Residents must properly complete a checkout at the time they vacate any student housing unit or any time they move into a different space. Improper Checkouts will result in a $50 fine which will be noted on the damage summary. Proper check-out procedures will be communicated to all residents by their area Area Coordinator.

Mid-Semester Check-Out

To complete a proper move-out, residents must follow these steps after receiving approval for cancellation:

  • Outside of the Academic Year ending, ensure that your contract cancelation request is submitted and approved by our office before proceeding to the next steps.
    • Please not a contract cancellation request is only a request, and if denied you will remain financially responsible for your space.
  • Remove all personal possessions from the unit and complete all cleaning prior to the scheduled move-out time.
  • Communicate with your roommates about cleaning shared living spaces. Your cleaning and damage charges are based on conditions at the time of move-out. If roommates will remain in the space, it is imperative that the apartment/residence hall room is still cleaned for your move-out.
  • Change or forward your mailing address at USPS.com.
  • Fill out, sign, date and seal the completed check-out envelope located at your designated front desk or HCOM and acknowledge the transfer of all appropriate keys. Drop the envelope in the HCOM drop box.

End of Semester Check-Out

University Housing officially closes at 12pm on Sunday, May 12, 2024 for all residents who do not have a Summer Housing Contract. Your Housing Contract officially ends at the time of closing. Residents are required to check out within 24 hours of their last exam.

Residence Hall residence must check out and vacate by 12pm on Saturday, May 11, 2024, and 12pm on Sunday, May 12, 2024, for Apartment/Townhouse residents. Failure to do so or follow established procedures will result in a $50 Improper Check-Out/Failure to Comply Charge. Additional charges will be added for any damages to the room, the need for excessive cleaning, or lost key(s). An additional charge of $35 per night will apply past the contract end date, and the weekly charge will be incurred if a student does not checkout within 3 days of closing ($215/week for non-family housing).

Students with an active summer contract will remain in their current spring assignment until the designated transition time to your summer assignment. Students with summer contracts will be notified of their transition date via UIS email.

If you misplace the provided personalized key packet, you may use a Checkout Envelope, which is located at the front desk of your respective community or from the Residence Life main office at Homer Butler Commons (HCOM).

Packing and Cleaning Tips

Ensure your room is returned to its original state. Residence Hall students must de-loft beds, readying loft kits for staff pickup (kits can remain in-room). Failure to de-loft incurs a $50 Improper Checkout charge. Staff will inspect for cleanliness and damages, with assessments by the Area Coordinator or Maintenance Staff.

Residents should plan with roommate(s) who is responsible for what cleaning and/or common area damage charges prior to departing.

Here are some helpful tips to make the process easier (and to help you avoid check-out charges):

  • Start early: Don’t wait until the last minute to start – packing can take longer than you think!
  • Boxes: Find boxes to pack your belongings to make the move easier and faster.
  • Trash: Trash should be thrown away in the outdoor dumpster (trash rooms will be closed during Finals Week). Charges will be assessed for trash left behind.
  • Personal Items: Any personal items left behind will be stored for up to 10 days. Charges will be assessed per the damage charges list posted on the Department of Residence Life Website.
  • Donations: Consider donating your unwanted, usable items to Go Green Go Home.
  • Make a Cleaning Plan: You are responsible for cleaning your spaces, common spaces, and purchasing your own cleaning supplies. Make a plan a week prior to move-out.
  • Mail Forwarding: Update your mail forwarding address with USPS.com prior to departing.

Parking While Moving Out

  • No parking is permitted on sidewalks, grass, or near any dumpsters/roll-a-ways on campus.
  • Residents at LRH are encouraged to park perpendicular to the building (the “wrong way” from the normal school year) to allow for more cars.
  • When moving out of any area, please limit your time to a maximum of 20 minutes to load your vehicle.

FAQs

Q: How do I turn in my keys to complete my Checkout?
A: Each resident will be issued an empty key packet envelope labeled with your name and room number at your court meeting the week before finals. Residence Life Staff will deliver the envelope to your room/unit if you cannot make it to the meeting. Once you are ready to depart campus (your room is clean and empty), your last step is to drop your key packet off at your nearest dropbox. Place all your keys inside the envelope, sign your name on the designated spot and seal the envelope tightly. Drop boxes are located at the Lincoln Front Desk, Founders Front Desk, and HCOM Entry.

Q: Do I need to schedule an appointment to complete an Express Check-Out?
A: No. As long as you have completed your check out and vacate by 12pm on Saturday, May 11, 2024, for the Residence Halls, and 12pm on Sunday, May 12, 2024, for Apartments/Townhouses. Staying past the deadlines will result in an Improper Checkout or Contract Extension Fee.

Q: Are there any exceptions for students who need to stay past the closing time?
A: If you have a serious need to stay in your space past the closing date, you must request an extension prior to closing from your Area Coordinator. Please email them as soon as possible with your reason for the extension request. If you get approval to stay past closing, you will be charged $35/day for a Contract Extension Fee (those who remain for 3 additional days or more will be charged the weekly summer rate, $215 for non-family housing). Failure to obtain approval will result in a $50 Improper Check-Out/Failure to Comply Charge in addition to the Contract Extension Fee. (Note: If you have a Summer Housing Contract on file, you will not be charged any extension fees.)

Q: How do I avoid check-out charges?
A: Here are some handy tips to avoid any check-out charges.

  • Don’t be late: Failure to Failure to check out by noon on Saturday, May 11, 2024, for the Residence Halls and noon on Sunday, May 12, 2024, for Apartments/Townhouses will result in a $50 Improper Check-Out/Failure to Comply charge.
  • Clean it up: Have your room clean and free of all trash and belongings. Remove tape, command strips or stickers, dust surfaces, empty your trash cans, clean your bathroom and other common areas, etc. Failure to leave your room clean (as you found it when you moved in) will result in cleaning charges ranging from $30 to $125+.
  • Turn in your key(s): Missing or broken keys will result in a $50 – $100 Lost Key Charge.

Q: How can I avoid paying for damages or cleanliness issues caused by my roommate?
A: Create a cleaning plan with your roommate(s) a week before the first roommate plans to leave. If there is damage within a shared common area, you or a roommate can email your Area Coordinator  stating you/they accept responsibility for the damage and associated charge. If Residence Life Staff cannot determine who caused damage to a common space and neither party accepts responsibility, the damage charge will be divided equally among all residents of that space.

Q: How do you determine if there is a charge in my room?
A:  Staff rely on the room condition inventory you completed during check-in to determine if damages were pre-existing or caused during your stay. If you reported the existing damage during your check-in, you will not be charged for it at check out. Charges, if any, are determined by the Area Coordinators or Maintenance Staff after final walkthroughs Specific damage charge rates can be found on our website.