Finding Housing in Boston
Boston is a wonderful city in which to live. It is a city of culture, art, architecture, technology, and education. From the blossoms in the spring to the fall foliage for which New England is famous, along with winter snow, you are sure to find a new city each time the seasons change. Downtown Boston is the hub of the metropolitan area, and suburban Boston is well within reach of the heart of the city. Boston is a great American city, unlike any city in which you might have lived or visited. It is a student city with more than sixty colleges in the metropolitan area.
As you, and perhaps your family, begin to search for adequate housing in Boston, there are several things you should know. First, you must take the initiative to find housing. Second, housing is more expensive than it is in many parts of the country. The Office of Admissions can be helpful in answering your questions about housing, but it is unable to make all necessary arrangements for you. You have options to consider, both on or around campus, or further away if you wish. These webpages are meant to help you begin your search. Please contact the Admissions Office when you have secured housing.
In general, here are some things you should remember when looking for an apartment in Boston.
- Realtors who deal with apartments make money from charging a fee for the actual placement of a lessee in an apartment. This fee is normally equal to the cost of one month’s rent for the apartment leased. Sometimes the landlord will pay half or the entire fee. In other cases, no fee is involved. When you are shown an apartment, make sure to ask how much the fee is, and who is responsible for paying it. It may be possible to avoid paying a realtor fee by contacting the landlord directly.
- Some realtors require co-signers for apartments. Be sure you have someone prepared to co-sign your lease with you. Most realtors will fax the lease agreement to your co-signer, and ask them to return the agreement immediately.
- Landlords often expect money up front when you choose the apartment you wish to lease. He or she MIGHT expect (1) first month’s rent, (2) last month’s rent, and/or (3) a security deposit, which can equal one month’s rent. This is not money you lose, but it is used to assure the landlord that “you mean business.” The security deposit will be placed in an interest-bearing account, and you will be entitled to receive that interest if you stay in your apartment for more than one year.
- Parking in Boston is scarce and can be extremely expensive. If you live within the municipality of Boston, you can acquire a parking sticker specific to the neighborhood in which you reside. You must have Massachusetts license plates and Massachusetts car insurance to be eligible for a sticker. A neighborhood parking sticker gives you the right to park in the area, but does not guarantee you a parking spot. Some apartment buildings have parking lots, which may require a parking fee. You should ask the landlord or realtor if parking is available. In Brookline, no overnight street parking is permitted. It is best if you can reside near a bus or train line and not bring a car at all.
- If you are not bringing a car to Boston, you will want to find an apartment close to public transportation. In eastern Massachusetts, the public transit system is called the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA). The MBTA is made up of a commuter rail line (which services suburban Boston), an extensive bus system, and a subway/trolley system (called the “T”). Be sure to ask your realtor how convenient the apartment is to public transportation. Boston University has five stops on the “B” branch of the “Green” subway/trolley line, and the “BU Central” stop is directly across from the School of Theology.
- For information about your legal rights as a renter in Boston, contact the Legal Advisory & Resource Center of the Boston Bar Association at (617) 742-9179. Call before noon to ask questions about renting in Massachusetts. You may also find answers on the web at www.mass.gov, in the “Housing” section of the site.
Please use the links to the right to find out more.