Why do I have to be willing to give up my current apartment if I wish to switch units?

What are my chances of getting an apartment?

I live in a single or double room and just want to switch to another room within the same apartment/ house, Do I have to put myself in Group 3a or 3b?

Can I wait until after the transfer process is over and then select from whatever units are left?

If I choose to be in Group 1, can I change my mind later and be in Group 3a or 3b?

My roommate is leaving. Can I take over the contract?

I am a contract holder and I want to move in with another contract holder, what do I do?

I will be taking some type of qualifying examination (Boards, Bar, etc. in July and I wish to remain in my current apartment for a short period of time after my contract expires on July 1st. What do I do?

I want to transfer apartments. When will I be able to move into my new space?

Can I live at Aldea if I do not have children?

Why can't Resident Interns/ Clinical Fellows live on the Parnassus campus?

I wish to transfer units. Will I be able to see the available units in advance?

What happens if I choose a new apartment but do not like it when I move in?

Do I need to pay an Initial Rent Payment or deposit when I sign a new contract?

Where can I get information about Bike Storage or General Storage?

How many people are allowed to live in each apartment type?

Where can I get a copy of the 2009-2010 contract?

I'm moving out. Where can I get move out information?

I want to move out before my contract expires on July 1st. What do I do?

I'm a student at UC Hastings, GGU, CCA, or SFAI. Why can't I transfer into anything but a single room within a four-bedroom apartment?

Can I transfer to a new apartment without participating in this process?

Is short term housing available over the summer?

Can I rent an entire two-bedroom apartment at 145 Irving Street?

Why do I have to be willing to give up my current apartment if I wish to switch units?
If you wish to transfer apartments/ rooms, your current apartment/ room goes onto the list of available units from which transferring tenants may select. This means if you wish to transfer apartments but do not find a unit to your liking during your selection appointment, you will not be able to stay in your current unit if another tenant has selected your space.

There are two reasons you must be willing to give up your current apartment/ room in order to participate in the transfer process. First, if we guaranteed current tenants the option of staying in their current assignment while also participating in the transfer process, it would encourage more tenants to participate in the transfer process just to see what is available. With nearly 900 contract holders across Housing's properties this would present a series of significant logistical challenges and would force us to begin this process months earlier. Second, if tenants were guaranteed the option of retaining their current space, we would have very few apartments from which transferring tenants could select. Therefore, the end result of allowing current tenants to retain their current assignment while participating in the transfer process would be a very large number of people interested in transferring into a very small number of available units.

In order to avoid this, you must be willing to give up your current apartment in order to participate in the transfer process.

What are my chances of getting an apartment?
Housing Services personnel are often asked about the likelihood of certain apartment types being available during the transfer process.

Availability is dictated by who decides to not renew their contracts for the 2009 - 2010 term. There is no way for Housing Services to know in advance what apartment types will be available.

At Mission Bay, studio, one bedroom, two bedroom, and three bedroom apartments are all very popular. If you are already in one of these apartment types and thinking about transferring to the same apartment type, Housing Services suggests you strongly consider staying where you are in order to avoid being completely locked out of your apartment type.

Three bedroom apartments, in particular, are difficult to transfer into because there are only 12 three-bedroom units in the Mission Bay complex.

On the Parnassus campus, 145 Irving, Avenue House singles, and Aldea apartments are the most popular unit types. If you are already in this type of accommodation and thinking about transferring to a different single room on the Parnassus campus, Housing Services suggests you strongly consider staying where you are in order to avoid being locked out of your apartment type.

I live in a single or double room and just want to switch to another room within the same apartment/ house, Do I have to put myself in Group 3a or 3b?
Yes. Tenants who wish to transfer within the same apartment/ house must place themselves in Group 3a or 3b. No lateral transfers will be granted outside of the transfer process.

Can I wait until after the transfer process is over and then select from whatever units are left?
No. In order to transfer apartments, you must participate in the process and place yourself in Group 3a or 3b. Lateral moves (moving from one apartment type to the same apartment type) and downgrades (moving from one unit type to a less expensive unit type) are never allowed outside of this transfer process. Upgrades are only allowed outside of this transfer process after the open unit has been offered to all new applicants within the applicant pool and on our waitlists.

The transfer process is the current tenants' opportunity to get "first dibs" on apartments that will be vacated in July. Outside of this transfer process, newly vacated apartments are always first offered to those individuals who currently have no Housing with us, as they are in the greatest need.

If I choose to be in Group 1, can I change my mind later and be in Group 3a or 3b?
Yes, but if you choose to change into Group 3a or 3b you will be offered a transfer appointment only after all other Group 3a and 3b members have been offered their transfer appointments.

My roommate is leaving. Can I take over the contract?
If you are currently listed on the contract as an other occupant in a one, two, or three bedroom unit and you wish to become the primary contract holder, you may contract your apartment if you are eligible. Roommates interested in taking over a contract should contact their Housing Services office immediately to avoid losing the apartment to a transferring tenant. Housing Services will allow tenants to transfer contracts from one contract holder to another on a case-by-case basis.

I am a contract holder and I want to move in with another contract holder, what do I do?
This depends on whether both of you wish to move into a new unit or if one of you wishes to move into the other person's current unit.

A couple of popular scenarios:

I will be taking some type of qualifying examination (Boards, Bar, etc). in July and I wish to remain in my current apartment for a short period of time after my contract expires on July 1st. What do I do?
If you are taking a qualifying exam in July and you wish to move out after that exam is completed, you will need to submit a formal request to Todd McGregor by emailing Todd.McGregor@ucsf.edu. While we try to accommodate all such requests, we cannot guarantee the ability to approve all requests. In your email, be sure to detail exactly why you are requesting to stay past July 1. If your request is approved, you will be charged the 09-10 rental rate for your unit beginning July 1.

I want to transfer apartments. When will I be able to move into my new space?
All 08-09 contracts terminate at 11am on July 1st, 2009. If you are transferring into a new apartment for 2009 - 2010, your new unit will most likely not be ready for you on July 1 because the prior tenant will just be moving out. All apartments are cleaned before new tenants move in. With so many people moving out on July 1st, it may take some time for your new unit to be ready for you to move in. While you are waiting for your unit to be ready, you will be able to remain in your current unit and you will be charged the 09-10 rate for that unit.

Your contract for your new unit will most likely begin on a Friday in July or August. You will have the weekend to move and will need to return the keys to your old unit by 11am on the following Monday. During your weekend move, you will be charged pro-rated rent on both the unit you are moving out of and the unit you are moving in to. If you are transferring apartments, you should plan on being available to move throughout the weekends in July and August. Your new contract start date will be determined by the date your apartment is turned over and ready for you to occupy. Contract start dates may not be changed due to tenant vacations or other plans.

Can I live at Aldea if I do not have children?
Because Aldea is the only place on the Parnassus campus that can accommodate tenants with children, Housing Services gives priority for Aldea Housing to tenants who have at least one child.

In the event all requests for housing by tenants with children have been filled, Housing Services may offer remaining spaces to couples seeking housing on the Parnassus campus. Single students on the Parnassus campus are accommodated in 145 Irving Street or the Avenue Houses.

Why can't Resident Interns/ Clinical Fellows live on the Parnassus campus?
Housing eligibility is greatly influenced by the Chancellor's Long Range Development Plan, which prioritizes housing for students and post docs. Resident Interns are accommodated on the Mission Bay campus because of the large amount of inventory that exists at that site.

I wish to transfer units. Will I be able to see the available units in advance?
Because over 99% of our units are currently occupied, you will not be able to see units in advance. However, whenever possible, floor plans and descriptions will be provided for you at your transfer appointment. You may also wish to view video tours of Mission Bay, Aldea, and Avenue Housing

What happens if I choose a new apartment but do not like it when I move in?
You should review the Termination section of your contract for information about terminating your tenancy.

Do I need to pay an Initial Rent Payment or deposit deposit if I renew my contract or transfer?
No. Although there will be an Initial Rent Payment line on your new contract, you are not expected to make this payment because you are continuing your tenancy.

Where can I get information about Bike Storage or General Storage?
A limited amount of bike storage is available in the Mission Bay complex and at 145 Irving. Mission Bay also has a limited amount of general storage. Waitlists currently exist for both types of storage. Once you have signed an 09-10 contract, you can place yourself on the bike or general storage waitlists by contacting the appropriate Housing office.

All tenants at Aldea automatically receive a general storage locker with their apartment.

How many people are allowed to live in each apartment type?
Studios: 1 adult and 1 infant under the age of 2 years

1-Bedrooms: 2 adults and 1 child under the age of 5 years

2-Bedrooms: 2 adults and 2 children

3-Bedrooms: 3 adults and 2 children, OR 2 adults and 4 children

4-Bedrooms: 1 adult per bedroom, no children

Avenue Houses and 145 Irving: 1 adult per assigned bed space (1 adult per single room, 2 adults per double room), no children

Where can I get a copy of the 2009 - 2010 contract?
If you select a unit for the 2009 - 2010 term, you will be emailed a personalized contract sometime between May 4th and May 8th. If you would like to review a generic copy of the contract, you can find it here. Please note the 2009 - 2010 contract may not be loaded on our website until late spring.

I'm moving out. Where can I get move out information?
Important information for tenants who will vacate their apartments can be found here.

I want to move out before my contract expires on July 1st. What do I do?
You may end your contract prior to July 1st if you disaffiliate from the university (terminate employment, withdraw, graduate). As is stated in the 08-09 contract, you must notify Housing Services at least thirty days prior to the date you plan to terminate your contract. In order to greatly assist those individuals who need housing, we encourage you to inform Housing Services of your disaffiliation as far in advance as possible. Tenants who will move out of Housing prior to July 1 because of disaffiliation should place themselves in Group 5.

If you are not disaffiliating from the university, you may end your contract early if an eligible new tenant wishes to take your unit. This option may not be available to you if another tenant has selected your unit during this renewal/transfer process. If you wish to end your contract early by finding a replacement tenant, Housing Services strongly encourages you to contact your Housing office as soon as possible.

I'm a student at UC Hastings, GGU, CCA, or SFAI. Why can't I transfer into anything but a single room within a four-bedroom apartment?
Housing Services' main goal is to provide housing for eligible UCSF affiliates. Because Mission Bay has a large inventory of single rooms within four bedroom apartments, Housing Services has opened up this apartment type to graduate students at select universities. Housing Services does not have enough inventory to offer graduate students from these universities any other apartment type but the single in a four-bedroom option.

Can I transfer to a new apartment without participating in this process?
Lateral moves (moving from one apartment type to the same apartment type) and downgrades (moving from one unit type to a less expensive unit type) are not allowed outside of this transfer process. Upgrades are only allowed outside of this transfer process after the open unit has been offered to all new applicants within the applicant pool and on our waitlists.

The transfer process is the current tenants' opportunity to get "first dibs" on apartments that will be vacated in July. Outside of this transfer process, newly vacated apartments are always first offered to those individuals who currently have no Housing with us, as they are in the greatest need.

Is short term housing available over the summer?
No. In order to accommodate incoming UCSF affiliates, all contracts must run until July 1, 2010. While Housing Services cannot provide short term housing, we have put together a short term lodging guide, which lists short term accommodation providers in San Francisco.

Can I rent an entire two-bedroom apartment at 145 Irving Street?
No. 145 Irving has been designed for single students and post docs. Each two-bedroom unit has two contract holders, one for each bedroom. Families on the Parnassus campus are accommodated in Aldea housing.