Spring Move-Out

This page is under construction. We will update Move-In information for 2020-21 as it is available. For the latest information please visit: Updates on Fall 2020 Housing / COVID Response.

We are here to support students during the COVID-19 virus pandemic.

The Berkeley Health Department has confirmed that the “shelter in place” order does not prevent students from moving out of our student housing facilities to reside somewhere else. While moving out, it is vitally important you continue to practice social distancing.

• Keep 6 feet away from others at all times.
• If you have masks and gloves, we encourage you to wear them while you are moving out. 
• Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or with alcohol-based hand sanitizer (contains at least 60% alcohol) regularly.
• This is NOT a time for socializing. Collect your belongings and move out as quickly as possible. Do not hug each other or gather for photos.
• If you see someone in an elevator, wait for the next one to provide ample space between you and the other residents. 
• If you see someone in the stairwell, yield to the person going downstairs. If you are going upstairs, take the exit to the nearest floor and wait in the hallway until the person going down has passed.

Students may choose to continue to live on-campus. If so, you will be able to remain on-campus and use the dining facilities through the end of your housing contract (May 17, 2020 for undergraduate housing residents).

Undergraduate housing residents who wish to move out due to the COVID-19 situation must:

• Fill out an undergraduate housing cancellation form and submit it electronically to Cal Housing at least five business days prior to your move out.
• Select a cancellation date:
  • April 10
  • April 20
• After April 20, we will not offer any further cancellations and you will be financially responsible for the remainder of your contract.
• Move out all of your belongings and return all keys to the front desk on your selected cancellation date. 
• A housing staff member will verify your key return and check the room to ensure vacancy. Your student account will be credited once both are completed.
• You must submit a cancellation form to receive a refund. Please note that simply moving out of housing will not meet the criteria and you will not receive any refund.
• If you are not able to move out on the specified dates above, please choose the cancellation date following your actual move out.

Graduate students and those at University Village who wish to move out due to the COVID-19 situation must submit an Intent to Vacate form to Cal Housing noting the preferred move out date at least ten business days prior ( UVA Intent to Vacate form, single graduate student Intent to Vacate form). We are relaxing the 30-day notice given the special circumstances but still need time to accommodate your selected date. You may choose a later date up to May 31, 2020.

Move Out Options

Move yourself - Please bring as few people as possible to help you move out, as strict social distancing protocols will be observed. Plan to be patient, it is very important that we keep people distant from each other and this will make the process of moving out slower than it would be otherwise. We have conducted a walk-through to see which rooms and buildings are still occupied. If you live in an area still densely occupied, we will provide more information by Thursday night about distancing and possibly staggering move out times. 

Have a friend or family member move your belongings - Arrangements must be made in advance through the housing front desk at your housing unit. You will be required to 1) put the request in writing using your email account of record, 2) include all roommates on the communication as they may still be on campus or returning so must be aware of the room being entered, 3) set up an appointment time and 4) provide the name/relationship of the person you are authorizing to retrieve your belongings. Appointment times are limited and all non-residents must be escorted by housing staff. You are also responsible for all moving supplies. Keys must be returned to the front desk upon move out so plan accordingly to ensure their return. If you need mailing addresses for the front desks, should you wish to mail keys to us, please call your front desk. We are not responsible for any keys not received so encourage you to use tracking if mailing keys.

Use a moving company (for a cost) - You may select and pay for a moving company on your own. You will need to set up an appointment time and they will need to be escorted; please follow the friend or family member directions above.  

The moving service offered through the University has ended. Students who still need their belongings moved out of their space are encouraged to find alternative options. Reminders for students who did use the moving service: Your student account will be charged a packaged price of $400 (Additional charges may apply for excessive amounts of items that required additional labor/materials.) Your belongings will be stored until August 27th, 2020; it is your responsibility to pick up your items by then or make arrangements directly with the moving company for shipping or extended storage. Email any questions or concerns about the moving service to jarmada202@berkeley.edu. 

Financial Details

Whether you choose to remain or leave, financial aid for your housing expenses will continue as planned.

If you live in on-campus undergraduate housing and chose to end your contract, you will receive one full installment refund along with a partial installment refund based on your exact cancellation date. Students will receive their refund minus any outstanding charges such as a library fine (only affects a small number of students).

• April 10 - 1 installment plus a prorated installment (33% refund of spring charges)
• April 20 - 1 installments plus a prorated installment (24% refund of spring charges)

For reference, there are five installments per semester (five in the Fall, five in the Spring). You can see all of the installments in CalCentral under "My Finances," "Billing Summary." For details on your meal plan refund, see here.

Refunds will be sent via Direct Deposit. If Direct Depost is not active, refund checks will be mailed to the local address listed in CalCentral. To update your local address, see "Profile." Checks will not be avilable for pick up at Cal Student Central at this time.

Leaving Immediately

If you are moving out all of your belongings and wish to leave immediately, we ask that you notify us by returning all keys to the front desk on your move-out date. If it’s after hours, please utilize the after-hours envelopes to return your keys. You will still need to submit the appropriate form ( undergraduate housing cancellation form , UVA Intent to Vacate form, single graduate student Intent to Vacate form ) and select a cancellation date. Important reminder: you must submit a form to receive a refund. Simply moving out of housing will not meet the criteria and you will not receive a refund.

A housing staff member will verify your key return and then check the room to ensure vacancy. Your student account will be credited once both are completed.

If you are not able to move out on the specified dates, please choose the cancellation date following your actual move out.

QUICK FAQs - Spring 2020: (please also see our more detailed Housing FAQs)

The State of California and Bay Area counties have issued "shelter in place" orders. Can I still move out?
Yes. Both the California statewide and Bay Area “shelter in place” orders do not prevent students from moving out of student housing facilities to reside somewhere else.

How do I check out if I’m leaving after the front desk is closed?
Please return your keys via our after hours process of placing them in a check out envelope (available at the front desk), fill out the information and then place the envelope in the designated drop area. Make sure you have also submitted a contract cancelation form to Cal Housing in advance of your move out as we require both a form and your keys in order to be able to credit your account for housing charges.

Can I leave my belongings in my room and return to campus later in April or May to pick them up? 

Your housing contract runs until May 17, 2020 (for single student undergraduates) so unless you take action to cancel, you may leave your belongings until then but will not receive any housing refund or proration.

However, as we may need to consolidate students into certain housing buildings in order to be able to deliver services and create a safer community, it is possible that at some future point access to your items may become temporarily restricted, so you are encouraged to contact your unit front desk to notify us of your plans and discuss options.

Please also be mindful that any items remaining in your room at the end of your contract may result in a cleaning fee and possibly disposal of left-behind items. We truly wish to avoid this, so please remember to take all your belongings by the end of your contract. Do note that failure to remove the items from your room upon the end of your contract may result in a cleaning fee and disposal of all belongings left behind.

What if I’m not returning to campus and no longer want the items I left behind?
In order to qualify for a housing refund or pro-ration, you must submit a housing cancellation form selecting from one of the three dates noted as well as return your keys to the front desk. In order for Cal Housing to better process your cancellation, please contact your housing area front desk to notify us of your plans. Note that any items remaining in the room once all roommates have left for the semester will be disposed of and a cleaning fee - which may be significant depending on the volume of left-behind items - may apply. We truly wish to avoid this, so please remember to take all your belongings or have someone do so for you by the end of your contract.

Have further questions? Check out our Housing FAQ page for additional answers regarding our housing operations in light of COVID-19.

Summer Housing

If you need to stay on campus through the summer, please contact Cal Housing as they offer summer housing in a variety of locations and are happy to work with you on ensuring a safe and healthy place to live on or near campus.

Keys and Room Inspections

All keys must be returned to your Unit office no later than 10 a.m. on May 17, 2020. Failure to return all keys issued to you will result in a charge for the locks to be changed ($75 to $100 per key or lock).

Unit staff will inspect all rooms after the last resident vacates. Any damage, trash removal, and/or cleaning charges will be assessed back to the room residents. Please speak with your RA about any damage that you caused and need to be billed for. Otherwise charges will be split between roommates.

Recycle

Please recycle your unwanted items:

• Mixed paper collection, readers, and notebooks
• CRTs, computer monitors, televisions, and electronics
• Clothing, linen, kitchenware, and appliances

The campus coordinates a program at the end of each semester for recycling and reuse prior to the winter holiday and summer move-out/clean-out.

Unit Front Desk Contact Information

Please contact your unit Front Desk for any questions regarding Move-Out

Unit 1 (incl Channing Bowditch and Jackson Apts)	510.642.3141	u1admin@berkeley.edu
Unit 2	510.642.3143	u2admin@berkeley.edu
Max Martinez	510.642.8517	u2admin@berkeley.edu
Unit 3 (incl Beverly Cleary and Manville)	510.642.5391	u3admin@berkeley.edu
Unit 4 (Foothill, La Loma, Stern)	510.642.9703	fhadmin@berkeley.edu
Unit 5 (CKC)	510.642.6290	ckcadmin@berkeley.edu

Meal Plan End-Dates

Visit caldining.berkeley.edu for information about meal plan end-dates and changes due to COVID-19.