Living Off Campus

Living and Dining

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At Salve Regina University, we take our role in the community seriously. If you live off campus, you’re still expected to follow our student code of conduct.

Students living in Newport, Middletown and surrounding towns must follow local laws and ordinances. If your behavior doesn't meet community or University standards, you may face disciplinary action and possible legal consequences - including fines or a permanent criminal record. We take complaints from neighbors, police and community members seriously and respond accordingly.

Being a Good Neighbor

If you live off campus, remember that many of your neighbors are long-term residents and families who have the right to enjoy a reasonable level of peace and quiet. You're expected to exercise good judgment and be aware of your neighbors' needs.

Even if something isn’t illegal, keep in mind that certain behavior will not be tolerated by the University. Things like public drunkenness, disorderly conduct, loud music, etc. don’t meet our good neighbor expectations.

  • Noise: Always keep music and other noise at a reasonable level. You're also responsible for the noise created by your guests.
  • Parking: Follow all local parking regulations and exercise common sense. Don't block a driveway or street and never park on someone else's property.
  • Snow removal: You're responsible for clearing the sidewalk in front of your house or apartment. Also, pay attention to winter parking bans. See information on snow removal and parking bans.
  • Trash: Follow all local trash removal procedures. You can incur citations and fines by not disposing of your trash properly. See information for Newport residents or Middletown residents.
  • Social host laws: If you host a party, you assume all risks and liabilities regarding drinking, age, noise and public safety. You could be held legally and financially responsible if someone gets hurt or property is damaged - especially if alcohol is involved - and the liability is compounded when minors are involved. Learn more about social hosting laws.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are many things you should look for when searching for an apartment. Some are seen and some are unseen. How is the plumbing? Can you take a decent shower? How noisy is the building, street, neighborhood? Do all the appliances work? Can you regulate the thermostat or does the landlord control it? Is there adequate insulation? Are there locks on all the doors and windows? Where will you park your car? Does the building have smoke detectors? Carbon monoxide detectors?

No, you don't need to use a rental agent. Leases can be signed directly with landlords. However, utilizing a rental agent may gain you access to view more listings. Be sure to ask up front if there is any fee associated (often the landlord will pay the fee).

If used responsibility, Craigslist or other listing sites can be useful in finding an apartment. Some safety tips: Never exchange money before viewing the apartment in person. Always make payments in trackable ways (checks, credit card payment). Never visit an apartment or meet someone from Craigslist alone.

Common warning signs of scams or fraud include someone asking you to send money via Western Union, Moneygram or prepaid Visa card. Another sign could be a landlord asking you to send money immediately without seeing the apartment. For your protection, get everything in writing and don't give out personal banking information over the phone.

If you don't have a regular source of income that can provide you with the means to pay your rent, or you don't have good credit history, it's likely that you'll need a co-signer. Students often have their parents or guardians co-sign for them.

 

If you sign a lease but want to go abroad for a semester or home for the summer and have a 12-month lease, you may need to find a subletter for the time you're away. The subletter typically pays the original tenant, who then pays the landlord. Most leases prohibit subletting without the landlord's permission, so be sure to check your lease agreement or talk to your landlord before subletting.

If you really need or want to move out of a leased apartment, you can break the lease. However, you'll be responsible for the rent through the lease period unless you find someone to take your place. Be sure to read your lease's cancellation policy thoroughly. Can you be replaced? Are you in contract for the whole term regardless?

The cost of utilities will vary depending on the type of heat, what's included in the lease, how many people are using the utilities, etc. Oil can be quite expensive and the amount needed to heat your apartment will depend on quality of insulation and efficiency of the heating mechanism. Make sure to ask your landlord or rental agent about typical costs.

Tenants on the same lease are usually "jointly and severally liable" for the unit, meaning that everyone on the lease is treated as if they're one entity. If one roommate is unable to come up with their portion of the rent, the other roommates are responsible for making the full rent payment.

Roommate conflicts are a common occurrence for student and non-student tenants alike. It's a good idea to have conversations and come to an agreement up front about things like cleaning duties, paying bills, guest policies, noise and use of common space. If you're having a roommate conflict off campus, you can seek assistance from the Office of Residence Life or the Dean of Students Office to help mediate a conversation or provide assistance to a roommate who may need support that you can't provide.

Off campus students still have access to events and programs on campus. You're encouraged to keep up to date with the Salve calendar and come back to campus in the evening for events. There are also several spaces on campus deemed "commuter lounges" where you're welcome to hang out in between classes.

In an effort to protect your health, safety and welfare of, neighborhood residents and property, we require all students to submit their local addresses. At the start of each semester, you must submit/confirm your off campus address. Failure to submit an accurate off-campus address results in a hold being placed on your account and hinders our ability to locate you or your roommates in the case of an emergency.

You may arrive in Rhode Island before your lease agreement begins. Unfortunately, there is no temporary housing available on campus for this time period, but you can find temporary accommodations such as hotels and Airbnb in and around Newport. Be sure to note the distance from campus and your apartment, and make note of public transportation available.