Room Swaps

Residents who wish to complete a room swap must contact Housing to initiate the process.

Related Policies

Room Assignment
Room Selection
Room Transfers

Introduction

A room swap is when two residents mutually agree to swap living spaces. Room swap requests are subject to approval by Columbia Housing. Residents should not move until the swap has been approved. 

  • Students must be in the same class standing.
  • A Columbia student may not swap with a Barnard student, regardless of where the rooms are located.
  • Swaps must be approved by Housing, and Housing reserves the right to deny swaps. Some swaps may also be subject to approval by Residential Life.
  • Only one swap per academic year is allowed.
  • Students participating in open housing may not be eligible for room swaps. In these instances, students will need to speak with Residential Life before the swap can be approved.
  • Room keys should not be exchanged between students participating in a room swap. Key exchanges can only take place at the Housing Hospitality Desk.
  • Students who fail to return their hard key will be charged $15 for key replacement and $50 for a lock change.
  • If students offer or solicit a room for reward, gain, or through coercion, the swap or transfer will be voided and students will be subject to Dean’s Discipline.
  • Students must occupy the rooms for which they have contracted and sign their Occupancy Agreement. If either student does not physically move within 24-48 hours of the timeframe provided in the relocation information from Housing, the swap will be voided.
  • Students who have cancelled their housing application cannot participate in a room swap.
  • There will be no room swaps scheduled during Winter Break. All moves must take place before the Winter Break period.

Room Swap Request Process

  • Students must email Housing to initiate a room swap. Both students should be on the email as either a sender or copied.
  • If the room swap request is approved, Housing will send instructions to the students for relocating.

Fall Term Request Timeline

Residents can submit a Room Swap request at any time during the fall.

Spring Term Request Timeline

If you wish to swap rooms before Winter Break, you must submit your request by Thanksgiving Break and move rooms by the Fall Check-Out deadline.

Requests received after December 6 will need to be resubmitted at the start of spring semester.