Student Dorms in Austin, TX

What is an individual lease?

An individual lease provides each resident with their own separate lease agreement and responsibility for his/her rental installments and applicable utility and parking charges. By signing an individual lease, you are only taking responsibility for your rental installments and lease terms and will not be held liable for any delinquent amounts owed by your roommate(s).

Do you send me a bill every month?

No, bills are not sent to residents each month, but you may see payment reminders posted around the property.

How can I make a payment?

We accept checks, money orders and cashier’s checks in our office made payable to the community name. As an alternative payment option we also accept credit card, debit cards and ACH payments online at https://connect.studenthousing.com for your convenience. We are unable to accept cash.

What is an installment?

The typical lease term is approximately 9.5 months of occupancy which coincides with the university's academic calendar. The resident is charged a total rent amount for the contracted occupancy period. The lease agreement will reflect the total rent amount typically divided into 10 equal installments due June 1 - March 1. These installments do not represent a monthly rent amount and are not prorated.

When are the installments due?

Installments are due on the 1st of every month per the payment schedule outlined in the lease agreement.

What is included?

Your rental installments include an academic lease in a fully furnished unit, your meal plan in the full-service dining hall, all utilities (electricity, water, internet, and cable) and access to all community amenities. Garage parking is available for an additional fee.

What is a guarantor?

To mitigate the risk of delinquent or defaulting residents, we require applicants to provide someone to guarantee their housing contract.

When is a guarantor required?

All residents require a guarantor to complete the guaranty agreement.

Can I be my own guarantor?

A resident can act as their own guarantor if they can show documentation as outlined in the lease agreement that they have income greater than three times the rental installment.

What paperwork is required with a guarantor?

The guarantor will need to sign the guaranty agreement. If the resident is not of legal age to execute a contract, the guarantor will be required to sign both the lease and guaranty agreement.

Can I fill out an application online?

You can access the online application by clicking the “Apply Online” link at the top of every page.

Can I print an application from the website?

You can access the printable PDF version of the application by clicking the “APPLY ONLINE!” link at the top of each page then selecting "Apply by mail" at the top of the page.

Can I request specific roommates?

Yes, you can list the roommates you have chosen on your profile card when completing your lease. It is important that all roommates list each other and that all requests are mutual.

Do you have a roommate matching service?

Yes, you will be given a profile card when completing your lease contract that will inquire as to your study habits, social habits, and hobbies to help us match you with residents that have similar preferences in your floor plan.

Am I allowed to request a specific unit?

You can list your preferences on your profile card and housing application and we will do our best to place you in the unit that fits those requests. All requests are served on a first-come, first-served basis and are taken in order based on the date your lease was received.

Is after hours staffing and maintenance available?

Yes, after hours Community Assistants will live on site and after hours maintenance will be available in the case of a maintenance emergency.

How do I qualify through Financial Aid?

If you are currently receiving need-based financial aid, you may automatically qualify. You would need to look at your current Financial Aid Award Letter for Fall 2018 and Spring 2019, then compare your grants/scholarships/loans to the approved need-based Financial Aid list. If you have any items that appear on the list, no matter the amount, then you automatically qualify for S.M.A.R.T. Housing.

How do I qualify through Income Verification?

If you do not qualify based on the need-based financial aid list, then you can attempt to qualify based on your annual income. Please contact our leasing office for more information on income verification.

How does the leasing process work for S.M.A.R.T. Housing?

1. Pre-qualify for S.M.A.R.T. Housing. a) If you are qualifying through Financial Aid, please bring your Financial Aid Award letter for Fall 2018/Spring 2019 into the leasing office. b) If you are qualifying through Income Verification, you will need to bring your most recent W2 and your 3 most recent pay stubs, your Financial Award letter for Fall 2018/Spring 2019, and your tuition bill into the leasing office. 2. Submit your housing application by clicking 'APPLY ONLINE', pay the applicable upfront fees, and complete the S.M.A.R.T. Housing forms. 3. Once your S.M.A.R.T. Housing paperwork is complete, you will be able to sign a Lease Agreement.

What is S.M.A.R.T. Housing?

S.M.A.R.T. Housing is a program created by the city of Austin to assist students who are either receiving need-based financial aid or who are paying for school through student loans. It is designed to assist those who are working to cover their living expenses. Parental support (money given by parents to cover living expenses) is taken into consideration as income - it is limited and cannot be the only source of income.

What is the cancellation policy?

Application:
If you would like to cancel your application at The Callaway House Austin please notify us in writing of your intent to cancel. If you paid a Security Deposit, this amount will be refunded to you via check within 30 days. All other fees paid during the application process are non-refundable.

Lease:
Your lease can be cancelled at The Callaway House Austin on or prior to May 1, 2020 ONLY if the applicant provides proof that they will not be attending an Austin Area College or University. All requests must be in writing or postmarked by May 1, 2020. You must include your denial letter or proof that you rejected your acceptance to an Austin Area College or University.
 
After May 1, 2020, cancellation will be allowed ONLY if the applicant is denied admission to an Austin Area College or university, and who send a certified denial letter of their non-admission within 5 business days of receiving it.
 
Application fee, administrative fee, and confirmation fee paid to date will be forfeited after May 1, 2020.