Juniors and seniors, who are not guaranteed housing on campus, are often reluctant to take their chances with Tufts' lottery system and many turn to the surrounding communities in search of a place to live. But the search for off-campus housing at Tufts has become even more frustrating this year, as rising rent prices, a heightened demand for apartments, and a booming economy make off-campus apartments difficult to find.
According to a survey done last spring by the Tufts Off-Campus Housing Office (OCH), the average rent price in Medford and Somerville is now a hefty $600 per month. The survey, which is posted on the office's website, also notes that this price usually does not include utilities. Heat, electricity, and phone service can cost an additional $70-100 per month.
Currently, students who live on campus pay $3,930 per year for their rooms and utilities. Rent for an off-campus apartment from September to May at the average price of $600 will cost a student $5,400, plus $630-900 for utilities. Additionally, most leases last for one year, which means that student going home for the summer must either pay the additional $1,800 in rent or search for someone to sublet the apartment.
Off-Campus Housing Director Suzy Solomon-Yarin says that the booming economy may be a factor in the recent rent hike. As long as tenants are willing to pay exorbitant rents, opportune landlords will charge high prices.
The demand for housing in the Medford/Somerville area has become even greater, according to Solomon-Yarin, since the town of Cambridge voted to abolish rent controls in 1994. As a result of this, rent in Cambridge shot up, and many residents who could no longer afford to live there have been forced to look to nearby towns for apartments and houses. Some have turned to uncontrolled Somerville and Medford, which is exacerbating the housing crunch and driving up the cost of housing.
Medford Housing Authority Executive Director John Greco said that the problem is characteristic of a greater housing issue facing the entire Boston area.
Citing a "lack of inventory" as the cause of the housing shortage, Greco went on to say that the community is "not creating the additional housing that is sufficient for these additional households" as people move into the area. With a one percent vacancy rate throughout the city, Boston-area apartments are notoriously difficult to find, and those that are available are often very expensive.
"When there's a very tight housing market prices will naturally go up," Greco said.
For Tufts students, the process of merely finding a place to live, let alone paying for it, can be frustrating and stressful.
"You really have to find an apartment early," said sophomore Catherine Headen, who is looking for housing for next year and had similar problems finding a sublet this summer. "Particularly toward the end of spring semester, rent was ridiculously high."
Headen said that many students are reluctant to sign contracts this early in the year, she said, because once a lease has been signed, "you're stuck in it for a year." This poses problems to students who are not sure whether they are going abroad or who desire on-campus housing but are weary of the lottery system.
While previous Jumbos have been left to navigate the confusing web of leases and landlords on their own, the University opened an Office of Off-campus Housing this fall to arm students with information before sending them out to scour Medford and Somerville for apartments.
The OCH is a part of the Office of Residential Life and opened for undergraduate students in mid-July. Solomon-Yarin said that one of the most important aspects of OCH is its website, which provides a daily updated list of available apartments.
"We give Tufts students an advantage over others looking for apartments," she said. "My impression is that quite a lot of the landlords are calling here before they call newspapers or classifieds."
OCH will also sponsor a number of programs throughout the year to help students with issues such as looking for a house and tenants' rights. There will one large program on March 8, and two smaller ones in January and May. Additionally, Solomon-Yarin is available for appointments on Thursdays from 5 to 9 p.m.
The website is located at http://ase.tufts.edu/och/.
