Learn how to cancel or return to housing before submitting your request. Late fees apply.
How to Cancel Housing
Submit a Housing Cancellation Form by logging in to the Residential Portal with your HarvardKey and selecting Housing Forms.
Submitting a Housing Cancellation Form does three important things:
- Notifies the College that you no longer plan to reside on campus.
- Allows you to declare your anticipated move-out date.
- Helps determine what days you lived in residence for accurate billing.
We will adjust your billing based on the last night you lived on campus. Harvard University Dining Services (HUDS) manages food charges soon after we process your cancellation form.
When to Cancel Housing
Submit a Housing Cancellation form in the Residential Portal if you:
| Are approved to go on leave of absence | Required to withdraw |
| Apply to study abroad | Plan to move off-campus |
- Review your financial obligations before you request a leave. Cancel your housing and check out of your room on time to avoid a fee.
- You can submit a Returning Student Application (RSA) at the same time as a cancellation form. Speak with your Resident Dean or House Administrator if you have questions about returning to your House.
- Cancel your housing when you apply to study abroad to avoid fees. If your plans change, you can always request to return to housing.
- You can cancel your housing in the Residential Portal at any time, if you want to live off campus. Consider whether to affiliate with the Dudley Community at the time of cancellation.*
For questions about the Dudley Community, speak with your House Administrator or the Dudley Community Coordinator.
*Sophomores who move off-campus prior to living in the Houses will be affiliated with the Dudley Community by default.
How to Return to Housing
We recommend submitting your returning student application at the same time you cancel your housing.
Apply to return to housing by the deadline to reserve a space in your House. Log in to the Residential Portal with your HarvardKey and select Housing Forms, then, Returning Student Application.
If you miss the deadline to return to housing, you will be placed on a space-available waitlist for your House. If any room becomes available in your House, you will be placed into that space by your House Administrator. This means you are not able to go through the House lottery process.
If you are waitlisted for your House, you cannot apply to transfer to another House as a means of getting off the waitlist.
Returning Student Application Deadlines
| SPRING 2025 | FALL 2025 |
|---|---|
| Monday, October 14, 2024 11:59 PM | Monday, February 3, 2025 11:59 PM |
Refunds and Fees
You will be refunded housing and meal costs only after you submit your Housing Cancellation Form in the Residential Portal and return your room keys.
Refunds: After we process your housing refund in 5-7 business days, expect a 24-hour delay in seeing account changes reflected in my.harvard.
Harvard University Dining Services (HUDS) manages food charges once we process your cancellation form. You do not need to separately reach out to HUDS.
Fees: You are subject to late cancellation fees. If your form is submitted too late in the term you will be unable to recoup any cost. We are unable to waive late cancellation fees unless:
- The University is responsible for the check-out delay.
- The student has a serious illness or hospitalization.
- There is a death in the student’s immediate family.
Fall 2024 – Late Housing Cancellation Fees
If you cancel your Fall 2024 housing in the Residential Portal during these dates, your late housing cancellation fee will be:
| On or Before May 12 | Waived |
| May 13 – June 16 | $200 |
| June 17 – July 14 | $300 |
| July 15 – August 4 | $400 |
| August 5 – September 9* | $500 |
*Starting September 10, you will be billed $69.10 for each day you live in College housing, as you are utilizing this resource. If you cancel housing on or after the last day of classes, you will be responsible for the entire term’s housing cost of $6461.
Spring 2025 – Late Housing Cancellation Fees
If you cancel your Spring 2025 housing in the Residential Portal during these dates, your late housing cancellation fee will be:
| On or Before November 10 | Waived |
| November 11 – November 24 | $200 |
| November 25 – December 15 | $300 |
| December 16 – January 12 | $400 |
| January 13 – February 3* | $500 |
*Starting February 4, you will be billed $69.10 for each day you live in College housing, as you are utilizing this resource. If you cancel housing on or after the last day of classes, you will be responsible for the entire term’s housing cost of $6461.
Upcoming Deadlines
Deadlines for Returning to Housing
Deadlines for Cancelling Housing
FAQ
If I get assigned to a House but need to take a leave in the fall, will I lose my House assignment?
No. When you submit your Returning Student Application you are returning to your House. If your application is late, you will not be guaranteed housing, but if your House has space they will accommodate you. Contact your House Administrator if you have any questions.
I am taking a leave of absence mid-term but planning to return next term. When should I fill out the RSA?
You must apply to return to housing by the deadline to reserve a space in your House.
Can I apply to return to college housing for a future term, if I know when I’m returning?
Yes. You can select it in the application. If you do not see the term you need on the application, contact our office.
Where will I live if I am on leave or withdrawn my first term?
If you complete your first term and then take a leave of absence you will participate in the Rising Sophomore Housing Lottery with the rest of your class. You will be affiliated with that House when you return. If you do not complete your first term, you will return to Harvard Yard.