Conditions of Occupancy

Eligibility for University Villages requires that at least one adult member of the household must be enrolled for a minimum of seven (7) credits/semester (Fall and Spring) each calendar year.

Priority is given to students who are married or otherwise have a legal dependent relationship with another adult; single parents or guardians with at least one legal dependent living in the apartment with them or single students with disabilities who require a live-in personal care attendant. Single students may be assigned apartments if qualified applicants do not fill the vacancies.  If more than one non-related student applies to live together in one apartment, each student must be a registered student at The University of Montana.  Faculty and staff personnel also may be assigned housing if qualified applicants do not fill the vacancies.  Faculty/staff assignments are limited to one year, ending July 31, regardless of the assignment date.

Montana Residential Landlord and Tenant Laws do not apply to housing provided by the Montana University System.

Students residing in University Villages must demonstrate satisfactory progress toward a degree by earning sixteen (16) credits or more each calendar year. After the initial year of residency in University Villages satisfactory progress is based upon credits earned during the preceding calendar year.

In addition, a student or a family with one or more members working on a degree shall have priority occupancy in University Villages for a maximum of six (6) calendar years.

Only you and your immediate family may live in the apartment. Parents, sisters, brothers, and other family members may live with you if they are dependents and are registered as such with the University Villages Office. We must receive proof of legal dependency before they arrive.

Students with families living with them may choose not to enroll in school for one semester without forfeiting the rental unit if you were enrolled full time the previous semester and will be enrolled or will have an eligible dependent enrolled the following semester.  We do ask that you notify our Office prior to the semester you will not be enrolling so we can update your file.  Conditions for this exception will be 1) you will enroll the next semester, even if it will be summer and 2) your rent account must remain current while you are not attending school.

Disabled Student Assignment Policy

Accessible apartments for disabled tenants are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. Disabled students must request accommodations through the normal application process. If you are disabled, you must clearly indicate your request for an accessible apartment under the Remarks/Special Request section of the University Villages Application.

University Villages accommodates disabled students when they become eligible for assignment to an apartment. At that time the non-disabled tenant of an accessible apartment receives approximately 30-day notice to move to another unit within the University Villages complex. Note that when non-disabled tenants are assigned to accessible units, they are advised of this policy and the possibility they will be required to move.

For more information please see the Disability Services for Students website.

Occupancy Standards

*Please note, a single parent with one child qualifies for a two-bedroom apartment; a single parent with two children qualifies for a three-bedroom apartment, etc.

*A married couple with one child qualifies for a two-bedroom apartment, not three bedrooms.

*Roommate Occupancy Standard- roommates are placed in two bedroom apartments only, one person per bedroom.

Rent Payments and Contract

All rent payments are due in advance by the first of each month. If you cannot pay the rent on or before the 15th of the month your account will be assessed a $25 late payment fee. Payments can be made at the University Villages office or in the drop box outside the office door. In order to avoid the $25 late fee, payments need to be in the drop box by midnight on the 15th of each month.

If you become delinquent on your rent, you may be charged with a University of Montana Student Conduct Code violation, subjecting you to potential suspension, eviction from The University of Montana housing, holds on your records and future registrations, plus a notation of such violation in your permanent University of Montana student record. The University reserves the right to seek any other legal remedies against you, as well.

We will refer to the State of Montana Department of Revenue and/or a collection agency any past due rent and/or miscellaneous charges due to the university that you leave unpaid. You will then become liable for all costs incurred in collecting them.

University Villages rental rates are subject to change with economic conditions. The University of Montana reserves the right to change rates after giving residents due notice. Each Spring Semester the University Villages Office will send out to each apartment a Renewal Contract. Tenants will be asked to indicate their plans for the upcoming academic year in order for our staff to plan on the number of apartments that may be vacating at the end of the semester.

Sublease Information

If you would like to sublease your apartment during the summer months, you may want to contact the University Villages Office for a list of those interested in subleasing. The University Villages Office is not responsible for any arrangements made between the sub-leaser and sublease.


Termination of Occupancy by The University of Montana
The University reserves the right to terminate occupancy with some advance notice in accordance with Montana law if:

• You do not meet marital, dependency, financial and/or academic requirements.

• You, or an adult member of your family is not currently enrolled at The University of Montana as a full time student with at least seven (7) credits.

• You, or an adult member of your family does not demonstrate satisfactory progress toward a degree by completing at least sixteen (16) credits each calendar year.

• Occupancy exceeds six (6) consecutive years.

• You are dismissed, voluntarily withdraw, or graduate from the University. (If you withdraw or graduate at the close of spring semester, you must vacate your apartment in 30 days.)

• You, a member of your family, or a guest violates University Villages rules, or the UM Student Conduct Code.

• It is determined that you provided false or inaccurate information when applying for occupancy.

• You violate pet regulations.

• Your rent is more than 30 days delinquent in payment.

If the University terminates your occupancy, it has the right to take possession of the premises and remove your property from the apartment.

Liability

Students at The University of Montana are responsible for their own personal property while they are on campus. The University as a state institution is not responsible for damage to or theft of personal property on campus, unless the loss is due to negligent or wrongful acts or omissions of University agents or employees. Therefore each student is encouraged to adequately insure his or her personal property, and to protect personal property by locking apartment rooms and cars and taking other precautions to prevent theft and damage. Insurance for personal property while on campus may be available through parent's homeowners insurance, tenant's coverage, or specially purchased through a company such as National Student Services, Inc.