Room Inspection
Moving In
Room Inspection
All students checking in to Cornell housing are encouraged to review the condition of their room, suite, or apartment. Inspecting the space gives the student an opportunity to report any damage and file a maintenance request so that repairs can be made.
Students should contact their Residence Hall Director with any questions, or they may contact the Service Center staff for the area of campus they live.
Moving Out and Damage Costs
When a resident moves out, the room condition is assessed by residential staff, Building Care, and Student and Campus Life (SCL) Facilities to record any damage to the room, suite, or apartment accrued during occupancy.
Resident Responsibilities for Damage
Students are expected to behave in a manner that is cognizant of the environment in which they live and reduces the risk of damage occurring. Damage may lead to curtailment of services, loss of ability to make repairs, and/or increased room rates. The actions of individual residents have a profound impact on the community as a whole.
A student may be charged for damage, missing furniture, items and keys, uncleaned units, and belongings left behind. Room furnishings must be in their proper location at Move-out.
Accidental or Intentional Damage
Damage is the loss of value or usefulness as a result of negligence or misuse. Damage may be classified as either accidental or malicious. Accidental damage is damage occurring through unintentional, chance happenings. Intentional damage is damage occurring through deliberate happenings (e.g., alcohol use, disruptive behavior, misuse of equipment, etc.). Damage also includes any occurrence which necessitates additional and/or unreasonable custodial and/or maintenance services.
Assessment of Charges
Damage billing is typically done at the closing of the living units for break periods. However, excessive or unusual damage may be billed during the semester. The supervisor of the residence, in conjunction with Student and Campus Life Facilities staff and Housing and Residential Life, will determine the appropriate action to be taken related to individual, roommate(s), suitemate(s), or all residents' damages. The Office of Housing and Residential Life and Student and Campus Life Facilities will assess charges for DAMAGES and not normal wear and tear.
Wear and Tear
Wear and tear are loss, damage, or depreciation of value due to everyday use and/or can be attributed to age.
Examples of wear and tear:
• Worn out key, loose or stubborn door locks, sticky locks, loose hinges, or loose handles on doors
• Closet door off track
• Discolored light (lens(es)
• Faded window blinds or shades
• Sticky window
• Unraveling mattress seams, minor stains
• Small scratches, small holes (less than 10)
• Sun-damaged carpet, minor traffic patterns showing
• Discolored tiles, loose or missing grout
• Loose toilet seat, toilet continues to run
• Window screen removed from window (if it can be replaced)
• Scratched or dirty mirrors
• Loose faucet handle
Damages
Damage to a space is assessed as a loss of value or usefulness because of negligence or misuse. If a resident has been charged for any damage to their room, suite, or apartment, they will receive an email from Housing and Residential Life. The resident(s) will have the opportunity to meet with a Residence Hall Director or another Housing and Residential designee to discuss the damage charges.
Examples of damage:
• Lock replacement, broken keys, broken keys in lock, missing keys
• Broken closet door(s)
• Broken light lens(es)
• Bent or broken window blind slats
• Broken window (glass, frame, locks, etc.)
• Cut, torn, missing, or ripped mattress
• Small holes (10 or more), large holes, sheet rock damage (punching, hammers, slamming furniture into the wall)
• Stained or ripped carpet
• Moldy or dirty tiles, grout and/or caulk
• Broken toilet tank, broken toilet seat
• Torn or missing window screen
• Broken mirrors
• Broken sink, broken faucet handle
• Failure to report maintenance issues in a timely manner which leads to leaks, mold, loose, or missing grout or further damage
• Conditions that require excessive cleaning (removal of personal trash, stains, graffiti, scrubbing of fixtures, etc.)
Charges also include:
• Institutional grade materials required, and the time and labor of professional facilities staff who complete the work.
• Any repair work students complete on their own. Any repair work completed by a resident will be assessed by Cornell Facilities staff and the resident will be responsible for all associated charges to address the repair to meet Cornell University facilities standards.
Responsibility for Spaces Charged for Damage
Assigned space(s)
A resident, or all of the residents, of a room/suite/apartment where the damage occurred and accepts responsibility, or is found to be responsible for the damage, may be charged for the damage to their assigned space(s).
Common Area(s)
Damages to shared common areas or not attributed to a specific roommate will be split equally among all roommates who share the space (i.e., roommates who share a suite or apartment will only be responsible for charges associated with their bedroom and with any common shared areas in the unit).
If the space is damaged, it is the resident’s responsibility to obtain written documentation from their roommate(s) or suitemate(s) for any specific damages they caused, so the other resident(s) is not charged. Roommates wishing to take responsibility for any damage must notify their Residence Hall Director or House Assistant Dean by 5:00pm on the LAST DAY OF CLASSES. All room occupants should be copied on the email correspondence. Damage responsibility not identified in writing will result in all roommates/suitemates being charged equally for any room and/or common area damage.
Appeal of Damages
Students receive the opportunity to meet with a Residence Hall Director or the West Campus House Assistant Dean to discuss the damages and the amount of the charge.
Appeal Process
Appeals must be submitted in writing within five (5) business days of the date the outcome letter is sent.
Students may submit an appeal under the following conditions:
• The student’s rights as outlined in the conduct process were not met, or
• New information about the incident is available that may change the original outcome decision.
If the above conditions are not met, an appeal meeting will not be granted. Appeals should be submitted to cls-appeal@cornell.edu.
Appeals are reviewed by the Associate or Assistant Director of Student Behavior and Support or designee in Residential Life, or two House Assistant Deans in the West Campus Housing System (from Houses other than where the original incident was adjudicated). After meeting with the student to discuss the appeal, the student will receive notification in writing of the appeal outcome within five (5) business days of the meeting. Students should be prepared to complete assigned outcomes according to the original due date if the appeal's decision does not change the original conduct meeting decision.