If You Won't Be Returning to Campus for Winter Term
First, tell your roommates. If you are on the same lease, you will need to figure out how your portion of the rent will be paid after you go. This usually is resolved primarily by the tenant who is leaving subletting his/her room. “Subletting" is when the original tenant remains on the original lease, and forms a contractual agreement (that should agree with the original lease) with a subtenant. The subtenant leases all or part of the rental unit from the tenant. The sublease agreement is usually not for the whole lease term.

The original tenant is still ultimately responsible if the subtenant damages the apartment or misses a payment. For this reason, subletting is risky because the original tenant, in effect, becomes a landlord. When subletting, make sure your subtenant has a copy of the original lease, so that, they know all the terms of your agreement with your landlord.

A “lease assignment" is when a new tenant substitutes for the original tenant for the remainder of the lease period. The original tenant is no longer responsible for the lease/rental unit. Assignments are better for the original tenant, but some landlords prefer that tenants sublet their rental space. Make sure to get the terms of the assignment in writing.

What If Your Apartment Springs A Leak?
Even if you and your landlord do what you can to prevent pipes from bursting, there is always the chance of other plumbing problems or heavy rain fall creating an inflow of rain or waste water in your rental. Ice dams that form after some heavy snow storms may result in a slow trickle of melting ice that meanders through rooftops and into tenants living space. Notify your landlord immediately if you discover a leak and report all damages you have discovered.

Arrange a time to show the landlord where the dripping occurred. Request a timeline for follow-up by the landlord and contact him/her if the timeline is not met and request an update on the progress of fixing the leak. If the leak continues and the landlord is not responding, you can notify the City of Ann Arbor Housing Bureau (994-2674) and arrange a visit by an Inspector. The Inspector will determine if any housing codes are being violated due to the leak and will issue a report to the landlord with instructions for correction. If the landlord still does not respond and/or if the leak is limiting your use of your rental, contact the Off-Campus Housing Office at 763-3205 and/or Student Legal Services at 763-9920.

Weatherproofing for Holiday Break
Preparing your apartment or house for the time when you are away between fall and winter terms is essential but many tenants fail to consider this during the frenzy of finals before they leave. Every year, a number of students discovered when they returned from break that their pipes had burst and many of their belongings were damaged by water. In most cases, this problem would have been prevented if the heat in the rental had been set at a temperature warm enough to keep pipes from freezing. If the tenants control the heat and electricity, and turn it down too low or off for too long, they should expect to have to pay for any related damages. Contact your landlord or rental office to ask what setting they advise for your apartment or house.

Another step you should take, if you haven’t already, is to purchase renter’s insurance before you pack up for holiday break. Renter's insurance gives you peace of mind to know that even if some unforeseen event damages your things, you can file a claim to recover your losses. Your landlord’s property insurance covers the building, but not your personal property. The least expensive policies are those that can be added to your car insurance or your parents' insurance. If these alternatives are not available to you, you can purchase personal property insurance from many insurance agencies. Consult the Renter's Insurance Informational sheet located on the general information page of this site, or at the Housing Information Office, or the yellow pages in your phone book for a listing of local insurance agents.

Talk to your roommates and landlord now about preparing for being away for winter break. Enjoy your time and relax!

Securing Your Home Before the Holidays
As the holiday breaks approach, make sure your home is secured before leaving. Robbery and burglary comprise of 30% of crimes reported in the city of Ann Arbor. Crimes of opportunity can occur anywhere. Please take these steps to safeguard your home.
1. Take valuables home during vacation.
2. Lock windows and doors.
3. Notify your landlord of your absence.
4. Stop mail and newspapers, or have someone pick them up.
5. Set a timer so that it appears someone is home throughout the day.
6. Lock up your bike if you brought one to campus.
7. If you plan on leaving your car on campus, please ensure that is properly stored. If there is a snow emergency, your car can be towed if it is parked in the streets and not an assigned spot.