Harvard University Housing establishes new rents for 2017–18

Harvard University Housing (HUH) manages approximately 3,000 apartments, offering a broad choice of locations, unit types, amenities, and sizes to meet the individual budgets and housing needs of eligible Harvard affiliates (full-time graduate students, faculty members, and employees). Harvard affiliates may apply for Harvard University Housing online at www.huhousing.harvard.edu (click on “Start an HU Housing Application”). The website also provides information about additional housing options and useful Harvard and community resources for incoming and current affiliates.

In accordance with the University’s rent policy, HUH charges market rents. To establish the proposed rents for 2017–2018, Jayendu Patel of Economic, Financial & Statistical Consulting Services performed and endorsed the results of a regression analysis on three years of market rents for more than 8,000 apartments. The data on apartments included in the analysis were obtained from a variety of sources, including rentals posted on the HUH Off-Campus Listing website by private-market property owners, information supplied by a real estate appraisal firm, a local brokerage company, and various non-Harvard rental websites in order to provide comparable private rental market listings for competing apartment complexes in Cambridge and Boston. The results of this market analysis and other market research indicate that HUH 2017–2018 market rents will increase 3 percent on average across the 3,000-unit portfolio relative to last year’s rents, although within the portfolio rents on some units have been adjusted up or down based on current market conditions. As always, all revenues generated by HUH in excess of operating expenses and debt service are used to fund capital improvements and renewal of the facilities in HUH’s existing residential portfolio.

The rents noted in this article have been reviewed and endorsed by the Faculty Advisory Committee on Harvard University Housing* and will take effect for the 2017-2018 leasing season.

2017–2018 rents for continuing HUH tenants

Current HUH tenants who choose to extend their lease for another year will receive, on average, a 2.5 percent rent increase, with actual increases ranging from zero to 4.5 percent. Heat, hot water, electricity, and gas, where applicable, are included in all HUH apartment rents; internet service and air conditioning are also included, where available.

HUH tenants will receive an email from HUH in March 2017 with instructions on how to submit a request to either extend or terminate their current lease. Tenants who would like additional information or help in determining their continuing rental rates for 2017–2018 may call the HUH Leasing Office at 617-495-1459.

2017–2018 rents for new HUH tenants effective for the 2017-2018 leasing season

The annual market analysis for the 2017–2018 rents resulted in a recommendation that average rents for incoming tenants across the portfolio increase 3 percent relative to the prior year. Because Harvard’s rent policy is applied on a unit-by-unit basis, market rental rates for some unit types and locations will increase, while others will experience no change or will decrease, based on current market conditions.

• 10 Akron St. (all utilities and internet service included): studios $1,770–$2,100; one bedroom convertibles $2,322–$2,610.
• 18 Banks (all utilities included): one bedrooms $2,154–$2,430; two bedrooms $2,574–$2,826.
• Beckwith Circle (all utilities included): three bedrooms $2,490–$3,006; four bedrooms $2,832–$3,366.
• Botanic Gardens (all utilities and internet service included): one bedrooms $2,208–$2,316; two bedrooms $2,568–$2,718; three bedrooms $3,060–$3,258.
• 472–474 Broadway (all utilities included): one bedrooms $2,112–$2,178.
• 5 Cowperthwaite St. (all utilities and internet service included): studios $1,890–$2,130; one bedrooms $2,256–$2,274; one-bedroom convertibles $2,346–$2,580; two bedrooms $2,658–$3,150.
• 27 Everett St. (all utilities included): one bedrooms $2,352–$2,466; three bedrooms $3,228–$3,588.
• 29 Garden St. (all utilities and internet service included): studios $1,680–$1,896; one-bedroom convertibles $2,172–$2,418; two-bedroom efficiencies $2,580–$2,910; two bedrooms $2,790–$2,862; three bedrooms $3,462–$3,750.
• Harvard @ Trilogy (all utilities and internet service included): suite $1,698- $1,806; studios $1,914–$2,088; one-bedroom convertibles $2,592–$2,660; two-bedroom efficiencies $2,952–$3,150.
• Haskins Hall (all utilities included): studios $1,758–$1,848; one bedrooms $1,962–$2,214.
• Holden Green (all utilities included): one bedrooms $1,878–$2,148; two bedrooms $2,214–$2,526; three bedrooms $2,742–$3,108.
• 2 Holyoke St. (all utilities included): one bedrooms $2,160–$2,250.
• Kirkland Court (all utilities included): one bedrooms $1,938–$2,310; two bedrooms $2,544–$2,724; three bedrooms $3,258–$3,408.
• 8A Mt. Auburn St. (all utilities included): one bedrooms $2,172–$2,298.
• Peabody Terrace (all utilities and internet service included): studios $1,782–$2,232; one bedrooms $2,004–$2,568; two bedrooms $2,388–$2,958; three bedrooms $3,486–$3,828.
• 16 Prescott St. (all utilities included): studios $1,770–$1,812; one bedrooms $2,040–$2,196.
• 18 Prescott St. (all utilities included): studios $1,680–$1,734; one bedrooms $2,028–$2,226.
• 85–95 Prescott St. (all utilities and internet service included): studios $1,824–$1,992; one bedrooms $2,136–$2,424; two bedrooms $2,508.
• Shaler Lane (all utilities included): one bedrooms $2,034–$2,154; two bedrooms $2,472–$2,694.
• Soldiers Field Park (all utilities and internet service included): studios $1,920–$2,076; one bedrooms $2,136–$2,430; two bedrooms $2,622–$2,916; three bedrooms $3,060–$3,558.
• Terry Terrace (all utilities and internet service included): studios $1,848–$1,902; one bedrooms $2,064–$2,322; two bedrooms $2,544–$2,586.
• 9–13A Ware St. (all utilities included): studios $1,776–$1,860; one bedrooms $2,058–$2,274; two bedrooms $2,502–$2,520.
• 15 Ware St. (all utilities included): studios $2,016; one bedrooms $2,586; two bedrooms $3,096.
• 19 Ware St. (all utilities included): two bedrooms $2,922–$3,012; three bedrooms $3,252.
• One Western Ave. (all utilities and internet service included): studios $1,950–$2,130; one bedrooms $2,076–$2,448; two bedrooms $2,544–$3,138; three bedrooms $3,474–$3,774.
• Wood Frame Buildings (all utilities included): studios $1,296–$1,734; one bedrooms $1,860–$2,586; two bedrooms $2,370–$3,516; three bedrooms $2,652–$4,956; four bedrooms $3,966.
• Written comments on the proposed rents may be sent to the Faculty Advisory Committee on Harvard University Housing, c/o Harvard University Housing, Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center 827, 1350 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02138. Comments to the committee may also be sent via email to leasing@harvard.edu. Any written comments should be submitted by Feb. 10, 2017.

The comments received will be reviewed by the Faculty Advisory Committee, which includes: Nancy Hill, professor of education, Harvard Graduate School of Education; William Hogan, Raymond Plank Professor of Global Energy Policy, Harvard Kennedy School; Howell Jackson, James S. Reid Jr. Professor of Law, Harvard Law School; Jerold S. Kayden, Frank Backus Williams Professor of Urban Planning and Design, Graduate School of Design; John Macomber, Gloria A. Dauten Real Estate Fellow, senior lecturer, Harvard Business School; Daniel P. Schrag, Sturgis Hooper Professor of Geology and professor of environmental science and engineering, Faculty of Arts and Sciences; and Meredith Weenick, vice president, Campus Services (Chair), Harvard University.

*The rents for tenants of Harvard University Housing are set at prevailing market rates, in keeping with the University’s affiliated housing rent policy. This policy was established in 1983 by President Derek Bok based on recommendations from a study led by Professor Archibald Cox and the Committee on Affiliated Housing. The original faculty committee determined that market rate pricing was the fairest method of allocating apartments and that setting rents for Harvard University Housing below market rate would be a form of financial aid, which should be determined by each individual School, not via the rent-setting process. Additionally, the cost of housing should be considered when financial aid is determined.