Transferring

For a student in Columbia Residential who wishes to move to a vacant room within their current apartment share or dorm suite, or to move in with a friend who has a vacant room in their apartment share.

• Applicants must indicate in the application the specific room to which they wish to transfer. 
• Single occupancy, studio or 1-bedroom apartments cannot be requested through a direct transfer, nor can completely empty apartment shares.
• Students approved for Direct transfers must be present to complete the transfer.
• Rooms must be taken as-is, meaning they will not be painted or cleaned. If maintenance work is required, the transfer will not be accommodated. 

If the requested unit has already been selected by another student, the Direct transfer cannot be approved. For this reason, we encourage applicants to submit their transfer applications before busy transfer periods (October and February) and housing selection periods (May or November).   

Direct Transfer Application Process and Decisions 

Applications can be submitted through the Housing Portal at any time of the year. These applications must indicate the specific unit requested and will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We will confirm with building staff whether the unit may be offered for a direct transfer, and you will be notified of the next steps if we are able to accommodate the request. 

Please note, transfer requests cannot be approved until a vacancy has been entered by the current tenant. In cases where a roommate is moving out, we encourage you to communicate directly with them to time your direct transfer request accordingly. 

Information on the below processes can be found on our Application page:

• Accepting the Housing Offer: An accepted housing offer is confirmation of a move-out from the current unit.
• Scheduling a Viewing Appointment: This is available to residents after the unit's Earliest Available Move-In Date.
• Signing the Housing Agreement: You must have an active agreement to participate in the Transfer process, therefore you may need to sign an agreement renewal on your previous unit as well as the new agreement.

Completing the Transfer & Billing Information 

• Approved transfer move-in must be completed between 7 to 14 days (1 to 2 weeks) from the date of housing selection/offer. 
• Columbia Residential will create a move-out notice on your behalf. Your move-out date will be one business day after your transfer move-in date. 
• You will receive the keys for the new unit on your move-in date, and you will have until 4 PM on the following business day to remove your belongings from the previous unit and return the keys to the superintendent. 
• Billing for the previous unit will be prorated based on your move-out date, and billing for the new unit will begin on the following day. 
• Please note, that your account will be updated after the transfer is completed, therefore you may see that you are billed for both spaces. Please allow approximately 2 weeks from your move-out date for your account to be updated. 

Cancelling the Transfer

Residents who would like to cancel their transfer and remain in their current unit are advised they should not accept the transfer housing offer. When an offer is accepted, a move-out notice is created, and your unit is made available for other students to select through the transfer process. 

If residents accept an offer and later would like to cancel, you may email [email protected] with this request. We cannot guarantee that the cancellation request can be accommodated.

For two or three single students in Columbia Residential who would like to transfer together into a new apartment share.

Kindly note, availability for group transfers is very limited, and most group transfers cannot be accommodated. If group units are available, eligible applicants will receive a direct assignment to one option.  

Please note, transfers only apply to current (primary) residents. If your friend has not moved into Columbia Residential housing yet, they cannot apply for a Group Transfer. 

Application Process and Decisions 

All group members must submit a group transfer application through the Housing Portal listing their preferred roommates/group members. 

Group Transfer applications are reviewed based on their submission date. Eligible applicants will be contacted with an offer if an empty apartment becomes available. 

• 2-person groups are offered empty 2-bedroom apartment shares.   

• 3-person groups are offered 3-bedroom apartment shares. 

If a direct transfer offer is made, all roommates/group members must accept a room in the same apartment for the transfer to be completed. If one or more roommates/group members do not accept, or if their offer is declined or expires, the transfer will be canceled for all. 

Information on the below processes can be found on our Application page:

• Accepting the Housing Offer: An accepted housing offer is confirmation of a move-out from the current unit.
• Scheduling a Viewing Appointment: This is available to residents after the unit's Earliest Available Move-In Date.
• Signing the Housing Agreement: You must have an active agreement to participate in the Transfer process, therefore you may need to sign an agreement renewal on your previous unit as well as the new agreement.

Completing the Transfer & Billing Information 

• Approved transfer move-in must be completed between 7 to 14 days (1 to 2 weeks) from the date of housing selection/offer. 
• Columbia Residential will create a move-out notice on your behalf. Your move-out date will be one business day after your transfer move-in date. 
• You will receive the keys for the new unit on your move-in date, and you will have until 4 PM on the following business day to remove your belongings from the previous unit and return the keys to the superintendent. 
• Billing for the previous unit will be prorated based on your move-out date, and billing for the new unit will begin on the following day. 
• Please note, that your account will be updated after the transfer is completed, therefore you may see that you are billed for both spaces. Please allow approximately 2 weeks from your move-out date for your account to be updated. 

Cancelling the Transfer

Residents who would like to cancel their transfer and remain in their current unit are advised they should not accept the transfer housing offer. When an offer is accepted, a move-out notice is created, and your unit is made available for other students to select through the transfer process. 

If residents accept an offer and later would like to cancel, you may email [email protected] with this request. We cannot guarantee that the cancellation request can be accommodated.

Student residents who wish to petition to transfer outside of these periods may contact [email protected] to request an exception.

Please know, exceptions are rare and will be considered for the following reasons only:  

• University Mandated Transfers  
• Documented medical or disability-related need, with the approval of Disability Services only  
• Documented financial need  
• Verifiable Change of Couple or Family Status: Residents currently in Couple or Family Housing must notify Columbia Residential of any change in status and agree to be reassigned or vacated if needed.  

Application Process and Decisions 

Each request will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the individual circumstances. If a transfer request is approved, a decision letter will be issued, outlining the next steps in the transfer process. Please note that all decisions are final and based on the availability of suitable housing options. 

Information on the below processes can be found on our Application page:

• Accepting the Housing Offer: An accepted housing offer is confirmation of a move-out from the current unit.
• Scheduling a Viewing Appointment: This is available to residents after the unit's Earliest Available Move-In Date.
• Signing the Housing Agreement: You must have an active agreement to participate in the Transfer process, therefore you may need to sign an agreement renewal on your previous unit as well as the new agreement.

Completing the Transfer & Billing Information 

• Approved transfer move-in must be completed between 7 to 14 days (1 to 2 weeks) from the date of housing selection/offer. 
• Columbia Residential will create a move-out notice on your behalf. Your move-out date will be one business day after your transfer move-in date. 
• You will receive the keys for the new unit on your move-in date, and you will have until 4 PM on the following business day to remove your belongings from the previous unit and return the keys to the superintendent. 
• Billing for the previous unit will be prorated based on your move-out date, and billing for the new unit will begin on the following day. 
• Please note, that your account will be updated after the transfer is completed, therefore you may see that you are billed for both spaces. Please allow approximately 2 weeks from your move-out date for your account to be updated. 

Cancelling the Transfer

Residents who would like to cancel their transfer and remain in their current unit are advised they should not accept the transfer housing offer. When an offer is accepted, a move-out notice is created, and your unit is made available for other students to select through the transfer process. 

If residents accept an offer and later would like to cancel, you may email [email protected] with this request. We cannot guarantee that the cancellation request can be accommodated.

1. Do I have the option to cancel the transfer request? 

• Upon confirming a unit, you are given 2 business days to accept or decline your offer. You are not obligated to give up your current apartment when submitting a transfer application or participating in Housing Selection. It is only once you accept a new housing offer that your unit is made available for other students to select. Residents who would like to cancel their transfer and remain in their current unit should decline the offer in the portal. 

• If you have accepted an offer but no longer want to continue with the transfer, please email [email protected] with this request. We cannot guarantee that the cancellation request will be accommodated. 

2. When can I visit the apartment? 

• If seeing the unit is super important, be sure to select one with the “Earliest Move-In Date” that suits your needs. Units cannot be viewed before this date.

• You may visit the unit after you have selected and received a housing offer. You can also send a proxy!  

• Log into the Housing Portal and click Housing Assignment to schedule a viewing appointment. Appointments are available Monday-Friday between 9 AM - 3 PM. Same day appointments cannot be made. 

3. How long do I have to complete the transfer? 

• Your move in date must be within 7-14 days (1 to 2 weeks) from the date the unit is confirmed. You are given one business day to complete the move in process.   

• PRO TIP! Many residents find it useful to transfer on a Friday (if appointments are available). For example, if the new move-in appointment is on Friday, the keys for the old apartment must be returned to the Superintendent by Monday (or via the Express Move-Out option). 

For more frequently asked questions, please click here.  

Faculty, Staff & Postdoc transfer applications are reviewed between October and March.  Residents approved to transfer will be notified by email and will receive information about participating in housing selection. For more information, please review Faculty, Staff & Postdoc Housing Selection.

All faculty, staff & postdoc applicants, including those not approved, will receive an update on their status each month during the transfer season. Kindly note, there may be times when transfers cannot be approved due to lack of immediate availability. During any month when this is the case, Columbia Residential will send a status update to all faculty, staff & postdoc residents with active transfer applications on file. 

Signing the New Housing Agreement 

The new housing agreement will be sent via email through DocuSign once the transfer offer has been accepted and a move in date has been selected.

Residents who receive a transfer offer but do not accept the offer within the time allotted may remain in their current unit. Those whose offers are declined or expire may reapply in a future semester, if eligible. Those who choose to move out of Columbia Residential may face a cancellation fee. 

Completing the Transfer & Billing Information 

Approved transfers must be completed between 7 to 14 days (1 to 2 weeks) from the date of housing selection/offer. 

• Columbia Residential will create a move out notice on your behalf. Your move-out date will be one business day after your transfer move-in date. 
• You will receive the keys for the new unit on your move in date, and you will have until 4 PM on the following business day to remove your belongings from the previous unit and return the keys to the superintendent. 
• Billing for the previous unit will be prorated based on your move-out date, and billing for the new unit will begin on the following day. 
• Please note, your account will be updated after the transfer is completed. Please allow approximately 2 weeks from your move-out date for your account to be updated.