Move-In Information | Faculty & Postdocs

Columbia Residential welcomes incoming faculty and postdoc to their new home in university housing. To help ensure a smooth transition, residents are encouraged to review the guidelines and steps outlined below and prepare in advance for their move.

Move In Guidelines

  • Move-in appointments and key pickups are available Monday–- Friday between 9 a.m.- 3 p.m., excluding holidays.
  • Moving companies, or individuals moving large items or furniture must complete the move-in during business hours: Monday–Friday, 9:00 AM–4:00 PM.
  • Moving companies must provide a Certificate of Liability Insurance at least 48 hours prior to move.
  • Residents can move small items (such as luggage or small boxes) at any time
  • Keys cannot be mailed or picked up by anyone other than the tenant of record, after the housing agreement has been signed and processed

Residents will receive detailed move-in instructions by email two weeks before their scheduled date and again 48 hours before their appointment. To ensure a smooth transition, incoming residents should also review the information below.

Preparing to Move In

Residents must schedule a move-in appointment at the time of accepting their housing offer.

  • Move-in appointments and key pickups are available Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., excluding holidays. Move-ins outside of these hours cannot be accommodated.
  • When scheduling an appointment, residents should account for customs clearance, baggage retrieval, and travel time.
  • Residents who do not arrive by 4 p.m. will be unable to move in that day and must arrange alternative accommodation until the next business day. See Columbia University's Visitor Center for accommodations with discounted rates. 

Housing agreements are sent via DocuSign to the resident’s Columbia email address after a housing offer is accepted. For Postdocs residents, agreements are typically sent automatically within 24 of offer acceptance. Faculty  receive their agreements approximately 10 days before their scheduled move-in date.

  • The housing agreement must be signed within 48 hours of receipt. Residents experiencing issues accessing the document should contact Columbia Residential promptly. 
  • Once processed, a copy of the executed agreement will be emailed to the resident. 
  • Requests to modify the move-in date after the agreement is signed will be approved in limited situations. Please review the changing move-in dates for details.  

Faculty and postdocs will receive detailed move-in instructions via email two weeks before their scheduled move-in date and again 48 hours before their appointment. To ensure a smooth transition, residents should be aware of the following:

Insurance & Utilities

  • Renters Insurance: Renter’s insurance is required for all faculty and postdoctoral residents. Coverage must meet the specific requirements outlined in each resident’s housing agreement. It provides coverage for personal belongings in case of damage, loss, or theft, as well as liability protection if someone is injured in the apartment. Proof of insurance must be submitted to [email protected] at least 48 hours before the scheduled move-in date.
  • Certificate of Insurance (COI): Incoming residents using a moving company must submit a Certificate of Insurance to [email protected] at least 48 hours before the scheduled move-in date.
  • Setting Up Utilities: Incoming residents are required to set up their gas and electricity services prior to move-in. Utilities should be activated at least 72 hours before arrival to ensure a seamless transition. To set up services, residents should contact Con Edison directly.  

Deliveries & Storage

  • Package Deliveries: Deliveries cannot be accepted before moving in. Residents should arrange for packages to be held in a locker or another secure location if needed.
  • Storage: Storage is not available at the Residential office or Buildings.
    • Residents in need of luggage storage have utilized Luggage Hero to reserve storage online at a nearby retailer.

On Move In Day

Residents will receive move-in appointment instructions via email two weeks before their scheduled move-in date and again 48 hours before their appointment to help them prepare. 

Arrival

Move-In instructions designating the location, time, and superintendent information will be provided in advance by email.

  • Residents must arrive on time for their appointment.
  • Delays should be reported to the superintendent listed in the appointment email. If unavailable, contact the backup superintendent or Columbia Residential at (212) 854-9300.
  • Residents should contact the backup superintendent or Columbia Residential at (212) 854-9300.
  • Residents arriving after 4:00 p.m. must arrange alternative accommodation until the next business day. Columbia University's Visitor Center provides information on nearby accommodations, including options with discounted rates.

Key Release

New residents will receive keys during their move-in appointment.

  • Only the tenant of record may pick up keys, with verification required via Columbia University ID or government-issued ID.
  • Single residents receive one set of keys; couples or families receive two sets if all residents are present at pickup.

Parking and Vehicle Safety

Street-parking is standard in NYC and is extremely limited. Residents with vehicles should ensure they read all parking signs carefully, do not leave illegally parked cars unattended, and avoid blocking other vehicles or obstructing the road while unloading.

Building-Related Concerns

For any building-related issues on move-in day, residents should contact the Superintendent for assistance or submit a Maintenance Request.