FAQs
What is Houghton Off Campus Housing?
Houghton Off Campus Housing (often abbreviated HOCH) is a property management group. We work with several different landlords and building owners to advertise, lease, and manage their rentals.
What places do you rent?
We offer 1, 2, 3, and 4-bedroom apartments close to campus. The Vacancies section shows all our current and upcoming availability – if the location you want is not listed keep checking back as there may be more openings in the future.
What’s a joint lease?
A joint lease means that if more than one person signs as a tenant everyone listed shares full legal and financial responsibility for the lease. While you can split up the amount due for rent and have everyone make separate payments, everyone on the lease is responsible for making sure that the full amount is paid – and for making sure that all other terms of the lease are completed. A joint lease is available for all our properties and apartment styles.
What’s an individual lease?
Don't want to commit to a joint lease with a group? That's okay! The individual lease is a great option for students wanting to manage their own lease but still share an apartment with others. With this option, all your utilities are included in the monthly rent price! Your rent covers electric, water, sewer, heat (natural gas), garbage, plowing, a parking permit, and wifi internet. The individual lease is available for the Julien Heights Classic apartments and the Hillcrest Style D apartments.
Do you assign roommates?
We only assign roommates for tenants who applied for an individual lease option. Tenants who apply for any other lease option pick their own roommates and list them on their application. If you apply without a roommate listed we will assume you plan to live in an apartment on your own.
Can I sublease?
Yes. We provide a sublease agreement to fill out with the person who will be subletting. This form helps protect you and the sublessee. A copy of the agreement must be sent to HOCH as well. We will send a confirmation to you, your sublessee, and all remaining tenants in the unit. Your sublessee will also get access to the tenant portal on our website. If you are looking for someone to live with we recommend looking on the Sublease Opportunities page of our website. Word of mouth and social media are also a great ways to find a roommate. If you have a lease already you are able to send us details to post your available room on this page too.
What is the tenant portal?
Everyone who lives in a HOCH property gets access to a tenant portal. This is where tenants can make payments, view their account balance, view or print a copy of their lease, submit maintenance requests, and send messages directly to staff.
How can I make payments?
We encourage everyone to make payments online directly through their tenant portal. It is free to pay by ACH (eCheck) by setting up your bank account information for a one time or recurring payment. Tenants can also make payments online via credit card for a small fee. We also accept paper checks mailed to us for payments.
How do I apply?
Click the “Apply Now” button on the Vacancies page next to the apartment style you’d like to apply for. The application is free to complete online. Make sure you follow all directions at the start of the application. Applications open on September 1st each year.
Once I apply, how I get a lease?
After you apply a lease is sent via email. Starting November 1st each year we begin offering leases for the upcoming year. Leases are offered to the first person or persons who have submitted their completed applications. If offered a lease, you will get an email to view and electronically sign the document online.
Houghton Off Campus Housing (often abbreviated HOCH) is a property management group. We work with several different landlords and building owners to advertise, lease, and manage their rentals.
What places do you rent?
We offer 1, 2, 3, and 4-bedroom apartments close to campus. The Vacancies section shows all our current and upcoming availability – if the location you want is not listed keep checking back as there may be more openings in the future.
What’s a joint lease?
A joint lease means that if more than one person signs as a tenant everyone listed shares full legal and financial responsibility for the lease. While you can split up the amount due for rent and have everyone make separate payments, everyone on the lease is responsible for making sure that the full amount is paid – and for making sure that all other terms of the lease are completed. A joint lease is available for all our properties and apartment styles.
What’s an individual lease?
Don't want to commit to a joint lease with a group? That's okay! The individual lease is a great option for students wanting to manage their own lease but still share an apartment with others. With this option, all your utilities are included in the monthly rent price! Your rent covers electric, water, sewer, heat (natural gas), garbage, plowing, a parking permit, and wifi internet. The individual lease is available for the Julien Heights Classic apartments and the Hillcrest Style D apartments.
Do you assign roommates?
We only assign roommates for tenants who applied for an individual lease option. Tenants who apply for any other lease option pick their own roommates and list them on their application. If you apply without a roommate listed we will assume you plan to live in an apartment on your own.
Can I sublease?
Yes. We provide a sublease agreement to fill out with the person who will be subletting. This form helps protect you and the sublessee. A copy of the agreement must be sent to HOCH as well. We will send a confirmation to you, your sublessee, and all remaining tenants in the unit. Your sublessee will also get access to the tenant portal on our website. If you are looking for someone to live with we recommend looking on the Sublease Opportunities page of our website. Word of mouth and social media are also a great ways to find a roommate. If you have a lease already you are able to send us details to post your available room on this page too.
What is the tenant portal?
Everyone who lives in a HOCH property gets access to a tenant portal. This is where tenants can make payments, view their account balance, view or print a copy of their lease, submit maintenance requests, and send messages directly to staff.
How can I make payments?
We encourage everyone to make payments online directly through their tenant portal. It is free to pay by ACH (eCheck) by setting up your bank account information for a one time or recurring payment. Tenants can also make payments online via credit card for a small fee. We also accept paper checks mailed to us for payments.
How do I apply?
Click the “Apply Now” button on the Vacancies page next to the apartment style you’d like to apply for. The application is free to complete online. Make sure you follow all directions at the start of the application. Applications open on September 1st each year.
Once I apply, how I get a lease?
After you apply a lease is sent via email. Starting November 1st each year we begin offering leases for the upcoming year. Leases are offered to the first person or persons who have submitted their completed applications. If offered a lease, you will get an email to view and electronically sign the document online.