Your official move in date is the first date of occupancy listed on your contract (if you are a member, then you should have received an email via DocuSign with a PDF countersigned contract with all of these details). You are considered moved-in and all terms of the contract are in affect once you receive your keys, even if it is prior to the move-in date.

Our house membership coordinators are typically on site the full move in day to check people in unless they communicate with you otherwise.

*If you are arriving before 9AM or after 5PM on move in day (or if you are arriving after move in day) you should email your membership coordinator before you arrive to confirm a check in time (www.collegehouses.org/contact).

You will check in and receive your keys/room assignment at your house, not the College Houses office unless specified otherwise.

 

Your house address (excluding your room number) is listed at the top of your contract. You will likely not be issued your room number until you arrive on move in day.

If you will arrive AFTER the check in date:

You will not receive any discounts (because the room is being reserved for you for the full academic term); you will need to contact your membership coordinator to arrange a time for your late check in: www.collegehouses.org/contact.

If you will arrive BEFORE the contract start date:

You should make alternate housing arrangements for any days before your contract start date; many of our houses do not have the capacity to confirm any early check ins; we receive a much higher volume of requests than we can accommodate, so most people who request an early move in do not get offered one. Many people email their requests multiple times in hopes of securing an early check in, but this does not help with our availability limitations. For a more details on an early check in with College Houses, please visit www.collegehouses.org/early.

If you are looking for short term housing in Austin, here are some resources we are familiar with (this list is not an endorsement, it is meant to be a resource):

What to Bring?

All rooms are furnished with the basic furniture and storage facilities. This includes a bed, desk, chair, and dresser. You will need to bring your own sheets, pillows, blankets, personal items, and a desk lamp if you wish. Do not bring any high electrical load appliances such as a hot plate, etc. You are encouraged to bring your own computer even though we provide computer facilities.

Room Assignments & Condition

Room assignments are managed by the house membership coordinators (www.collegehouses.org/contact), not the leasing office.

You may not find out your room assignment until check in, as room assignments are subject to change. If you need to send mail to the house in advance, contact the membership coordinator to ask the best way to address your mail.

At Check-In, please complete a Room Condition/Assessment Form.

If you have a specific roommate request:
Once BOTH of you have active double contracts at the same house, you should both email the membership coordinator requesting to room together (typically we are able to accommodate these requests if we receive them a few weeks in advance.)

  • We highly recommend filling out a Room Condition Assessment Form (https://collegehouses.org/forms/) upon move-in.
  • If there are any issues with your room upon your arrival (not including general cleaning such as sweeping, mopping, dusting, wiping down fixtures, etc), then make sure to complete the Room Condition/Assessment Form and get in contact with your on-site house membership coordinator and/or maintenance coordinator to see if they can help resolve the issues.
    • If any of the conditions are severe, make sure to document them on the Room Condition Assessment Form and take photographs and send them to the Operations Director at [email protected] along with a detailed description of any work you had to do to address the issues and how much time you spent addressing the issue (in some cases, you may be eligible for a rent credit). College Houses does not offer contract cancellations based on room condition when you arrive; however, your house officers and the staff will work alongside you to help address any issues as quickly as possible.

New Member Orientation

Your house will hold a mandatory house orientation/training for new members; you will receive additional details from your Membership Coordinator once you check in. Additional details will be provided upon your arrival.

A Note on Labor and Cooperation for Move In

  • House labor is what makes our house operations run smoothly and keeps our facilities clean. Due to members moving, house labor is not active during the weeks before check in. Unfortunately, that means our houses typically do not look their best during new member check in. After new members have checked in and house labor resumes, the condition of the common areas in the house improves.
  • During your stay with College Houses, it is especially important that we all do our part to clean up after ourselves. Our house labor system is not in place for our fellow residents, friends, and neighbors to clean up after us; it is a system in which we all work together to make the work lighter and more enjoyable in the company of friends. Remember that your voice, your vote, and your labor make a significant difference in your living environment and the house culture. Each member has the ability to contribute to the cooperative and leave the house a better place for the next generation of co-opers.