Apartment Lease Agreement

All Occupants who meet the Leaseholder requirements must apply and sign their Lease.

1. Minot State Students
   1. Any undergraduate who has fulfilled the First Year Live-On Requirement for the residence hall community. Students who have fulfilled this requirement are defined as undergraduate students who:
      1. lived in the residence hall community for the first year following their high school graduation or equivalent or
      2. have more than 24 transferable, post-secondary, semester credits that have been earned following high school graduation or equivalent or
      3. have a spouse/partner and/or maintain custody or visitation rights for children or other dependents.
   2. Undergraduate student Leaseholders must enroll in, maintain, and complete at least three (3) credit hours each semester.
      OR
   3. Any student who is pursuing a graduate or professional degree. Graduate/professional student Leaseholders must enroll in, maintain, and complete at least three (3) credit hours each semester.
   4. Student Leaseholders must maintain enrollment each semester until graduation or discontinue enrollment but do not need to attend summer school if enrolled for the following fall semester.
2. Minot State employees, student interns, and Minot State University affiliates are eligible for university housing.
   1. Written verification or proof of employment/student status/affiliation must be provided before assignment and for each additional semester of occupancy.
3. Non-Leaseholder Occupants must meet one of the following.
   1. Spouse/partner.
   2. Minot State Student
   3. Child or dependent of the primary Leaseholder or partner/spouse/domestic partnership.
4. Aaccessible Apartments – Minot State Residence Life & Housing provides reasonable accommodation to residents with disabilities who have a verifiable need for the accommodation. To meet the needs of a student requiring accommodation, the University reserves the right to transfer someone from an accessible apartment if there is not a documented need.

1. Residents of University Apartments must submit a written 30‑day Notice to Vacate to the Housing Office before moving out. A written notice is required 30 days before the chosen move‑out date. Rent is charged through the end of the 30 days.
2. Leaseholders who are graduating or who discontinue their enrollment at the end of an academic term must also complete and submit the official Notice to Vacate Form 30 days prior to their required move‑out date. 
   • End of fall semester required move out date is December 31. Residents must submit a 30‑day notice no later than December 1 and must vacate no later than December 31.
   • End of Spring Semester move out date is May 31. Residents must submit a 30‑day notice no later than May 1 and must vacate no later than May 31.
   • End of Summer Semester move out date is August 12.Residents must submit a 30‑day notice no later than July 12 and must vacate no later than August 12.
3. Leaseholders who discontinue enrollment, as well as employees who no longer work for Minot State University, must submit a written 30‑day Notice to Vacate beginning on the date they are no longer affiliated with the University. The 30‑day written notice is required in all cases.

The leaseholder accepts the indicated apartment in its present condition and agrees to keep the premises, including University furniture and furnishings, in a good, clean condition. No alterations, additions, or deletions to the premises will be made without prior written approval from the Housing Office. The leaseholder is responsible for payment of all repair and cleaning charges made necessary by negligence or carelessness. Repair and cleaning charges will be billed to the leaseholder’s University account. University furniture and fixtures shall not be removed from the leased premises. The University will not assume responsibility for personal property, including that which remains on the premises after the termination of the lease. Failure to cooperate with the University in any pest control program or other public health programs shall constitute a material breach of this lease.

Air conditioning is not provided, but tenants may install a window unit no bigger than 10,000 BTUs and no wider than 24 inches. Please contact the Residence Manager, so Minot State staff can install the unit. Refer to the Residence Life Community Handbook for more information.

Campus Heights Apartments have horizontal opening windows. Only free-standing, portable, hose-vented units (external ventilation) are permitted.

Pioneer Hall and University Heights Apartments have vertical opening windows. Both window-mounted and free-standing units are allowed.

The rental period is specified in the lease and rent is payable on or before the first day of each month at the MSU Business Office. The Monthly Apartment Rent will be split evenly amongst the Leaseholders who occupy the Apartment for that time; however, all Leaseholders are jointly and severally responsible for the payments. To avoid a late fee, rent must be paid within 10 days of rent being posted to a student’s account. Rent includes utilities.

Charges for damages, cleaning, and/or miscellaneous bills will be reflected on the resident’s Campus Connection Account. An itemization of charges will be available at the Housing Office (i.e. damage report form, check-out form, etc.). The leaseholder must make regular monthly rental payments to the MSU Business Office.

The first month’s rent payment will be required upon signing the lease agreement, before moving into the apartment.  The first month’s rent may be deferred pending financial aid payment with proof from the financial aid office.

Minot State University assumes no liability except as specifically provided by law. The University does not assume any liability for loss, damage, or theft of any personal property, or personal injury or loss resulting from explosion, fire, or the mechanical failure of water, sewer, gas or electrical systems, or negligence by occupants of the building.

The leaseholder is advised to secure personal liability insurance against loss or damage to his/her personal belongings. The leaseholder is also encouraged to maintain an inventory of their personal belongings. 

The University’s authorized representatives may enter all University units with a passkey in situations involving emergencies, service, safety, or obvious lease violations.  Whenever possible, the University will attempt to give the leaseholder 24 hours prior notice before entry.  Requested maintenance by the resident will be considered prior notice.

Safety Checks – The university reserves the right to schedule and check all occupied apartments for health and safety concerns.  These checks will be made known to residents by email at least 24 hours before the date. Residents need not be present during safety checks. Both Resident Managers will collaborate to conduct safety checks together. 

The University agrees to maintain all University apartments.  Routine maintenance and repairs will be completed during normal business hours.  Emergency repairs, as determined by physical plant and/or housing staff will be completed as soon as possible.  The request for maintenance serves as authorization to enter the apartment and complete the requested work.  Leaseholders are responsible and should promptly contact the Resident Manager, Housing Office to report any equipment, appliance, or part of the apartment malfunctions or needs repair. 

If immediate repairs are needed outside of normal business hours please contact Campus Safety 701-500-2423.

It is the leaseholder’s responsibility to replace any burned-out light bulbs in their apartment, excluding those that are part of university-owned appliances.  University personnel will maintain all lawns and provide snow removal. 

Repairs necessitated because of negligence or carelessness on the part of the leaseholder, the leaseholder’s family, guests, or roommates, will be billed to the leaseholder’s University account.  The University’s duty of maintaining the premises is not breached should any delay in performing repairs, interruptions, breakdown, or disrepair be due not to the University’s negligence; but to conditions beyond its control, including, but not limited to, interference by the leaseholder with the University’s ability to take corrective action, lack of reasonable opportunity to correct such condition, disaster or other acts of nature, or the University’s lack of knowledge of such conditions.

Subleasing and lease assumptions are not permitted.

If one roommate moves out, the remaining lease-eligible roommate can assume full responsibility for the lease if they submit a formal application and pay the $35 application fee prior to the 30-Day Notice to Vacate being provided.

If the main leaseholder has provided a notice to vacate it is assumed that all tenants are vacating on or before the date provided. If a lease is split between 2 leaseholders and only one provides a 30-day Notice to Vacate it is assumed that the other leaseholder will be responsible for the full lease on date of move out.

Transfers to other apartments are allowed. The leaseholder requesting the transfer must submit a new application with a $35 non-refundable application fee. The transfer request does not take priority over other applicants on the waiting list. The leaseholder requesting a transfer will be charged for any additional cleaning costs incurred by the University in the preparation for a new tenant. Transfers will be permitted only when doing so does not interfere with the influx of new students at the start of a semester.

The University reserves the right to reassign the leaseholder, temporarily or permanently, when extensive apartment renovations or repairs are needed in the leaseholder’s apartment or building or for other purposes of health or safety as deemed necessary by the University.

All keys issued to the resident must be returned to the Residence Life Staff member upon check-out.  Loss or failure to return any key will result in a minimum $50.00 re-core of the apartment charge and/or $10.00 mail key charge to the leaseholder’s University account.  The leaseholder will be responsible for these charges. 

Each apartment will be issued one apartment key, and your MSU student ID will be encoded for access to the building.  An additional key will be provided upon request for spouses/roommates/dependants who are living in the apartment. Additional extra keys may be considered for children 11 years or older who may need to be home alone for short periods of time.  The privilege of having an extra key may be revoked if problems result from a lack of supervision.

Spouses will need to purchase a photo ID from the MSU ID Office, which will be encoded for access to the outside doors.   The Leaseholder and spouses are to be in sole possession of their apartment keys. Keys are not to be shared with persons who do not live and are not on the lease of the Leaseholder’s assigned unit. 

Key misuse can result in eviction from campus housing. 

In the event, that residents are locked out of their unit, contact the RM on duty at 701-720-4884 or Campus Security at 701-500-2423. Residents will be asked to verify their student/faculty/staff information including student/faculty/staff ID and Unit location/ number. The RM on duty or Security personnel will document the lock-out.

The university reserves the right to charge residents $10 per lockout after their 3rd lockout during an academic year. Charges will be posted to the student’s account.

• Children must always be supervised. They are the sole responsibility of the parent(s) and/or guardian(s) occupying University housing. Children are not permitted to play in public hallways or in common areas.
• Walkways, hallways, stairs, stairwells, sidewalks, and other common areas in and around apartments or buildings must be kept free of bicycles, toys, garbage, and other objects.
• Bicycles and other items are not permitted to be stored near or chained to light poles, stairwells, or similar objects. These items, if improperly stored, will be removed at the owner’s expense.
• Equipment such as utility trailers, and camping or recreational equipment, which may be classified as attractive nuisances, must be stored off University property.
• Leaseholders shall make every effort to minimize the risk of fire loss and agree to comply with the rules and orders of the Minot Fire Department. The University assumes no responsibility for losses due to fire. The University maintains smoke detectors in each apartment. It is the leaseholder’s responsibility to check the indicator light periodically (monthly) to ensure it is functioning properly.
• The University cannot guarantee personal safety. The leaseholder is responsible for reporting any criminal activity, and safety problems.
• The occupants shall not perform or permit any practice that is injurious to the premises or the University, causes injury, or an unreasonable disturbance to others.
• Visitors- The leaseholder is responsible for all their guests, guests’ actions, and anything their guests may bring into the apartment with them. Guests are to be always escorted while visiting the apartments. Violations of the Student Handbook, Apartment Handbook, and/or of the Apartment Lease by a guest may result in disciplinary action or eviction of the leaseholder.

Residents shall not engage in any abusive or harassing behavior, either verbal or physical, or any form of intimidation or aggression directed at other residents, occupants, guests, invitees, or directed at management, its agents, its employees, or vendors.

LEASEHOLDERS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR READING, UNDERSTANDING, AND ABIDING BY THE POLICIES AS OUTLINED IN THE STUDENT HANDBOOK, APARTMENT HANDBOOK, AND THE EXPECTATIONS OF THIS LEASE AGREEMENT. VIOLATIONS OF THE POLICIES OR THE LEASE AGREEMENT WILL RESULT IN DISCIPLINARY ACTION THAT MAY INCLUDE EVICTION FROM THE APARTMENTS.

Automobiles must be parked only in designated parking areas.  Tenants cannot park in the visitor spots. All vehicles must be registered with the University Parking Office.  A parking permit must be purchased for each vehicle.  All MSU parking regulations must be obeyed.

Lease Holders may be evicted for various reasons including but not limited to: Violations of the Minot State Student Handbook or Residence Life Community Handbook, failure to pay rent, no longer affiliated with Minot State, violations of the Lease Agreement, un-hygienic apartment conditions, safety and security concerns, and/or pet violations. Leaseholders will be given a 72-hour notice to vacate.  Failure to vacate and properly check out with an MSU Housing Staff Member will result in a $100 improper checkout fee, all remaining rent due, and any additional cleaning/repair charges.

Each resident must complete and submit a notice to vacate form to the Housing Office 30 days before the desired date to vacate.  The Housing Office will provide instructions for check-out.  A check-out appointment must be scheduled at least 5 days before the intended check-out with an appropriate Housing Office staff member. An Minot State Housing staff member will conduct the check-out with the vacating resident whenever possible. 

Each resident is expected to leave the apartment clean and ready for the new occupant. Each resident is expected to leave the apartment empty of all personal belongings by the time of their scheduled checkout.  Charges for damages, cleaning, and other miscellaneous charges are assessed by comparison of the original Apartment Inventory Form.  If this form is not on file, the leaseholder has agreed that the apartment was in perfect condition upon check-in and checks out under that acceptance.  The check-out is complete when all keys are returned to the MSU apartment staff member, and the condition of the apartment has been verified. 

All credits and charges are entered into the leaseholder’s University account in the Minot State Business Office.  Failure to check out properly with an MSU Housing Staff member will result in a $100 improper checkout fee, all remaining rent due, and any additional cleaning/repair charges.

The University reserves the right to adjust the rental rate or other terms and conditions of the University Apartment Lease Agreement by notifying the leaseholder in writing at least 30 days before the beginning date that the revisions will take effect. The written notice will be emailed to the leaseholder’s University address.