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Graduate Student Move-Out

Welcome to the UC Berkeley graduate move-out guide. We are here to support you through your transition out of campus housing. Please review these steps and resources for essential information, responsibilities, and deadlines.

Click the links to jump directly to the section below. 

Move-out instructions included here are general. Please note that separate instructions will be sent to you via email for your housing location.

Checkout procedures

Graduate student move-out date: Friday, July 31, 2026, at 5 p.m.

All graduate students living in the single student apartments who do not renew their housing agreement must vacate their apartment by 5 p.m. on the graduate student move-out date. Failure to vacate by this time and date may result in additional financial fees.

Follow the checkout steps outlined below.

  • Return the room to move-in condition. Complete the tasks outlined in the move-out responsibilities section below.
  • Forward your mail. Request forwarding mail service with the U.S. Postal Service online or by visiting the U.S. Post Office at least two weeks in advance of your move-out. Students will also need to update their address in CalCentral.
  • Update delivery subscriptions. Change your address for all regular deliveries to your apartment, such as newspapers, magazines, or Amazon shipments.
  • Discontinue or transfer utilities. Before moving out, be sure to discontinue or transfer any telephone or cell phone ancillary equipment services. You should also cancel any digital subscription services tied to your address that are not provided by the university, including cable or satellite services.
  • Return keys to the office. On the day you vacate, return your apartment keys to your building’s front desk during business hours. Do not leave keys in your apartment or with friends. If keys are not returned on your vacate date, additional rent will be charged for each day they are late, as we cannot consider the apartment vacant until the keys are received. If it appears you have moved out but have not returned your keys, the apartment will be considered abandoned; the locks will be changed at your expense, and you may incur prorated rent.
    • Moving out early: If you are moving out before July 31 during non-business hours, please obtain a checkout envelope from your building’s front desk.
    • If you move out prior to or do not meet the 5 p.m. deadline, please place your key into a checkout envelope or personal envelope, clearly marked with name, room number, and SID#, and drop it into the designated drop box in your unit/building. The key drop box is the long aluminum box labeled “key drop” located to the left of the main entry door of the unit/building front desk.
    • Lock change and/or lost key charges may apply if all keys are not properly returned.
    • If you have questions, please contact your building front desk.
  • Complete final payments. Be sure to review your CalCentral account to ensure all balances are paid to avoid late fees, financial holds, or involvement of collection agents.

Move-out responsibilities

Although we expect a certain amount of normal wear and tear on your apartment, it must be left in a clean and satisfactory condition. By the time of your vacate date, your apartment most likely will have been assigned, and the prospective tenants must be able to move in without delay.

Clean and reset your apartment. All rooms should look like they did when you moved in and will be inspected by unit/building staff upon the last resident vacating. Following all of these steps will help reduce the chances of being charged for cleaning and/or damage.

  1. If you have a university bed, it should be intact, including the bed frame and mattress.
  2. Your closet doors should be in place.
  3. You must remove all wall and window decorations, sweep/vacuum the floors, and remove all garbage, recycling, compost, and other debris. You may dispose of all materials in the trash room on the first floor of your building.
  4. You must arrange the furniture as it was when you moved in. No furniture should have been removed from the unit unless by approved ADA housing accommodations. If you have done so, you will be held responsible for the return of any furniture you have removed, or you will be charged the replacement cost.
  5. Remove all of your items from the refrigerator/freezer/cabinets and make sure it is clean.
  6. Dispose of unwanted or expired medications at the Tang Center Pharmacy. Prescription medicines disposed of down the drain are showing up in streams and rivers. This could accidentally poison pets, seniors, or be taken.

Finish moving out.

  1. You must remove your personal belongings from the room and apartment. Your room and apartment will be checked for damage after you move out. 
    1. A moving and storage fee of $100 per day will be assessed if your room is not completely vacated prior to the arrival of the next resident.
    2. Any furnishings that are left behind and have to be removed will result in a charge being assessed to your CalCentral. This fee can range from $100 to $200 an hour.
  2. Cancel your PG&E (electricity) account if you have not already done so, at pge.com or 800-743-5000.
  3. Claim all mail from your mailbox and packages from the mailroom. Unclaimed mail and packages will be returned to the sender.
  4. Inform your unit/building front desk of your forwarding mail address, using a checkout envelope. Update your local address field in CalCentral and forward all other mail with USPS. If you fail to do so, your building’s mail room will be unable to forward your mail.
  5. Close and lock the door to the apartment.
  6. Return your keys to your unit/building front desk for your specific location by 5 p.m. on your move-out date.

Move-out logistics

Rental verification

If you need assistance with rental verification, the UC Berkeley Business Operations team can work with you on this request. Please complete a Request Rental Verification form.

Damages

Any damage or cleaning costs incurred will be assessed at the current UC Berkeley labor recharge and material rates and are subject to change without prior notification. Tenants are liable for the cost to return the apartment to the original move-in condition, minus normal wear and tear. 

When a resident elects not to clean up their apartment before vacating, it means that university staff must. This is not a regular service, and we will charge your CalCentral account for damage and cleaning costs. Failure to pay damage and cleaning costs charged will result in collection efforts and affect your overall credit.

Security deposit

Security deposits are refunded after final inspection of your apartment, and any damage or cleaning charges are deducted.

  • Deposits may be applied toward any outstanding rent or miscellaneous charges.
  • It will take Student Affairs Business Operations approximately three weeks to process your refund.
  • Students can ensure that refunds due are received upon campus housing by updating account information or Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) information at CalCentral.
  • Residents with questions about their deposit can call Student Affairs Business Operations at 510-642-1524 or email busops@berkeley.edu.

Recycle and donate

As the end of the school year approaches, let’s work together to prevent thousands of pounds of waste from entering our landfills during the move-out process. For students moving out and looking to dispose of their large furniture items: avoid fines up to $1000 and keep our streets clean by donating your reusable goods. For more information on how to donate and recycle your items through move-out, please visit the Cal Move Out website.