FAQ: Parents

We have received a lot of questions from parents about what they should expect in regards to their student living in a fraternity house. Below are answers to a lot of frequently asked questions.

Do you require a signature from a guarantor?

We do not require a signature from a guarantor. However, the Housing Agreement does state that, “Student shall secure an agreement with a parent, guardian, or other financially capable adult guaranteeing performance of all financial obligations provided herein.”

Can parents submit maintenance requests?

Maintenance requests can be submitted by anyone, and can be found here. If you are submitting a maintenance request as a parent, please list your student as the contact and give us your student’s contact information so we can reach out to them directly about the issue(s).

What’s the difference between dues and rent?

Dues are paid to the chapter for chapter activities, insurance, etc. Rent is paid directly to the house corporation in order to run the facility, with no involvement from the chapter.

Is there any adult supervision in the house?

At some houses, we may elect to, or be required to, place a House Director (similar to a university RA) in the facility in order to help the chapter and/or house operate smoothly.

How do I view my student’s housing agreement?

Your student has access to their Housing Agreement by logging into their RentCafé account. If you would like to see a copy of their Agreement, you can ask them to send you a copy or ask them to share their login information with you.

Can I also get copies of my student’s bills?

Your student has access to their current ledger by logging into their RentCafé account. If you would like to see a copy of their ledger, you can ask them to send you a copy or ask them to share their login information with you. Additionally, we email copies of Student ledgers to your student frequently and occasionally mail paper copies to their home address if they provided one to us.

What furniture is in the rooms?

Each house is slightly different, but your housing agreement should specify what, if any furniture, may be in your room when you move in.If you still have questions, please feel free to reach out to us or your chapter’s leadership.

When is move-in/move-out and what do we need to know?

The house will be open at noon on the first day of the housing agreement term for move-in, unless an alternate date/time has been agreed upon between the chapter executive board and house corporation. Individuals can move-in whenever they want, after noon, unless a different process has been communicated, as was the case in Fall 2020 due to COVID-19. An email will be sent to everyone in advance with a reminder of the specific date and time, as well as a few tips for move-in and a move-in room condition form.

All tenants will need to be moved out by noon on the last day of the housing agreement term, unless an alternate date/time has been agreed upon between the chapter executive board and house corporation. An email will be sent to everyone in advance with a reminder of the specific date and time, as well as a reminder of the conditions that we require the bedrooms and common spaces to be left in.

Will the house be cleaned over the summer before move-in?

The house is cleaned over the summer prior to move-in. If there are issues with cleanliness of your room, please fill out the move-in form and return it to us.

How often is the house cleaned during the year?

We have the house cleaned every summer. For the duration of the housing agreement, the tenants are responsible for making sure that the house remains clean. We may elect or work with the chapter to have additional cleaning done at our discretion.

Will any work be done at the house over the summer?

Shortly after the housing agreement ends, a staff member will visit the house to do a walkthrough. Based on the walkthrough, a list of repairs and maintenance is generated. Repairs, maintenance, and any additional work that we are doing gets completed over the summer.

Is there a pest control company that services the house?

We have an existing service contract with a pest control company. They do monthly inspections/treatments. If there is a specific pest concern, please let us know by completing the maintenance request form and we can contact our pest control vendor for additional service.

Is there parking at the house?

Each house is slightly different, but parking is available at most houses. If you are unsure about the parking situation at your specific house, please feel free to reach out to us or your chapter’s leadership.

Will I have access to a kitchen to cook for myself?

Each house is slightly different, but in houses with commercial kitchens, the commercial kitchens are kept off limits to Students for safety reasons. For more information on your specific chapter house, please contact us or ask your chapter’s leadership.