Moving to a new city is always challenging. The following links are intended to give you a headstart on your move by providing you with basic information about getting settled in Cambridge/Boston.
Because rental rates in the Boston area can be quite high, Longy students are encouraged to live with roommates. The communities nearest to Longy are Somerville, Boston, Allston, Watertown, Medford, Belmont, and Arlington. Because the public transportation system in Boston is so accessible you can also choose to live further away from Longy where rent is lower. These cities include Brighton, Quincy, Brookline, Malden, and Jamaica Plain.
The Cambridge neighborhoods within a 30-minute walk of Longy are:
Harvard Square
Porter Square
Central Square
Davis Square
Cambridgeport
Inman Square
Kendall Square
In general, housing in Harvard Square is among the most expensive in the area, but prices begin to fall fairly quickly a few neighborhoods away, which are still within walking distance.
The Boston Phoenix has a section devoted to finding a roommate, as does Craigslist. There are also several roommate services available to you in Boston/Cambridge, including:
to students who have found an apartment and are looking to find roommates to fill any vacancies.
to students who are looking for housing by connecting them with students who already have an apartment.
If you are looking for a roommate or a vacant room, please fill out a Roommate Request Form and submit it to
, or mail/fax to:
Student Services Office
Longy School of Music
27 Garden Street
Cambridge, MA 02138
Fax: (617) 876-9326
Longy is not able to serve as an official roommate placement service, but we are happy to let you know of other Longy students who are also looking for either roommates or a place to live.
There are many ways to go about looking for an apartment, including internet sites and postings, newspaper ads, and visiting real estate offices.
Craigslist
The best place to find an apartment is Craigslist, which has free classified ads of all types. In addition to housing, it's a great place to find furniture, employment, and other things. Most students find apartments here.
Newspaper
There are also apartment listings in the Boston daily newspapers. The Sunday newspapers have the largest listings.
Realty Offices
Contacting a real estate office is another possible way to find an apartment. However, most realtors will charge a fee which is usually the equivalent of one month's rent if you decide to rent an apartment they have shown you. Real estate agencies are listed in the Yellow Pages of the telephone directory or online at www.yellowpages.com or www.switchboard.com. Click here for a list of real estate offices and contact information in the Boston area.
Work/Exchange
Another option is Work/Exchange (this is not an option for International Students), in which you assist with eldercare or childcare in a private home, usually 15-20 hours per week, and receive reduced or free rent. Such positions are advertised informally in newspaper classified ads as well as on Craigslist, or formally through organizations such as Student Housing Exchange, which can be reached at 617-277-6420 or www.studenthousingex.com.
Rents in Cambridge, Boston and the immediate surrounding communities range from $700-1,100/month for a studio; $900-1,300/month for a one-bedroom; and $1,200+/month for a two-bedroom. It is recommended that you get a roommate. The Longy Housing Network can offer suggestions about other prospective Longy roommates. Contact the Longy Housing Network at 617-876-0956, x1523, or
. Rents usually do not include utilities. It is common for landlords to require you to pay the first month's rent, the last month's rent, and a security deposit, which is usually the equivalent of one month's rent. Make sure you get a receipt for every payment made to the landlord. If there is no damage to the apartment while you are living there, the security deposit will be refunded to you when you move out. As a result, the initial costs of moving into an apartment are very high but become affordable after the initial deposit.
Often your apartment will only be set up for one provider of each type of utility, so be sure to check with your landlord as to which utility company you should use before contacting a company. Also, companies usually offer discounts for phone and cable services combined.
You may want to invest in an insurance policy that provides coverage for your personal property from loss due to theft, fire, or flooding. These policies are relatively inexpensive, especially considering how useful they can be in the event of a major misfortune. They also generally include protection from personal liability if a visitor is injured while in your apartment. It would also be a good idea to look into a policy that provides coverage for your instrument(s). Policies can be obtained through a private insurer or through the Massachusetts Property Insurance Underwriters Association (MPIUA), also know as FAIR Plan.
MPIUA/FAIR Plan
2 Center Plaza
7th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
800-392-6108 www.mpiua.com
Another option would be to contact the American Renters Association at www.rentara.com or call 800-4-RENTER.
As a student you need to consider the following when deciding to rent an apartment or room:
Distance of the apartment from Longy
Accessibility to public transportation
Rent and other costs, such as security deposits and/or realtor fees
Cost of utilities and whether heating is electric or gas (electric heat is far more expensive)
Conditions of the lease that the landlord will require. These include time of payment, proper use of the apartment, repair subletting and ending the lease
Cost of furnishing the apartment in the way you prefer to live
The Lease
Although it is possible to find apartments which are rented on a month-to-month basis, the vast majority of renters sign leases. The lease is a legal agreement between the tenant and the landlord that the tenant will stay in the apartment for a certain amount of time and pay the landlord a certain amount of money per month. It is meant to protect you as the renter as much as it is to protect the landlord, so make sure that everything that is agreed upon is in writing and that the landlord gives you a copy of the lease for your records. Also, be sure to read the lease thoroughly before signing it. If you would like to make any changes, discuss them with the landlord before you sign your name. The most common lease term is one year (12 months), not the 9-month academic year. If you rent an apartment in September and do not expect to stay in the apartment during the following summer, it is common for students to find people to sublet the apartment temporarily. Please keep in mind that when subletting your apartment to someone, you are responsible if that person does not pay the rent.
Follow these lease guidelines:
Read everything carefully.
Be sure the form is complete before signing.
If you have made special lease agreements with the landlord, make sure they have been added and are signed by both you and the landlord.
Find out how the lease can be renewed when the term is finished.
Keep a copy of the lease signed by you and the landlord.
Your lease should include:
Beginning and ending dates of the contract
Amount of the rent
Security deposit cost and what it covers
Furniture and appliances included with the apartment or house
Procedures for subletting
Party responsible for yard and shoveling of snow, trash removal, etc.
Whether utilities are included in the rent
Whether there is a parking space included
Common Lease Requirements: Amount of Rent
When you sign a lease you promise to pay the entire amount, not just the monthly amount. This means that if you leave the apartment before your lease expires, the landlord may require you, by law, to pay the rest of the rent due.
Amount of Security Deposit
The landlord is required to pay you interest on this amount. You should ask the landlord what the interest rate is equal to.
Rent Due Date
Rent is usually due on the first day of each month. If the rent is not paid on time, there is usually an extra charge you must pay.
Length of Lease
Most leases are for one year. You may be able to sign shorter leases at some apartments, although the rent may be higher.
Maintenance requirements
You are expected to keep the apartment clean and free of excess garbage. If you break anything in the apartment, you are expected to pay to have it repaired. Normal wear is expected. However, grease on kitchen walls, for example, is not considered normal wear and a landlord may deduct from your security deposit to have the walls painted.
Breaking the contract
If you leave the apartment before the end of the lease, you may still be required to pay the remaining months' rent if you cannot find another renter.
Subletting
With many apartments, you will not be allowed to rent the apartment to another person without the owner's written permission. Be sure that you understand this if you think you may want to leave before your lease ends.
