Harvard University Housing introduces new rental prices for 2025–2026

Botanic Gardens is among 70 properties overseen by Harvard University Housing.

January 24, 2025

5 min read

Average increase of 5% for renewing residents

Harvard University Housing (HUH) administers roughly 3,000 apartments, presenting a diverse selection of locations, unit types, amenities, and dimensions to cater to the unique financial plans and housing demands of qualifying Harvard affiliates (full-time graduate students, faculty, and staff). Harvard affiliates can apply for Harvard University Housing through the online portal at www.huhousing.harvard.edu. The site also offers insights about additional housing alternatives and valuable Harvard and community resources for both new and current affiliates.

In alignment with the University’s rental policy, Harvard University Housing sets market rents*. To define the proposed rents for 2025–2026, Jayendu Patel from Economic, Financial & Statistical Consulting Services conducted and validated the findings of a regression analysis encompassing three years of market rents from more than 14,700 apartments. The data utilized in this analysis was gathered from several sources, including listings on the HUH Off-Campus Housing website by private property owners in the market, details provided by a real estate appraisal firm, and various external rental platforms, to ensure comparable private rental market listings for competing apartment complexes in Cambridge, Boston, and Somerville. As customary, all income generated by Harvard University Housing beyond operational expenses and debt obligations is allocated to support capital enhancements and revitalizations of the facilities within HUH’s current residential portfolio.

The rents mentioned in this article have been evaluated and accepted by the Faculty Advisory Committee on Harvard University Housing and will come into effect for the 2025-2026 leasing term. Written feedback regarding the proposed rents can be sent to the Faculty Advisory Committee on Harvard University Housing, c/o Harvard University Housing, Richard A. and Susan F. Smith Campus Center, 1350 Massachusetts Ave., Room 827, Cambridge, MA 02138. Feedback to the committee may also be emailed to [email protected]. Any written comments should be submitted by February 7.

2025–2026 rents for existing HUH tenants

Harvard University Housing tenants will be emailed in March 2025 with guidance on how to request an extension or termination of their existing lease. Tenants seeking further information or assistance to ascertain their ongoing rental rates for 2025–2026 may contact the HUH Leasing Office at (617) 495-1459.

2025–2026 rents for new HUH tenants for the 2025-2026 leasing period

The outcomes of this market evaluation and supplementary market research convey that the 2025–2026 market rents for Harvard University Housing will be detailed below. Heating, hot water, electricity, and gas, where relevant, are included in all Harvard University Housing rental rates; internet connectivity and air conditioning may also be included, where feasible.

10 Akron Street: studios $2,340–$2,700; one-bedroom convertibles $2,964–$3,312.
18 Banks Street: one bedrooms $2,820–$3,204; two bedrooms $3,420–$3,588.
Beckwith Circle: three bedrooms $3,204–$4,164; four bedrooms $3,624–$4,500.
Botanic Gardens: one bedrooms $2,868–$3,012; two bedrooms $3,384–$3,540; three bedrooms $3,924–$4,164.
472–474 Broadway: one bedrooms $2,760–$2,832.
5 Cowperthwaite Street: studios $2,496–$2,904; one bedrooms $3,012–$3,024; one-bedroom convertibles $2,964–$3,228; two bedrooms $3,468–$4,236.
27 Everett Street: one bedrooms $3,156–$3,228; three bedrooms $4,248–$4,956.
29 Garden Street: studios $2,172–$2,520; one-bedroom convertibles $2,748–$2,784; two-bedroom efficiencies $3,084–$3,624; two bedrooms $3,468–$3,552; three bedrooms $4,776–$5,016.
Harvard @ Trilogy: suite $1,956- $2,196; studios $2,376–$2,604; one-bedroom convertibles$3,060–$3,276; two-bedroom efficiencies $3,696–$3,948.
Haskins Hall: studios $2,364–$2,460; one bedrooms $2,628–$2,904.
Holden Green: one bedrooms $2,508–$2,880; two bedrooms $2,880–$4,056; three bedrooms $3,768–$3,852.
2 Holyoke Street: one bedrooms $2,856–$3,024.
Kirkland Court: one bedrooms $2,532–$3,000; two bedrooms $3,336–$3,588; three bedrooms $4,296–$4,596.
8A Mt. Auburn Street: one bedrooms $2,856–$3,024.
Peabody Terrace: studios $2,316–$2,976; one bedrooms $2,796–$3,312; two bedrooms $3,228–$3,852; three bedrooms $4,740–$5,160.
16 Prescott Street: studios $2,316–$2,472; one bedrooms $2,676–$2,880.
18 Prescott Street: studios $2,256–$2,328; one bedrooms $2,664–$2,928.
85–95 Prescott Street: studios $2,376–$2,628; one bedrooms $2,688–$3,132; two bedrooms $3,144.
Shaler Lane: one bedrooms $2,544–$2,736; two bedrooms $2,904–$3,444.
Soldiers Field Park: studios $2,772–$3,264; one bedrooms $3,192–$3,648; two bedrooms $3,912–$4,932; three bedrooms $4,332–$5,668; four bedrooms $5,688-$5,856.
Terry Terrace: studios $2,448–$2,532; one bedrooms $2,700–$3,000; two bedrooms $3,336–$3,372.
9–13A Ware Street: studios $2,352–$2,496; one bedrooms $2,664–$2,988; two bedrooms $3,324–$3,348.
15 Ware Street: studios $2,580; one bedrooms $3,504; two bedrooms $4,080.
19 Ware Street: two bedrooms $3,876–$3,924; three bedrooms $4,164.
One Western Avenue: studios $2,532–$2,820; one bedrooms $2,724–$3,180; two bedrooms $3,192–$3,984; three bedrooms $4,608–$4,980.
Wood Frame Buildings: studios $1,728–$2,448; one bedrooms $2,496–$3,468; two bedrooms $3,132–$4,800; three bedrooms $3,504–$6,384; four bedrooms $5,400–$6,000.

The feedback received will be examined by the Faculty Advisory Committee, comprising: Suzanne Cooper, Edith M. Stokey Senior Lecturer in Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School; Nancy Hill, Charles Bigelow Professor of Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education; Howell Jackson, James S. Reid Jr. Professor of Law, Harvard Law School; Jerold S. Kayden, Frank Backus Williams Professor of Urban Planning and Design, Graduate School of Design; John Macomber, Gloria A. Dauten Real Estate Fellow, senior lecturer, Harvard Business School; Daniel P. Schrag, Sturgis Hooper Professor of Geology and Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering, Faculty of Arts and Sciences; and Sean Caron, vice president for Campus Services (chair), Office of Executive Vice President for Administration.

*The rental rates for Harvard University Housing tenants are determined at current market prices, consistent with the University’s affiliate housing rent policy. This policy was initiated in 1983 by President Derek Bok based on the recommendations of a study led by Professor Archibald Cox and the Committee on Affiliated Housing. The original faculty committee concluded that market rate pricing was the most equitable means of distributing apartments and that setting lower rates for Harvard University Housing would constitute financial assistance, which ought to be determined by each distinct School, rather than through the rental determination process. Furthermore, housing costs must be taken into consideration when financial assistance is assessed.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply