will be entering their 5th year of undergraduate study in Fall 2024 are also eligible to renew this year.

What are my options?

 Returning Same Bed

What does returning same bed mean?  If you select this it means that you are selecting your same exact space for 2024-25.

You will not have to move-out and move back in and will stay during the lease transition period of Saturday, July 27 through Sunday, August 18.  You will also have to follow certain guidelines for the turn transition from July 27 through August 18 (this is to prepare for new roommates).

 

What if I want to pull in new roommates to fill vacancies in my apartment?  There will be a content box in the intention form that will allow you to add students you want to pull-in.  You can only pull in rising juniors or rising seniors who currently live on campus. *Please note, the student you wish to pull-in must also list you on their application.*

 

What if I want to pull in someone that is not a rising junior or rising senior?  That is not possible.  The only way for them to live with you would be for the spaces to hopefully still be available when they go through the Virtual Open Leasing process at the end of February / beginning of March.  There is no guarantee and unlikely to happen.

 

When will my pull-in(s) get their lease?  They will get their lease during the same time period you will get it and have the same deadlines. Your pull-in also needs to fill out a Commons/Courtyards 2024-25 Leasing Application by Monday, February 8 at 11:59pm which they can find at www.starrez.umd.edu. If they do not fill out the application by that deadline they will be unable to get a lease. Your pull-in will need to list you on their application.

 

 

What if I don’t fill out the Intention Form by February 8 at 11:59pm?  You will not be able to stay in your same space for 2024-25 and will have to move out on Saturday, July 27.

 

 

If I filled out the Intention Form stating that I’m returning same bed, am I done with everything?  No, this is an intention form only stating your purpose for 2024-25.  You must also sign your DocuSign lease. This should be available at the end of your StarRez Application when selecting Same Bed.

 

Do Not Wish To Renew

Who should select “do not wish to renew?”  If you select this it means that you are not returning for 2024-25 and plan to move-out by Saturday, July 27 at 12pm.  Residents will select this is they are graduating or no longer wish to live at SCC.

 

Apartment Change

Who should select “Apartment Change?”  You will select this if you wish to move to another apartment at South Campus Commons or transfer to The Courtyards.

 

What happens after I submit the Intention Form as a Transfer?  On February 20 you will select your new space virtually in the Star Rez portal (more info to come about this).  After you select your space you will get your lease virtually.  You will then have 2 days to complete the lease.

 

What if I want to pull in new roommates in the apartment I’m changing to?  There will be a content box in the intention form that will allow you to add students you want to pull-in.  You can only pull in on-campus rising juniors or rising seniors. Your pull-in must also list you on their application.

 

What if I want to pull in someone that is not a rising junior or rising senior?  This is not possible.

 

When will my pull-in(s) get their lease?  They will get their lease during the same time period you will get it and have the same deadlines. Your pull-in also needs to fill out a Commons/Courtyards 2024-25 Leasing Application by February 8 at 11:59pm which they can find at www.starrez.umd.edu. If they do not fill out the application by that deadline they will be unable to get a lease. Your pull-in must also list you on their application.

 

If I select  Apartment Change, will I be moving out on Saturday, July 27? Yes, anyone who selects transfer will move-out by Saturday, July 27 at noon and move back in on Sunday, August 18 for South Campus Commons or on Tuesday, August 20 for The Courtyards.

Want to transfer to a different bedroom in the same apartment or transfer to a different apartment?

Please keep in mind that when transferring to a different apartment, you must choose a unit that fills the number of vacancies in that apartment. This means you would be limited to selecting from units that have the same number of vacancies for the number of spaces available.

Students transferring to a different bedroom in the same apartment or transferring to a different apartment altogether should plan to vacate their current unit at the conclusion of the current lease year, in July, and move-in to their new apartment on August 20, 2023 (2023-2024 lease start date). Students who need to remain on-campus between lease years are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to renew the lease on their 2022-2023 space.

Want to pull in a friend?
The only students eligible to be pulled in are current residence hall students in the 3rd or 4th Commitment Group (rising Juniors and Seniors) who are in good standing with the University. Current South Campus Commons and Courtyards residents who are in good standing with the University are also eligible to be pulled in/transferred to your apartment.

If you want to pull in a friend, you must select an apartment that will accommodate the number of spaces for you and your friend(s) that you are trying to pull in. For example, if there are two of you, you may not select a completely empty four or three bedroom apartment. You would be limited to choosing units with only two open spaces.

Contact Information

Questions and concerns regarding the lease renewal process can be directed to the South Campus Commons Leasing Office via phone at 301-314-2499 or via email at southcampuscommonsleasing@cocm.com.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the 2023-24 lease term?  It begins on Sunday, August 20 and concludes on Friday, July 28, 2024.  Residents that select same bed will get to stay during the transition period.

 

What if I’m graduating in the Fall of 2023?  Is there any leases that will go through December 2023?  All 2023-24 leases end on Friday, July 28, 2024.  If you are graduating in December 2023 it will be your responsibility to find a releasor to take over your space to no longer be financially responsible.  *All residents are financially responsible until a releasor is found. 

 

What if I sign a lease for 2023-24 and decide later on that I no longer wish to live at South Campus Commons?  The only way to cancel your lease is through the Lease Transfer Process.  Residents will be responsible for finding a releasor and will be financially responsible until a releasor is found.

 

What if I don’t fill out the Intention Form at all or only complete half of it, what does that mean?  Any resident that doesn’t complete the Intention Form, we will assume you are not returning for 2023-24 and your move out date will be July 28, 2023.

 

Will I get a confirmation email once I submit the Intention Form? Yes

Insurance

South Campus Commons requires all residents invest insurance.  South Campus Commons does not carry insurance on tenant’s personal possessions. Renter’s insurance can provide protection for accidental damage, theft, fire, water, and more. Please note, tenant will be held liable for any damages he/she may cause to a unit. Damage caused to a unit by a tenant will be charged directly to the resident found responsible or split among the residents of the apartment if a responsible party cannot be determined, regardless of acquisition of insurance.

Many tenants rely on parents’ homeowners insurance policies for protection while residing at South Campus Commons.  Be sure to check your policy first as many will only provide partial coverage for personal property of the tenant.  Renters insurance covers personal property as well as damage to the property for which a tenant may be liable.  Renters insurance policies also tend to carry lower premiums.

Renter’s insurance rates vary from state to state.  The cost also depends on the insurance company and the coverage level selected.  According to Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America (IIAB), the coverage cost for renters insurance is about $12 per month for $30,000 worth of property coverage and $100,000 of liability coverage.

You may benefit from speaking with an agent when selecting a policy, as some features of our properties could lower rates.  Agents may also recommend other protective measures for your apartment that will lower the rates and further your protection.  Some policies also cover listed property outside the apartment.

Click here for an informational pamphlet on renter’s insurance.  South Campus Commons does not specifically endorse the company in the provided pamphlet.  We provide this for informational purposes only to aid in your insurance-provider research.

Related article: “College Students Should Hit the Books on Insurance

Study Abroad & Proxy Information

Residents who Transfer their SCC apartment lease and leave for semester study abroad or co-op experiences are eligible to return to SCC the following semester, provided they remain in good academic, judicial, and financial standing with the University of Maryland. Leasing for the next academic year begins every year in mid-January. If you will be abroad at the time of leasing, it is important to discuss your plans with family, friends, or potential roommates prior to leaving. Please review this information carefully to ensure a successful return from studying abroad. Exact dates will be added to this section before the end of the fall semester.

Fall Semester

If studying abroad for the fall semester, follow the Lease Transfer process located on our website to secure a space for the spring semester. You would be considered the re-lessor in this situation. You will be signing the lease digitally via DocuSign

 

Spring Semester
In order to return to South Campus Commons after studying abroad in the spring, students need to complete the South Campus Commons Intention Form. It is important to pay close attention to the deadlines, so that the opportunity to return to SCC as a resident does not pass you by. As someone studying abroad in the spring, there are two options for returning to SCC: pull-in or transfer.
Pull-In
SCC residents are able to pull-in eligible students into vacant bedrooms in their apartment. In order to be eligible for pull-in, you must be in good standing with the University and have lived in SCC the semester immediately preceding your study abroad/co-op experience. Additionally, you must be returning to SCC the semester immediately following your study abroad/co-op experience.

Residents can only pull-in eligible students into vacant spaces in their apartment; residents cannot pull-in eligible students into vacancies in other apartments. Being listed as an eligible pull-in does not guarantee you a space, as residents may list multiple pull-ins for a single vacancy in their apartment. The current resident has sole discretion over which of their eligible pull-ins they would like to pull-in to their apartment. If a current resident chooses you as their pull-in, you will need to have a proxy represent you at the pull-in appointment. The person pulling you in can be your proxy.

While returning to your old apartment may be the goal, please remember that there is no guarantee that this will happen. Part of re-leasing means that you have relinquished all rights to that space. If your re-lessor decides to transfer to another apartment within SCC or chooses to leave SCC all together, you may be able to return to your old apartment provided that a current resident of that apartment lists you as a pull-in on their intent form, or if your apartment is open at the time of transfer appointments.

Transfer
If you are not pulled-in to an apartment, you will have the ability to select from any of our available spaces during transfer appointments. Transfer appointments are when SCC residents move/switch apartments within SCC, which occurs before we conduct Open Leasing with residence hall students.

On your Intention Form, you will be prompted to schedule a transfer appointment. These appointments are booked on a first-come first-serve basis, so be sure to complete your Intention Form early. Because you will be abroad at the time of transfer appointments, you will need to designate a proxy to represent you at your transfer appointment. Your proxy will be able to select from any of the available spaces at the time of your appointment. The earlier your appointment, the more options your proxy will have.

A proxy is someone who acts on your behalf during the leasing process. While you will be completing the Renewal Intention Form, they will be attending the appointment, signing the lease, and paying any applicable fees. You will be signing the lease upon your return and before you move into the apartment. You can designate your proxy online at mydrl.umd.edu. After logging-in, complete the “South Campus Commons Proxy Form.” Your proxy will be emailed the proxy form.

Your proxy will need to bring the proxy form, along with your $300 lease reservation fee (check made payable to South Campus Commons).  We recommend that you make contact with your proxy after the leasing appointment as they will have a copy of your lease confirmation, which contains important information about your lease. Most importantly, you must sign your actual lease before moving in.

Summer Months

If studying abroad for the summer, there are some things to consider. Secure a space for the fall semester during the spring renewal process. There is no guarantee that there will be spaces available for fall at SCC when you return. We would hate to see you miss the opportunity to return. During the renewal process, the housing options will be to remain in the same bedroom for another lease year (same bed), or to transfer to another space either in your apartment or in another apartment.

If you choose this option, you may or may not want to transfer the lease to your space for the summer. One of the benefits of coming back to your same bedroom, is not having to move out at the expiration of the current lease term and not move in again until the new lease term. Not transferring your lease means coming back from study abroad to your apartment, but it also means paying for months when you are not there.