Frequently Asked Campus Housing Questions
General Questions
What are the benefits of living on campus?
Students living on campus experience more of what the University has to offer; it is a bigger part of their lives. Also, residents get to know more people with different backgrounds, participate in more campus activities and events, and are more satisfied with their collegiate experience. Living on-campus is convenient and compliments your education... everything you need is nearby. Studies show a relationship between living on campus and academic success in the classroom.
How do I apply to live in the Residence Halls? How does the process work?
Learn more about the application process by visiting our application page.
How do I accommodate different lifestyles and study, sleep and activity schedules?
We are an academic community. All students in the residence halls and apartments are expected to maintain specified quiet hours. At all other times, students are asked to conduct themselves in a considerate manner that will not disturb their neighbors. Also, there are study lounges/areas throughout the residence halls. See your hall or apartment staff for specific hours in your area.
In accordance with the New York State Clean Indoor Air Act, all areas in the residence halls and apartments are non-smoking.
Do the residence halls and apartments have phone service?
As of fall 2010, landlines have been removed from on campus housing. There are courtesy phones located throughout the buildings for emergencies and on-campus calls. Most students use cell phones as their telephone service.
Who's going to do my laundry?
You are... and for your convenience, washing machines and dryers are located in every residence hall and apartment building. Laundry machines are available free-of-charge to students living on-campus.
What if I live far away and cannot get home during vacation periods?
If you need to stay on campus in the residence halls for any length of time during vacation periods, you should indicate this choice on your Housing Preference Questionnaire. Returning students needing break housing should choose a room in Clement, Clinton, Red Jacket, Richmond, or Richmond Halls. These halls remain open during the fall, winter, and spring recesses. Please note…there is an additional charge for winter and spring recess. Students in apartments can stay in their apartment during vacation periods.
If I am accepted into the University Honors College, will I be placed in a special Residence area?
No, not necessarily. University Honors College preferred housing is located in Governors Complex on the North Campus. If you meet all of the stated application requirements including, admittance to the program and choosing Governors on your housing preference questionnaire, you will be assigned to the Honors area provided space is available. All other students accepted into the program and requesting housing outside of Governors, will be contacted on a case-by-case basis, as space is available. Housing requests received after May 1 are honored on a space-available basis.
Who can I ask for help in the Residence Halls or Apartments?
Our live-in Residential Life and Apartment staff is available to provide assistance and leadership. In our Residence Halls, there is both a residence hall director and an assistant residence hall director. In our apartments, complex directors and assistant complex directors serve similar roles. Directors are full-time staff members with master's degrees, while assistant directors are specially trained graduate students.
Directors and/or assistant directors are on duty each night. In addition, there is one live-in resident advisor for every thirty students. Resident advisors, upper-division undergraduate students who are carefully selected and trained, will usually be your first point of reference and assistance during your stay with us.
How much does it cost for me to live on campus?
Please refer to our Rates page.
What mail services are available to me as a resident?
Please refer to our Services and Hours page.
How can I recycle in the halls and apartments?
Please refer to our Services and Hours page.
Apartment Specific Questions
General Questions about Apartment Living
What do on-campus University at Buffalo apartments offer?
Flickinger Court, Flint Village, Hadley Village, Creekside Village, and South Lake Village all offer air-conditioning, on-site laundry, university police patrols, campus shuttles, free cable & high-speed internet, plus other benefits see the overview page.
Is University Village at Sweet Home, University Villas or Villas on Rensch considered UB housing?
These are off-campus apartment complexes near UB's North Campus. They are privately owned and operated and are not affiliated with the University at Buffalo in any way. Neither site is on campus grounds.
Are the University Apartments co-ed?
At Flint, Hadley, South Lake Villages, only persons of the same sex can live together in the same apartment. Buildings are co-educational by alternating unit. Married couples can apply to live at Creekside Village and Flickinger Court, but must lease/rent an entire unit.
How is apartment living different than residence hall living?
There are more responsibilities with apartment living such as taking out your own garbage, cleaning your own apartment, and buying your own toilet paper and cleaning supplies. There are also advantages including greater independence, close parking, free laundry, own room, staying over breaks, low student-to-bathroom ratio, full kitchens, and air-conditioning.
If a situation arises where I need to break my lease/agreement, is that possible?
Students graduating, studying abroad, or participating in an out-of-town internship need to apply for a lease/agreement break by November 1. Lease/agreement break requests are not guaranteed, but academic reasons are given full consideration. You must contact your complex director as soon as possible to discuss your options. For further details, please read your signed lease/agreement
Why do Creekside, Flint, and South Lake Villages have agreements while Flickinger Court and Hadley Village have leases?
All complexes are financed differently. Some financing dictates the need for a lease including income restrictions, credit checks, and guarantors. Other financing options do not have the same restrictions.
Do you have reserved parking for apartment residents?
Parking at each Village is reserved for residents of that Village only. You are not guaranteed a spot by your unit.
Can I sublet my apartment?
Sub renting is allowed at the discretion of your complex director wherever 12 month leases/agreements are required. Please see your Complex Director for more detailed information.
Application Process
How can I apply for the apartments?
Application collection will begin in January for the following fall. All applications received during the application period will be assigned a random lottery number determined by the number of semesters you have lived on campus. With this system, the more semesters you have lived on campus, the lower your assigned lottery number will be.
Groups are assigned before single applicants, based on the availability of whole and partially open units. Students applying as a group will automatically have their lottery numbers averaged with the other people they apply with.
I applied last year and did not get an apartment. Is my application still good?
No, a new application must be submitted every year.
If I want to apply to more than one apartment complex, do I have to pay two application fees?
No, only one fee is necessary. The application gives you the opportunity to make three room choices.
What are my chances for a one-bedroom or studio apartment?
There are very few one-bedroom and studio units. Only graduate, professional, and non-traditional students will be considered for these types of apartments.
I'm applying with three friends. What are our chances for a four-bedroom apartment?
It is very difficult to predict how many four-bedroom apartments will be available. Residential Operations will do their best to meet your preferences. However, if no fully open units are available, you will be split into groups of two. When completing your application, make sure to indicate the name of the person you would want to live with if your group is split.
Costs/Billing
How do I pay rent?
At Creekside, Flint, Hadley, and South Lake Villages, all rent is billed by semester to your student account. Flickinger Court residents pay rent monthly at the Community Building.
Is money due at the time I accept the apartment?
At Creekside, Flint, Hadley, and South Lake Villages, a $450 security deposit is due at the time you return your lease/agreement. Flickinger Court residents must submit a security deposit equal to one month's rent at the time they return their lease.
What is the lease/agreement length?
Flint, Hadley, and South Lake Villages have 12-month leases/agreements in all units. Hadley and South Lake four-bedroom units also have 10-month lease/agreement options. Creekside Village and Flickinger Court have 12- and 24-month leases/agreements.
When do leases/agreements start?
Most leases/agreements start in the beginning of August. Hadley and South Lake Villages in four-bedroom apartments also have June start dates available.
