Dartmouth College maintains a number of apartments, duplexes and houses that are used to provide rental accommodations for full time members of the Faculty and Administrative staff. The Rental Housing Office also maintains a file of private rentals which constitute a major segment of available housing in the area. The primary function of the College real estate holdings is to provide housing for new personnel, thus facilitating their move into the community. Transition from College-owned housing into private rentals or home ownership is encouraged.
Any regular full-time Faculty or Staff member is eligible for placement in College-owned housing, to the extent available.
Rentals are generally on a year-long basis subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the lease. The rental agreement must be signed and all required payments must be made prior to lease commencement.
Because the College's primary purpose is to meet the newcomer's housing needs, there is a general policy of limiting occupancy in College housing to three years. The specific application of the three-year policy is defined in each individual's rental agreement with the College. Rent penalties are imposed on those who do not vacate within the specified occupancy period.
Priority in housing assignments shall be given to new employees relocating to the area to begin employment with the College. Additional priority shall be given to personnel serving the College in a full-time instructional and/or advisory capacity to undergraduate and graduate students. Otherwise, College housing will normally be offered on an earliest request first basis. Generally, once someone has relocated to the area, and has been working or living here for over three months, that person will no longer be considered to be moving here from out of the area. Exceptions to this priority designation may be made on a case by case basis as determined by the Housing Programs Manager. An applicant's priority status may be adjusted in light of the applicant's particular circumstances, including, but not limited to, the suitability and timing of the applicant's current housing situation.
College-owned housing will be offered to incoming personnel based on the availability date of the particular unit. Vacant accommodations will not be held or reserved for extended periods unless covered by a Rental Agreement.
Rent is payable in advance on a monthly basis and will normally be deducted from the renter's monthly pay. Rents for partial month's occupancy will be on a pro-data basis provided that the 90 day notice requirement set forth below is met.
The rents for all College Housing are reviewed each spring. All rent increases are effective July 1st and are preceded by a 30 day notice.
Tenants will be billed an additional one month's rent if they choose to move to another College owned rental unit. This surcharge covers a portion of the vacancy and administrative costs that are incurred by moving existing tenants into other College rental units. The additional rent shall be calculated on the unit being vacated. All transfers must be completed within three days after the commencement date of the lease on the new rental unit.
Tenants may sublet their rental unit during periods of absence from the College but only to other College employees and not to students or other non-employees. Original lessee is still responsible for all rental payments and care of the unit. The Housing Programs Office must be notified in writing of the name of the sublessee and the address and phone number of the original lessee's location away from Dartmouth College.
Keys are only obtainable from the Housing Programs Office between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday - Friday.
Tenants who get locked out of their rental units must come to the Housing Programs Office during normal business hours for a duplicate key. At all other times tenants should contact Safety and Security to be let into their rental. Tenants must be prepared to show proper identification.
The Rental Housing Office must be notified at least sixty (60) days in advance of the date in which the unit is to be vacated. An early termination fee equal to one month's rent may be required.
Persons terminating their employment with Dartmouth College must vacate their accommodations within thirty (30) days following termination of their employment.
An apartment or house is not officially vacated, nor will rent terminate until it is completely cleared of all personal property, and the key returned to the Housing Programs Office.
All property not belonging to the College which remains on the premises upon termination of the right to occupancy will be removed by the College and will, at the option of the College, be discarded or be stored at the expense of the former tenant.
College-owned housing represents a substantial capital investment which is expected to produce a reasonable rate of return. Maintenance, management policy, and the establishment of rental rates will be guided by this philosophy. All breakage, damage or repair needs should be reported to the Housing Programs Office, 7 Lebanon Street, Suite 107 (Telephone 646-2170 or Blitz Mail: Housing.Programs@Dartmouth.edu). When submitting a work request, tenants must give the following information: 1. Name; 2. Address; 2. Telephone number(s); 4. Repair requested; 5. Whether Tenant has a dog or cat; and 6. Whether it is okay for someone to go if tenant is not present. For emergency calls after office hours telephone the Troubleshooters at the College Heating Plant at 646-2344.
Occupants of College-owned housing are expected to insure reasonable care of the premises and will be charged for repairs resulting from irresponsible acts and/or negligence. When occupancy is terminated the premises will be returned to the College in a clean and orderly condition, subject only to fair wear and tear. The removal of debris, cleaning of stove, refrigerator, cabinets, toilet fixtures, and the sweeping out of the apartment or house, are incumbent upon the departing tenant.
Preventive Maintenance: To avoid damage the following preventive maintenance should be practiced:
Alterations by Occupants: Occupants must obtain the consent of the Rental Housing Office before making alterations to College apartments or houses.
Entry: Representatives of the College shall have the right to enter and examine the property and to make repairs or improvements upon reasonable notice and shall have the right to enter and make emergency repairs at any time. All door locks must remain on the College key system.
Interior Painting: Personal painting or stenciling by tenants is NOT permitted.
Pictures mirrors, and other objects may be hung on the walls provided that picture hooks or jiffy hooks are used. Nails and screws are not permitted for this purpose.
Contact paper attached to the walls causes severe damage to plaster and painted surfaces. Its use is therefore prohibited. The cost of repairing and repainting walls damaged by the removal of contact paper will be charged to the tenant.
In case of a fire, or if the fire alarm goes off, the property response is to exit the building and call the fire department. Fire alarms are not connected to the fire department and a call must be placed in order for them to respond. If you believe that an alarm is not working property, please report it immediately to the Housing Programs Office. It is recommended that tenants provide some sort of fire extinguishing equipment for emergency use. Tenants concerned about the lack of a battery powered smoke detector in the case of an electrical outage may supply their own batter operated detector.
All rental units are in the process of having hard wired smoke detectors installed. Until this process is complete some units will continue to have a battery-operated smoke detector. The alkaline Battery used in each detector should last at least one year. When the battery's voltage drops to a pre-set warning level, the detector's horn will give off a short "beep" indicating it is time to install a new battery. At first the "beep" will occur about once an hour and then more frequently as the voltage diminishes. The housing Programs Office will replace the battery when notified by the tenant.
Dartmouth does not assume responsibility or carry insurance for the loss of personal property whether due to theft, fire, water, or any other cause or for an individual's personal liability as tenant of the premises. It is recommended that tenants arrange for adequate insurance coverage for the protection of the tenant's own personal property; for the protection of the landlord for damage to the premises from neglect or accidental causes of the tenant; and protection for bodily injury or property damage to a third party who may be a guest of the tenant.
All single houses, duplex units and apartments at 7 Austin Avenue are rented unheated. Occupants in these accommodations are responsible for making their own arrangements for the purchase and delivery of oil, except for the initial delivery of a full tank (approximately 260 gallons), which the Housing Programs Office will arrange for at the time the tenant takes occupancy. The tenant must pay the College heating oil supplier for the initial delivery. When the tenant vacates the apartment, the College heating oil supplier will reimburse the tenant for any oil left in the tank. The cleaning and servicing of the heating system and oil burner will be handled on a scheduled basis by the Buildings and Grounds Office. Therefore, tenants should not enter into maintenance service contracts with their oil suppliers.
It is important during any prolonged absence in the cold weather season that heat sufficient to prevent freeze-ups be maintained in the accommodations by keeping thermostats at a minimum of 55 degrees and making sure there is sufficient fuel oil. Accommodations should be checked at least once a day to be sure that there is no malfunction of the furnace. Tenants who are going away for the Christmas holidays or for any period during cold weather should make arrangements to have a neighbor or friend periodically check the unit to make sure all is well with the temperature and heat in the home. Any expense incurred as a result of freezing and burst pipes is the tenant's responsibility.
Each apartment, duplex and house has a separate meter, and tenants will be billed directly by the National Grid Electric Company. The Housing Office will notify the Electric Company of the arrival and departure dates of tenants. Tenants should contact the electric company before the move in to confirm that the account has been set up in their name.
When departing, tenants should contact the Electric Company at 800/322-3223 to provide them with a forwarding address for their final bill.
Arrangements for telephone service are made directly with the Verizon Telephone: 800/474-9999. The Housing Programs Office only supplies one working telephone jack to each unit. Any tenant who wishes to have an additional jack must contract with the telephone company directly.
Occupants of single houses, and duplex units must make their own arrangements for garbage and rubbish storage and removal. Removal service may be obtained from local trucking firms. Removal service, at locations other than those above, is provided by the College.
No gas-powered machines (e.g. motorcycles, chain saws, lawn mowers, etc.) may be stored inside the premises; nor any gasoline or other flammable materials.
Used motor oil or other toxic waste materials (e.g. pesticides or paint products) should be disposed of during the Upper Valley area's annual household hazardous waste disposal day in the month of May. The College's Biosafety Office advises that containers of such toxic waste should be clearly labeled for proper disposal.
Tenants are encouraged to recycle such items as aluminum cans; glass bottles and jars; plastic soda bottles; plastic milk, juice and water jugs; and newspapers. Containers should be rinsed clean and plastic jugs crushed to conserve space in the recycling bins. provided by the Town of Hanover (duplexes and houses) and Dartmouth College (apartments). Call Dartmouth Recycles! at 646-1256 for further information pertaining to recycling.
Smoking is prohibited in all common areas within College Housing apartments. Smoking is also prohibited by all College employees working within College Housing properties.
All residents of College housing apartments must register their vehicles at the Parking Office at 5 Rope Ferry Road (646-2205). Resident stickers will be issued at no cost to the tenant. Parking space is limited to one car per apartment.
All vehicles must be registered with a State Registry. Unregistered vehicles are not permitted and may be towed at the owner's expense.
Many of the rental units have basements or provide storage space in basements. Occupants who have use of basement space should take caution in storing items on the floor. Springtime in northern New England can cause basements to flood. All valuable items should be stored above the basement floor.
Many houses and apartments built before 1978 have paint that contains lead (called lead-based paint). Lead from paint, chips, and dust can pose serious health hazards if not taken care of properly. Pursuant to Federal Law tenants will be given a notice of any known information on lead-based paint along with the lease agreement.
The College maintains the lawn areas around all in-town apartment buildings, duplexes, houses at Fletcher Circle/Chandler Drive and at Rivercrest. Occupants of single houses not located in-town are responsible for cutting their own lawn areas.
Outside sheds, carports, satellite dishes or other structures, including fences, may not be built or placed on the premises. Gardens are not allowed.
Tenants may not nail, screw or otherwise permanently fasten any object to trees.
The College provides snow removal service at all locations where two or more families share a common driveway or parking area. Tenants who share driveways or parking areas should make sure to rotate their cars around after a snowfall in order to allow the entire area to be plowed. Occupants of single houses and those duplex units which have private driveways and/or carports for each unit must make their own arrangements for snow removal.
Occupants who have private (not shared) entry walks, steps, and porches are responsible for the removal of snow and ice from these areas, as well as mailbox areas.
Water service is supplied by the College, at most rental units, at no cost to the occupants of College Housing except that the cost of any abnormal usage shall be borne by the tenants.
All College rental units are wired for cable TV. A commercial Cable Television Service is available to each apartment. Rates and other information may be obtained from Comcast Cable TV, 166 Hanover Street, Lebanon, NH 03766 (Telephone: 448-6280). Satellite Dishes are not permitted to be installed on College rental property.
Dogs and other household pets are permitted in unfurnished and uncarpeted rentals only as long as they do not create a nuisance, disturb other tenants or cause damage to property. Owners are completely responsible for all actions of their pets and should be considerate of their neighbors. Failure to comply with all the terms and conditions may result in the termination of the tenant's lease. The following policies and procedures must be observed:
Owners will be held liable for any damage done by their household pets and in no case will such damage be written off as fair wear and tear.
An electric stove and an electric refrigerator are provided in each apartment, duplex and house. These should be cleaned regularly, especially the oven unit of the stove. The refrigerator should be defrosted regularly and should not have more than 1/4" frost built up in the freezing unit. Under no circumstances should any metal or other object be used to chip at the ice buildup. This might cause a break in the refrigerant piping requiring complete replacement at tenant expense. Turn the refrigerator thermostat to "1" when away or moving out. Do not turn off.
Dartmouth BlitzMail has a Bulletins window. Within Bulletins you will find a folder labeled "Rental Housing." Please be sure to monitor this folder as it will have notices for tenants of College Rental Housing .
Housing Programs Office (8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.)
College Heating Plant (Troubleshooters):
Comcast Cable: (603) 448-6280
Verizon (Telephone): (800) 474-9999
National Grid Electric: (800) 322-3223
