FAQs

Each apartment is fully furnished and equipped with a complete appliance package. Within each apartment there is a kitchen, dining/living area, four private bedrooms, and two bathrooms.

     The bedroom furniture package includes:
        ♦ Full-size bed with mattress
        ♦ Desk
        ♦ Chair
        ♦ Dresser

     The dining/living area furniture package includes:
        ♦ Upholstered couch
        ♦ Upholstered chair
        ♦ End table
        ♦ Dining table and chairs
        ♦ Entertainment center

     The appliance package includes:
        ♦ Washer/dryer
        ♦ Refrigerator/freezer
        ♦ Stove/oven
        ♦ Microwave
        ♦ Dishwasher
        ♦ Garbage disposal

     Other Amenities Included with rent:
        ♦ High speed internet
        ♦ Basic plus cable in bedrooms and living room
        ♦ Central air conditioning
        ♦ Heat, water, sewer, gas
        ♦ Garbage disposal
        ♦ Community Center with game room, fitness area, cyber lounge, TV room.
        ♦ Nintendo Wii for use in the community center

Yes, you must put the names of your desired apartment mates on the Roommate Matching Form (part of the online application). While we do not guaranty that all requests will be met, we will try our best to accommodate your request. We fill spaces based on time of lease signing. It would be best if you coordinate with your apartment mates a common time that you would all come to the Ridge to sign a lease.

You may indicate your preference for building, apartment, floor number and any special conditions that you have, which may require specific accommodation. Requests are not guaranteed and failure to be placed according to preferences does not constitute justification for breaking a lease.

If your apartment has an unoccupied space, University Ridge reserves the right to place an eligible resident in that space at any time without notice. When placing student in a partial assignment (i.e. Two students want to live together, causing us the need to assign two other students), we refer to the roommate matching form.

Yes, all apartment mates must sign for the same lease term so we are able to turnover the entire apartment at time of check out. Please speak to your apartment mates to decide what lease term is suitable for all of you.

You will be able to know which room will be yours at the time of lease signing. If you are mailing in your lease, we will contact you and let you know where you will be staying provided that we have the space to place you.

You are financially responsible for all damages in the room that you are assigned.

Depending on the summer, University Ridge residents on an academic lease may be able to take advantage of our summer storage program. For a fraction of a month’s rent you will be able to store your belongings in your apartment for next year! Please contact the office for information and pricing!

There are four reasons a lease may be broken and none are 100% guaranteed. A student must fill out a Petition for Lease Cancellation, found in the Application and Forms tab, and turn it into professional staff in the Leasing Office.

If a student is graduating, withdrawing or transfering from ESU, they will select the "cancellation" option on the Petition. There is a $300 cancel fee if we are not 100% full. If we have someone to take over the space AND there are no other openings at the University Ridge the charge will be a $150 lease transfer fee.

If a student is continuing at ESU but wants to leave the Ridge they will select the "delay" option. If the student or Ridge staff find someone to take over the space the student will be charged a $150 lease transfer fee and will be removed from the lease. If no one is available to take the space the student will not be released. 

At time of lease signing, you must bring the following with you:
        ♦ Application: Completed online application with $50 (non-refundable).
        ♦ One-time administrative fee: $200 (non-refundable).
        ♦ NOTE: You may combine payments into one check or money order
        ♦ Lease and Rules and Regulations-Must be signed in presence of Ridge staff
        ♦ Completed and NOTARIZED Guaranty of Lease form
        ♦ Photo ID (Driver license or E-Card only), your Social Security #
        ♦ Check/money orders only will be accepted with your name on the bottom left corner.

Yes, absolutely, without a doubt. Not only should you read the forms, please make sure your guarantor/sponsor reads the information thoroughly as well. We follow all landlord-tenant laws in accordance with Pennsylvania State law. Please understand that your lease and all other paperwork you sign are legally binding as well as the rules and regulations which are incorporated into the lease.

When you do the online application with the $50 application fee, you are letting us know that you are interested in living at the Ridge but there is no official contract between you and the Ridge. If we hit maximum occupancy and we still have your application on file, we will keep you on a waitlist, until you tell us that you are no longer interested in keeping your application active. The $50 application fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. When you sign a lease, you are signing a legal document that will be enforced in accordance with PA State Law and you are responsible for all components of the documents. If you fail to meet the requirements of the lease document after you signed with us, you must inform University Ridge staff immediately so we can inform you of the process from that point. All app/redecoration fees are non-refundable and non-transferable.

The $200 administrative fee is a one-time fee paid by University Ridge residents and is good for as long as you consecutively renew your lease. If you sign for future lease terms, you do not have to pay the redecoration fee again. The fee goes toward the turnover costs associated with returning your apartment to its move-in condition. NOTE: This does NOT cover excessive cleaning or more expensive damages to the apartment. We assume “normal wear and tear” such as small nail holes, carpet, and furniture wear. However, anything deemed by University Ridge staff as that of beyond normal wear and tear, you will be financially responsible.

No, you do not have to pay a security deposit. You will still be financially liable for all damages beyond that of normal wear and tear as deemed by the University Ridge staff. You will need to make sure that you take care of the apartment, clean often, and return to the condition that you received it.

Yes, unless someone takes responsibility for a particular damage or cleaning charge. In the event that we do not know who is responsible for damage, all residents will be charged equally. PLEASE NOTE: BOTH BATHROOMS ARE CONSIDERED COMMON AREA AND ARE NOT ASSIGNED SO EACH RESIDENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR EACH BATHROOM REGARDLESS OF PREFERRED USAGE.

The first payment for your lease is due on August 1^st and the subsequent payments are due the first day of each month. You are not paying for living at the Ridge the month of August; you are making your first installment to pay off your balance. Think of it as a credit card balance without interest. Since financial aid checks do not get dispersed until the first week of classes, you must start to plan ahead to pay your rent in a timely manner.

We do not issue invoices/bills. Payments are due on the first of every month without notice. Please remember this so as to avoid late fee charges (5%) for payments not made in accordance with the lease.

We accept checks, money orders, and online payments via a checking account or credit card. If you pay with an online check, there is no charge. If you pay with a credit card (Visa, MasterCard) there is a 2.5% processing fee added to your payment. Please note that debit cards will be processed as a credit transaction.

Yes, you are the lessee, not your parent/guarantor; as such you are legally and financially liable for all components of your lease. University Ridge does not receive payments directly from ESU when financial aid is disbursed.

Students living at University Ridge Apartments are held to the ESU Student Code of Conduct found in the student handbook. In addition, there are certain rules and regulations established that are intended to promote community building and academic success. These can be found on this website under the “Application/Forms” tab at the top.

Yes, all residents of University Ridge can have a vehicle and park it at University Ridge. However, to park on campus during the business day, students must have 60 credits or more, or be at least 21 years old. Those who do not meet those requirements may get to campus by taking the ESU shuttle or carpool with friends to campus during the day.

Yes, but you should discuss this process with the ESU Financial Aid office. When completing your financial aid paperwork, please note that University Ridge is considered off-campus housing and will NOT receive the money transfer from the University directly. They will cut a check to you and then you will pay us. You are still responsible for the payments until you get the refund and the late fees will still be applied so plan accordingly.

You need to move out by the date mentioned on your lease, but you can move out any time before that during normal office hours. Note: you are still responsible for all your payments regardless of your move out date.

In order to move out:

1. Remove all your belongings from the apartment.
2. Clean and arrange the apartment as you received it.
3. Lock your window, bedroom door and apartment door upon leaving.
4. Check your mailbox.
5. Fill out a mail forwarding card with the local post office.
6. Bring all four keys to the office during office hours and sign in your keys.

Recommendations

1. You may want to wait until the last day of your lease to make sure the apartment is in the condition you would like it to be. Moving out earlier than your roommates prevents you from having the ability to check the condition and may result in charges you did not expect.
2. You can schedule an unofficial walk through of your apartment at least 24 hours in advance with professional staff to receive suggestions of what to do in the apartment before moving out.
3. Any common area damage will be split between all roommates unless the person or persons responsible let us know in writing. Note: both bathrooms are considered common space, and we do not know who used which during the year.

Any ESU student who is not a first year freshman. Transfer freshmen up to graduate students are welcome!