By Tyler Kennedy

Staff Writer

Student housing options are plentiful in the UNH community. The annual UNH Apartment Fair was held in the Granite State Room of the MUB on Thursday Nov. 19, which allowed students to review future living options.

The fair provided students with the opportunity to speak directly with property managers, along with providing information and resource regarding important information on legal issues, safety, etc.

Individuals from 13 different departments, organizations, and companies were present at the fair to showcase information about properties in Durham and the surrounding communities.

One such individual was Renee LaFosse, a leasing consultant for The Lodges at West Edge.

In regards to the many amenities included at the location she was representing, Lafosse noted how “[it’s] not only an apartment, but it’s more of a community.”

Last year, UNH set up the ‘Call Dibs’ program, which gives students the opportunity to reserve an apartment at either the of the apartment complexes run by the university, the Gables and the Woodsides.

According to Victoria Wilson, who serves as an assistant director for UNH Housing, all spots at both the Gables and Woodsides are currently reserved for next year.

In an email, Wilson acknowledged that UNH housing didn’t anticipate for so many students to ‘call dibs’ at such a quick rate. She noted that all apartment spots last year were also reserved through this program, but not until the end of the fall semester.

A change that was made for this year’s program was the decision to no longer require a housing deposit when reserving a spot in either of the two complexes. Wilson noted that in the past, such deposits were a hardship for some students wishing to take part in the early sign-ups, and that this new system allows students to make a solid commitment without having to put down a deposit.

In lieu of requiring students to put down a deposit, there is now a cancellation fee to whichstudents must commit. According to Wilson’s email, any student who signs an agreement to live at either of the complexes next year and then needs to cancel the process will have the fee placed on their student account.

In terms of the exact cost of the cancellation fee, it’s $250 for any cancellations made between now and June 1.  After June 1, the fee goes up to $375 until July 2, and after that point, any cancellations will incur the full $500 fee.

Wilson said that through last year’s ‘Call Dibs’ program, around 150 cancellations were processed, while also noting that it’s hard to anticipate how many cancellations her office will receive this year.

With that in mind, Wilson recommends that any student who is still interested in living in one of the complexes to turn in an application to the Housing Office in order to be placed on the waitlist.