HRES University Housing

For students interested in apartment-style living but would prefer an easier process for finding an apartment coupled with the certainty of a reliable landlord, Harvard Real Estate Services (HRES) provides a limited number of University-owned and -operated apartments throughout Cambridge. Most units operate on a fixed-term lease at market rate rents, include utilities, and are unfurnished. Unlike on-campus housing, spouses, children and domestic partners are allowed to live in HRES apartments. Approximately 10% of HLS students live in HRES, mostly preferring Terry Terrace and 29 Garden Street as proximate complexes, although HLS students do live throughout the HRES portfolio. All on-time applicants are randomly assigned to a “view-and-select window” (except students with dependents who are assigned to the first window), which occur once per week from the beginning of May through the middle of July. Available units are typically exhausted before the last windows.

HLS Graduate Student Block

Harvard Law School partners with Harvard Real Estate Services (HRES) to offer exclusively to HLS students a block of apartments in Terry Terrace and 29 Garden Street. In addition to the HLS Graduate Student Block, HLS students will have the ability to select an apartment from a variety of available University Housing complexes open to all Graduate Students. Terry Terrace and 29 Garden Street include a range of apartments varying in size, type and cost. These properties are popular choices for those who want University owned and managed apartment living close to the HLS campus. When you login to your view window or select window, there will be units in Terry Terrace and 29 Garden Street that only HLS students are able to view and select. Please note rooms in the HLS Graduate Student Block cannot be shared with a non-HLS Harvard Affiliate.

How It Works

The application process is the same regardless of whether you are interested in the HLS Graduate Student Block or if you would prefer other University Housing complexes. You need to submit the Harvard Affiliated Housing Application by Sunday, April 26, 2009. After you have submitted the application, HRES will assign you a viewing window during which you can view the available units and a selection window for selecting your apartment. The dates and times of these windows will be communicated to you via email from HRES. 

Special Option

HRES does offer a small number of non-smoking units, furnished units, pet-friendly units ( breed and weight restrictions apply) and units in the Graduate Commons Program. Additional information can be found under the HRES FAQ's.

Roommates

HRES has a self-service roommate listing web site, called the HRES Roommate Center. It is possible to add a roommate later, but the process is more complicated and you will bear the full cost of the apartment until you have a roommate and their lease has been signed.

Still have questions?

Questions regarding the HLS Graduate Student Block should be directed to Douglas J.D. Walo, Housing Administrator in the HLS Dean of Students Office by emailing housing @ law or by calling 617.4965.1880.

Questions regarding the University Housing apartment application and unit selection process should be directed to HRES by emailing hhousing@harvard.edu or calling 617.495.3377 / 800.252.5020.