r/uofu • u/BornStop9453 • 11d ago
housing & meal plans PSA: 2027–28 housing application requires signing a binding housing contract before you can see room availability
Just a heads-up for anyone looking at U housing for next year.
My daughter is a freshman currently living in Kahlert. She was leaning toward living off campus with roommates for next year, but I suggested she check upper-division U housing as a backup, particularly a single in Kennecott.
The problem: she couldn't see what rooms were actually available until she completed the housing application. As part of that process, she was required to electronically sign the 2027–2028 Residence Hall & Housing License Agreement.
Only after signing the agreement could she see the available rooms. At that point, she found that the Kennecott singles she was interested in weren't available.
This wouldn't bother me nearly as much if completing the application were just a way to get access to room selection. But read what the agreement actually says:
"This Residence Hall & Housing License Agreement ... is a legally binding contract..."
It also says:
"By electronically signing this License, the Student accepts full financial responsibility for all applicable Fees ... for the entire Contract Period."
And this is the part that really caught my attention:
"The Student's financial obligations do not end because the Student fails to enroll; fails to select, move into, or take possession of a Room..."
Later, under "No Unilateral Cancellation by Student," it says:
"Once this License has been executed, the Student may not unilaterally cancel or terminate it."
Instead, you have to submit a Contract Release Request, which Housing can approve or deny, and an approved release is subject to a Contract Release Charge.
The agreement itself doesn't give the dollar amount of that charge. It refers to the "then-current Contract Release Charges published on the HDP website." I haven't been able to find a clearly published 2027–28 release-charge schedule.
So if you're just trying to compare University housing with living off campus, be aware of what you're signing to get access to the room-selection system.
My daughter wasn't trying to commit to U housing. She wanted to see whether the on-campus option she was interested in was even available. By the time she was allowed to find that out, she had already signed an agreement that describes itself as a legally binding contract.
She has now submitted a Contract Release Request, and we're waiting to hear back.
If anyone else has gone through the new 2027–28 process, I'm curious whether you had the same experience or found any information about the 2027–28 Contract Release Charges.
6
2
u/Specific_Two9238 10d ago
Lassonde is the best. Upper division students..everyone. Smaller but that place has it together! Can’t beat the Makerspace and the vibe of the building.
3
u/Sartan4455 10d ago
We did the same thing! Thinking, ok, sign up for a dorm cause there are so few and keep our options open. But we notice that binding contract too. Off campus it is.
Our older student when they tried to sign up a couple years ago, had literally zero dorms left for upper division their sophomore year so we were forced to live off campus. Which was made even worse cause we didn't know till april of that year. ugh!
Which is actually much better. The dorms are over priced, small and give little options. The meal plan at the U is a joke. Over priced, limited selection, closed too often, and underwhelming. My student with a room and kitchen for really a 10th of the price of the meal plan makes great healthy food. Living off campus is much better, until the U decides to make student living a priority.
Also, I will note, they will not cancel it for moving off campus: see https://www.housing.utah.edu/contract-release/
1
u/BornStop9453 10d ago
She put "Found off campus housing" as the reason before I even posted this, luckily because she requested it within 72 hours they still canceled it. "Your Housing Contract Release Request has been approved because it was submitted within 72 hours of executing your 2027–2028 Housing Contract."
1
1
u/OilUnable5244 9d ago
Living off campus is not the best option for all students. There are just as many positive reasons to stay on campus. Off campus living situations have binding contracts too.
1
u/FunCockroach9218 9d ago
The point is that off campus you get to see the apartment BEFORE you sign a contract or application.
Signing to commit payment sight unseen, or in this case unavailable, is ridiculous.
1
u/OilUnable5244 9d ago
That’s okay. There are plenty of us who don’t find it ridiculous and see the benefits of living on campus despite the contract/application. 👍
2
u/FunCockroach9218 9d ago
Again, the point is not between on/off being better/worse. The point is the power dynamics of requiring payment contracts before you even know what you're paying for.
1
u/OilUnable5244 9d ago
Right, I understand that. I’m not a fan either. However, the benefits of my kid staying on campus is more beneficial. It’s risk vs. reward.
1
u/BornStop9453 10d ago
update, her request to cancel was approved. So that's a load off, she was pretty upset thinking she was going to be forced to live on campus. I asked if we've learned to read before signing anything, written or electronically. :)
0
12
u/OilUnable5244 10d ago
While I don’t think it’s really fair for the U to not allow access to see room availability, I believe you have 72 hours to cancel.