Off-campus

Renting an MIT Off-Campus Property

What is an MIT off-campus property?

The Institute owns investment properties in several locations near campus. The apartments are not connected in any way to MIT undergraduate, graduate, or family housing and are professionally managed by a company not affiliated with MIT. These units are available to members of the MIT community at current market rates. All tenants must sign a one-year lease and are obligated to pay rent for that duration.

If you don’t find what you’re looking for in the MIT Off-Campus Housing Listings, consult these online resources. Make sure to review the MIT Survival Guide to Renting Off Campus before starting your apartment search. You’ll find helpful tips on what to expect, including how to recognize fraud.

All Listings

Sort through every property in the MIT Off-Campus Housing Service database.

Have a vacancy you would like to list here?

Rent for Services Listings

Property owners sometimes offer housing at reduced cost—or no cost—to tenants who agree to help with errands or childcare. International students must have a visa that allows employment.

Have a vacancy you would like to list here?

A licensed real estate agent, referred to as a realtor, links prospective tenants with prospective landlords. While you have a good chance of finding what you’re looking for, renting an apartment through a realtor is your most expensive option. The real estate professionals listed below have a good track record of working with members of the MIT community.

Your Off-Campus Housing Options

With approximately 50 colleges and universities in the metropolitan area, finding affordable housing in the Cambridge/Boston area can be a challenge. Here are your primary options for living in the Cambridge/Boston area:

Option #1: Rent an apartment

Option #2: Rent a room

Option #3: Share with roommates

Option #4: Rent for services

Guide to rental market terms

Guide to rental listing abbreviations

Guide to rental market terms

Absentee landlord—A landlord who does not live in the community where his or her rental housing is located. Absentee landlords sometimes neglect their properties.

Amenities—The conveniences offered by a landlord to a tenant.

Bank check or money order—A check that is purchased from a bank with cash.

The environment

Watertown is located on the southwest border of Cambridge and is bordered by Allston/Brighton to the south, Newton to the southwest, Waltham to the east, and Belmont to the north.

Watertown is a safe and attractive residential community. Its suburban character and good school system make it very appealing for families with children.

The environment

The city of Somerville stretches across the entire northeastern border of Cambridge. This predominantly working class community is bordered by Arlington to the west, Medford to the north, and Everett and Charlestown to the east. Somerville is built on seven hills around seven squares and occupies an area of approximately four square miles. Somerville is the most densely populated town in Middlesex County and offers many shops and restaurants.

The environment

The Fenway is a densely populated area surrounding parkland called “the Fens.” This community is bordered by the Charles River and the Back Bay to the north, the South End, Roxbury, and Mission Hill to the south, and Brookline and Allston/Brighton to the west. The Fenway features apartment buildings and many of the city’s principal educational and cultural institutions.