Undergraduate Contract Termination
University Housing contracts are legally binding for the entire term of the contract. In a limited number of circumstances, contracts may be reassigned, transferred or terminated.
Contract terminations initiated by residents, regardless of the reason, are not automatic and require that you adhere to the petition processes described below, or possibly find another eligible student to assume your contract via the contract reassignment process.
Enrollment Changes
If you have changed your mind and will not be enrolling at the University of Michigan, please send written or email notification to the Housing Information Office informing us of your need to cancel your signed Housing contract. If you are enrolled in ANY U-M credit classes, you will be held accountable for your Housing contract.
Mid-Term Withdrawal
If you are withdrawing during an academic term, you must complete a Petition to Alter/Terminate University Housing Contract and submit it to the Housing Information Office. Your Housing contract will then be terminated. You will be responsible for all room and board charges until you check out, regardless of your withdrawal date.
Winter Term Withdrawal/Disenrollment
If you are not enrolling for the winter term due to graduation, U-M withdrawal/disenrollment or participation in a co-op or a study abroad program, complete and submit an online Projected Withdrawal notification starting November 1st. You will receive checkout procedures by email. If you do not follow the checkout procedures, you may be held accountable for full payment of your Housing contract.
The online Projected Withdrawal application closed on December 22, 2011.
Petition to Terminate Contracts
Reasons for requesting contract alteration or termination usually include one of the following:
- University withdrawal or leave of absence
- Graduation
- Non-enrollment during fall-winter terms (students only)
- Study Abroad/Internship
- Medical/Psychological (need-based)
- Financial (need-based)
All requests to terminate a signed Housing contract must be submitted in writing. If you want to terminate your Housing contract, you must complete the Petition to Alter/Terminate University Housing Contract and submit to the Housing Information Office.
If relevant, the following documentation will also be required:
- Financial Need — a Supplementary Financial Statement.
- Medical or Psychological Need — the Medical/Psychological Petition to Terminate form.
The Option of Contract Reassignment
It is not University Housing’s policy to release students from a contract for the purpose of moving off campus. However, you may attempt to reassign your contract to another eligible student. Before and during the fall term, contracts may be reassigned to newly admitted students only.
The Housing Contract Reassignment Bulletin Board is a way for students who are offering or looking for a contract reassignment to find one another. The students are responsible for making contact with one another and for visiting the Housing Information Office together to complete the reassignment paperwork. You can only reassign a contract to someone of the same gender/sex as you, as that is the gender designation of that particular space.
Making offers of monetary compensation, incentives or rewards in a contract reassignment ad is strictly prohibited. Such offers will be removed before posting, the ad may be removed from the bulletin board and the student may be barred from submitting ads in the future.
There is no guarantee that you will be successful in making or finding a contract reassignment.
Offering a Contract for Reassignment
- You are responsible for your Housing contract until you find an eligible student and complete the necessary paperwork in the Housing Information Office (beginning April 18 for Fall reassignments and beginning December 1 for Winter reassignments).
- Do not sign an off-campus lease until the reassignment paperwork is completed and you have been officially released from your Housing contract. If the other student does not accompany you to complete the contract reassignment paperwork, you will continue to be responsible for meeting your Housing contract obligations.
- Please ensure the student plans to attend UM; if the student does not attend, the contract obligations revert to you.
- To begin, post an online contract reassignment ad, click below.
Finding a Contract for Reassignment
Eligible students who have not signed a University Housing contract may utilize the Contract Reassignment process to take over the contract of another student. For fall term, participation is limited to students new to the university (i.e., freshmen and transfers). For winter term assignments, any enrolled student meeting the eligibility criteria may participate.
- Begin by browsing the female or male postings through clicking the respective button below. You must be eligible for the space you want and must not already have a signed contract.
- You are responsible for contacting the student whose contract you are interested in.
- Both students are required to appear in person at the Housing Information Office (beginning April 18 for Fall reassignments and beginning December 1 for Winter reassignments) to complete and sign the reassignment paperwork.
Questions?
To learn more about contract termination or contract reassignment, contact the Housing Information Office.
