graduate house
Moving Out
We’re sad to see you go, but Graduate House isn’t a forever home so congratulations on moving forward! There are a few things you should know about moving out before you start packing your bags.
These move-out instructions are intended to make the process of moving out fair and transparent. You are expected to leave your room and suite in a clean condition, ready for the next person to move in. Although normal wear and tear is expected, you must leave your suite fully cleaned and tidy.
Giving Notice
If you need to give notice, please complete an online Early Withdrawal Form on the StarRez portal
1
Log on to the StarRez portal
2
Click on ‘Manage my housing’
3
Click on ‘Select’ beside the current booking
4
Click on the drop-down menu and select the ‘Early Withdrawal Form’ option, then click ‘Continue’
5
Read the Early Withdrawal Form, and provide all the required information
How to Check Out
If you’re leaving during office hours
Return your fob, laundry card and mailbox key to the Front Desk by 3pm.
Put all keys together in a sealed envelope, with your full name, suite and room number on it. Unfortunately, Graduate House is unable to refund any extra money left on your laundry card so try to use up your balance.
If you’re leaving outside of office hours
If you are leaving outside of office hours, including over the weekend, please put your fob, laundry card and mailbox key in an envelope with your full name, suite and room number. Place it in the Drop Box in the lobby.
If you return any keys after 3pm on your move out date, you will automatically be charged for non-returned keys as outlined in your signed copy of your Occupancy Agreement.
Preparing for Move Out
Prepare your room and suite for move out.
YOUR ROOM
- Once you have packed all your belongings, vacuum your bedroom carpet.
- Clean your desk and bookshelf with a damp cloth to remove dirt and dust.
- Please ensure that your white mattress cover is clean. Graduate House charges a replacement fee if your cover is stained or discoloured.
- You do not need to dust the blinds in your room or living room.
- When you are finished, close and lock the door. This ensures your room remains in the condition you left it when we inspect it for damages.
THE SUITE
- Vacuum and mop the floors.
- Clean the bathrooms, including the toilet and the toilet base. Please do not use an abrasive cleaner on the bathtub; this could damage the no-slip strips.
- Clean the kitchen counters, stovetop, oven, microwave, and refrigerator. Scrub and rinse the kitchen sink, and remove any obvious debris from the drain-catch.
- Wipe the cupboards, inside and out.
After your room and suite are inspected and your keys have been collected, the Facilities Supervisor will assess the condition of your room and suite to determine whether any damage charges should be placed on your Student Account. Any charges are recorded on the Damage Assessment Form.
Before assigning responsibility for damages, Graduate House will pay very close attention to the results of previous move-out inspections, as well as the resident’s own Schedule A/Room Inventory Form.
Residents are held responsible for any damage charges that result from their own actions (and those of their guests), or the actions of their suite (if it is not possible to establish individual responsibility) as provided for in the Occupancy Agreement.
Graduate House can provide a complete breakdown of any damage charges assessed and, wherever possible, any/all supporting invoices.
The cost of all damages and/or deficiencies will be posted to your ACORN account. If the damage is in the common areas of your suite, the cost will be shared among the suitemates (unless one person comes forward and assumes full responsibility for the damage). You should check your ACORN account on-line in the weeks following your move. At times of year when there are large numbers of move-outs / move-ins (August, September, April, May), processing of move-out inspection forms and damage assessments can take up to 6 weeks.
Please be advised that any damage charges will be placed on your ACORN account shortly after notification is sent to you.
Damage charges for Non U of T students will be deducted from their damage deposit.
Damage charges represent the standard rate for a particular type of repair, based on charges to us by U of T Facilities & Services. Should the final cost be a different amount, we will contact you and adjust the charge.
Residents have the right to appeal damage charges. Those wishing to do so must submit an appeal in writing, within 30 days of receiving notification of a damage charge.
Damage appeals should be submitted to the Manager of Finance, Operations and Administration, who completes appeal, including the review for completeness and documentation from the Facilities Supervisor.
Residents considering an appeal of damage charges should bear in mind that supporting documentation greatly increases the likelihood of a successful appeal. Appeals consisting of a simple denial of committing damage, without any supporting written documentation, are generally unsuccessful.
An appeal may be denied when there is insufficient documentation on the condition of the room; therefore, it is important to document the condition of your room and suite in two ways
- When you first move in, carefully review the condition of your suite and room, and submit a completed inventory form to the Graduate House Office within one week of your arrival. If you fail to submit your inventory form document within one week of moving in, all aspects of your suite and room are deemed to have been in good condition and good working order at the start of your occupancy.
- When you are preparing to move out, arrange a Pre-Move-Out Inspection, during which a member of the Graduate House facilities staff will meet you in your suite to assess its condition and advise of any obvious deficiencies observed at that time. Documentation of your Pre-Move-Out Inspection is a helpful addition to your Schedule A document for establishing the condition of your room and suite, particularly the common areas which may continue to be used by non-departing suitemates after you move out.
You will be notified (by email) of the outcome of your appeal within 30 days after submission. If your appeal is successful, the notification will include details about the adjustment or reversal of damage charges applied to your student account (or, in the case of non-UofT summer residents, arrangements for a refund payment for adjusted or reversed charges).
Once you have moved out, we will discard any items remaining in your room, bathroom, kitchen, storage closet, and/or other areas of your suite.
You will be charged a minimum flat rate of $25 per filled garbage bag for the removal of any items that you leave behind.
Don’t forget!
Don’t forget to change your address. Canada Post will not forward mail from any student residence under any circumstances. For this reason, we cannot forward your mail to your new address.
Step-by-Step
Move Out Checklist
- Remove all belongings. Remember to double check commonly missed spots, such as in cupboards or under stairs. Abandoned items will be discarded and garbage bag fees may apply.
- Empty the fridge/freezer and remove all food from the cupboards. Dispose of it in the correct garbage bins.
- Clean and wipe down surfaces, including the fridge/freezer and stovetop.
- Donate any unwanted clothing into the Diabetes Canada boxes (located in the ground floor garbage room or by the elevators on each floor)
- Make sure your fob, mailbox key, laundry card and bike tag are ready to return. You can return them to the Service Desk during opening hours. If you’re returning after hours, pick up an envelope from the desk and put them in the drop box in the lobby.
- Borrow a moving cart to help move your belongings. Ask the Service Desk for the key and pick up the cart from Bike Room A on the ground floor. Please return your cart when finished.