Vacating Instructions | Graduate and Family Housing

You are required to provide Graduate & Family Housing at least 30 days notice before vacating your apartment. If a 30-days notice is not given, you will be charged rent for 30 days beginning on the date the Intent to Vacate (ITV) form is given to our office. If you give more than 30 days notice, rent continues until the vacate date stated on the form. It is mandatory that you check out no later than the date you have indicated. Your apartment will be rented to another resident according to your vacate date. 

If for any reason you must change the date on which you will vacate your apartment or cancel your ITV entirely, there will be a $100 administrative charge. If your apartment has already been offered to someone else, you will not be able to change your vacate date or cancel your ITV.

Vacating

  • All keys and parking permits issued must be turned in no later than midnight on your vacate date.
    • If all apartment keys are not returned when you vacate your apartment, you will be charged $45 for an apartment lock change. If all mailbox keys aren’t returned, you will be charged $20 for a mailbox lock change. 
  • If you continue to occupy the apartment past the vacate date you submitted to the office, you will be charged rent for each day until the apartment is vacated and keys returned, plus a liquidated damages fee of $250 per day until keys are returned to the office.
    • In the event that you do not vacate your apartment on time, you could be held financially responsible for any charged incurred by either Graduate & Family Housing and/or the incoming resident if they are not able to move in on time–including but not limited to additional truck rental, hotel, meals, etc.

Deposit

Your entire housing deposit will be refunded unless there are outstanding rent charges, lock/key charges, outstanding charges from the CU Children’s Center, appliances and furniture not in the condition which you received them (as verified by your check-in sheet), or the apartment being left dirty or damaged. These charges will be deducted from your security deposit.

Rent

You cannot use your security deposit to pay for the last month’s rent. Please check with the Graduate & Family Housing Office for details. If the balance on your account is over $100 on the 10th of the month, you will be charged a late fee.

Forwarding Address

Please give a forwarding address when you fill out your intent to vacate form. If a refund is due, it will be mailed to you within 45-60 days. Please file a change of address form with the local post office.

Cleaning/Preparation Checklist 

It is the responsibility of the renter(s) to thoroughly clean the apartment before vacating.

Charges

Please see the charge sheet in the Intent to Vacate packet for fees relating to cleaning, missing items and damages. You will be charged for anything that hasn’t been cleaned and for the disposal of any items left in the apartment or storage unit. The university environmental services staff will do the cleaning of the drapes and the stripping and waxing of floors.

Excess Charges

When charges against a unit exceed the amount of deposit, you will receive a letter from the Graduate & Family Housing finance office regarding the amount owed to the university. If payment is not made in a timely manner the resident’s name is placed on the university debt file list. This action denies a student’s registration, transfer of credits or graduation until the amount due is paid. Additional charges deducted from your deposit may include rent due, cleaning, damages, utilities, daycare, lock changes, lost permits, etc.

If you are due a refund, the Housing Cashier's Office will send a check to the address that you provided on the Intent to Vacate form. If you have questions regarding your refund or payment please contact the Graduate & Family Housing finance office at 303-492-1442. 

Personal Possessions

Any personal possessions left in the apartment, on patios and doorsteps or in the storage unit shall become the property of the University of Colorado as stated in the Graduate & Family Housing Lease. The University of Colorado assesses a charge of $24 per hour for removal of any abandoned items (a minimum charge for two hours of cleaning or $48 will automatically be assessed). Do not leave any broken or unusable items on the laundry give-away tables.

Utilities and Telephone Service

If you are paying your own utilities, please call Xcel Energy at 303-623-1234 to have the name switched over to the University of Colorado on your vacate date.

Driving on Lawns and Sidewalks

Motor vehicles of all kinds are prohibited from driving on sidewalks or lawns, including vans and trucks for moving. The possibility of damage to lawns and sprinkler heads, as well as danger to children in the area, requires that vacating residents adhere to this rule. You will be charged for any damages to family housing lawns and/or sprinkler heads.

Final Inspection

To avoid any unnecessary charges, please ensure you follow all vacating directions and utilize the provided cleaning checklist. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Graduate & Family Housing Office at 303-492-6384.