Tenants

Prices vary based on demand and availability.

People who lease immediately may have a different price than a lease in the future.

Apartments that have more than one bed are priced per bed.

Visit each apartment model and contact us for current availability and pricing by submitting an information request.  Let us know your price range in the request.

Special Note: All prices are subject to change at any time, without notice. Once you sign a lease for an apartment, that price will be your final rate for that lease term. There are no price adjustments once a lease has been signed.

1. Read the Sample Lease

• Available online: SAMPLE LEASE.

• Your parents must also read it.

• If your parents can’t access the internet, let us know.

2. If you are a student, confirm Plans with Parents

• Parents are required to guarantee your lease.

3. Ask Questions

• About the lease, dates, apartments, etc.

4. Choose an Apartment

• Attend a Rental Office tour, visit a friend’s unit, or watch our tour videos.

5. Pay One Month’s Rent (per person) to Secure

• At least one group member must be present to submit the full amount.

• Payment options: cash, check, or Tenant Portal (ACH or credit card).

  • $2.95 transaction fee for portal payments.

  • Additional 3% fee for credit/debit cards (Visa & MasterCard accepted).

• One person may cover payment for others, as long as the total for one month’s rent is paid at signing.

6. Commit to the Apartment

• Sign the Commitment to Sign Lease form.

• Confirms you’ve shared apartment info & the Sample Lease with your parents.

• Lease signing will occur within 7 days of this step.

7. Sign Your Lease

• Sent via email within about a week of securing the apartment.

• Failure to sign risks losing the apartment and forfeiting Payment A.3

IRIS – Ithaca Renting Internet Service

High-speed, hard-wired Ethernet service for Ithaca Renting tenants. Simple setup, no modem needed, and local tech support.

How to Subscribe

• Bring a completed IRIS Service Contract and payment to the Rental Office.

• Payment must be made in full before activation; service runs for the full lease term (including sublets).

• All payments for group apartments must be submitted together. No refunds or prorating.

Fees (per apartment):

• Studio/1BR – $350

• 2BR – $450

• 3BR – $525

• 4BR – $600

• 5BR – $625

• 6BR – $750

• 8BR – $800

• 10BR – $1,000

• 14BR – $1,400

• Units rented by room – $150 per bed.

How to Connect

• Service is hard-wired—you need your own router and Ethernet cable.

• Plug the router into the active Ethernet wall port and power it on; connect devices via Wi-Fi using the router password or by hard-wiring directly.

• Only one Ethernet jack per room is active—test by connecting a computer directly to confirm.

Router Tips

• Buy from Amazon, Best Buy, Target, etc. (~$80–$100 recommended).

• Choose a Wi-Fi 6–compatible model for better speed.

• No modem or special software required.

• Your internet speed depends on router quality and number of devices.

Tours & Setup Support

• Free short trial may be available at lease start.

• If service is unpaid, it will be deactivated until payment is made.

• Loaner Ethernet cables are available at the office for troubleshooting.

Tech Support

• Contact Maintenance: 607-277-0179 or maintenance@ithacarenting.com.

• Support covers IRIS service only—not personal devices or third-party routers.

Terms & Conditions

• Use implies agreement to Terms of Service and  Acceptable Use Policy.

• Tenants must provide their own equipment.

• Subscriber is responsible for security measures (firewalls, antivirus, etc.).

• Prohibited: copyright infringement or other illegal activities.

• Service speed may vary; Wi-Fi speeds are affected by interference and router quality.

• Service continues through sublets; no refunds for prepaid fees.

• Violation of terms may result in termination of service.

Video Tours & In-Person Visits

Ithaca Renting offers over 300 video tours of apartments on our YouTube channel — with playlists organized by location, building and apartment size. Most apartments have a corresponding video, and students often say, “It looks just like the video!”

Why Video Tours First?
Videos let you explore layouts, buildings, and parking areas at your own pace without disturbing current residents. They’re accurate, detailed, and the best way to narrow your search before booking a visit.

In-Person Tour Guidelines

Downtown

• Your leasing agent will coordinate where to meet for the tour.  Please call 607-273-9462 x8200 (Jason) or x8100 (Alex) to arrange a tour.
• Tours are short and photos/food/drinks are not allowed to respect residents’ privacy.

Collegetown

• Tours meet at the Rental Office: 119 Dryden Road — do not meet at the building.

• Sign in with your name, Cornell netID, and phone number.

• Tours are short and photos/food/drinks are not allowed to respect residents’ privacy.

• Available apartments rotate weekly; you may see a model unit instead of the exact apartment.

Tenant Privacy Matters
All apartments are currently occupied by students, so in-person tours are limited and scheduled with notice. This avoids repeated disruptions and ensures a respectful, stress-free environment for current residents.

Final Viewing for Renters
If you’ve rented an apartment, you can arrange to see it during the leasing process—just check with the office when submitting your lease documents.

If you would like to request a tour in our Collegetown location, please submit the form below. 

Please read our informational handouts here:

Downtown

Collegetown

Before You Arrive

• Check your lease for exact start date.

• Lease Guarantee from parents must be signed and submitted; no keys will be issued if missing or if payments are outstanding.

• Renter’s Insurance is required. Arrange before arrival.

• Arriving Late at Night or When the Office is Closed.  If you are arriving late at night or when the office is closed, you will not be able to pick up your keys.  In this case, you may need to arrange for a hotel room.  Please discuss your situation with your leasing agent before arriving, so that you are not inconvenienced.

Key Pick-Up

• Office Hours (Summer): Mon–Fri 10 am–5 pm; Closed weekends & holidays (esp. July 4). Call to confirm hours.

• Bring photo ID (Cornell/Ithaca College IDs are acceptable).

• First roommate to arrive can pick up keys for everyone—coordinate ahead.

• Who can pick up keys: Tenant, roommate on lease, official subtenant, or parent.

• Other options (Tenants only):

  • Authorize a friend (must arrange in advance).

  • Late arrival pickup (limited; arrange ahead).

  • Key shipment (prepaid label; use padded envelope/box only; not recommended).

Subtenants: If moving in after original tenant, arrange key transfer directly with them. If first in, you must pick up in person and complete inspection.

Moving In

• Arrival allowed any time after lease start—no early access or shipping/storage before.

• Street parking only during move-in (meters enforced weekdays until 6 pm). No lot parking unless rented year-round.

• Limited carts available—first come, first served.

Inspection & Maintenance

• You’ll receive a Move-In Inspection Form by email after key pickup—must complete within 5 days, with photos.

• Without the form/photos, you’re liable for any existing damage.

• Include maintenance requests in the form; emergencies—call Maintenance directly.

  Downtown

  Collegetown

Apartment Details

• All units furnished—furniture removal not allowed.

• Bedroom: full-size bed + frame, dresser, desk/chair, bookshelf, blinds. Bring linens, mattress & box spring covers, and personal items.

• Kitchen: fridge, stove/oven, microwave; dishwashers in most 2BR+ units and select studios/1BRs. No small appliances or cleaning supplies provided.

• Mattress covers (zippered, full encasing) are required.

Utilities & Services

• Electricity: Already on—set up billing with NYSEG.

• Internet: IRIS service trial; can order through Rental Office.

• Cable/Phone: Contact Spectrum or Verizon; return equipment yourself when canceling.

• No satellite dishes allowed.

Packages

Collegetown

• Deliveries usually go to rental office—pickup same day.

• Packages must be addressed to a registered tenant (include apartment number).

• Do not ship items before lease start.

• Collegetown Center tenants: collect from lobby desk.

Downtown

• Cityview and Whiton Hall deliveries are made to the lobby  at the east end of  Cityview, just outside the Downtown rental office.
• Commons West parcels are generally delivered to the mail area inside the vestibule door.
• Packages to the other buildings on the Commons are generally put inside the locked doors near the stairs.

Key Summer Reminders

• Lease end: vacate by 10 am on end date; no early move-in before noon on start date.

• Sublets: confirm dates with subtenant—responsible for accurate info.

• Office closed Memorial Day weekend, Independence Day (and surrounding days), Labor Day.

• Student residents, please check the Academic Calendars for dates of classes.

Cornell University

Ithaca College

Before You Leave

• Remove all personal items—anything left is considered abandoned property and will be disposed of at your expense.

• If moving out early and can’t take belongings, hire a shipping/storage company to remove them.

• Schedule an optional Pre-Move-Out Inspection at least 3 weeks before move-out (must occur 1 week before vacancy) for cleaning/damage guidance.

• Damage deposit refunds are mailed 14 days after lease ends—return your Damage Deposit Return Form to avoid delays.

* We send the deposit back to the address you put on the form.  If you are from another country but are staying in the US, you should give us your new address so that you receive the refund promptly.

Downtown Move-Out Information

Keys

• Please read the instructions for how to return your keys.

• Do NOT leave keys in the apartment—return them in a labeled envelope to the rental office (use mail slot if the office is closed).

• Label the envelope with name, apt #, room #, and subtenant info if applicable.

• Missing key fees: $100 lock change + $20/tag + $15/key.

• Never mail keys in a regular envelope—use padded envelope or box.

Collegetown Moveout Information

Keys

• Please read the instructions for how to return your keys.

• Do NOT leave keys in the apartment—return them in a labeled envelope to the rental office (use mail slot if the office is closed).

• Label the envelope with name, apt #, room #, and subtenant info if applicable.

• Missing key fees: $100 lock change + $20/tag + $15/key.

• Never mail keys in a regular envelope—use padded envelope or box.

Trash & Donations

• No trash or items left in apartment—$30 charge per bag/item.

• Donate unopened food & usable items to office donation bins (food → local pantries; goods → Finger Lakes ReUse/Salvation Army).

• Opened food/toiletries must be thrown away.

Mail & Utilities

• Forward mail via USPS—our office will not do it for you.

• Spectrum equipment must be returned directly to Spectrum to avoid large fees.

• Electricity:

  • Must remain on until lease ends unless apartment fully vacated & office approves early shut-off.

  • Arrange transfer power back to Ithaca Renting at www.nyseg.com (select “Outside Meter”).

  • Renewal/summer tenants must keep electricity on.

Cleaning Checklist

General:

• Dust furniture, windowsills, blinds.

• Vacuum carpets, sofa, chairs.

• Wipe walls/doorknobs, remove wall hangings (small push-pin holes OK, no spackle).

Bathrooms:

• Scrub tub, sink, toilet, shower door.

• Clean mirrors, mop floor.

Kitchen:

• Clean inside/outside of cabinets, counters, drawers.

• Clean/stay plugged in refrigerator; empty ice trays.

• Scrub stove/oven, microwave, sink; mop floor.

Final Steps:

• Remove trash/recycling (tag & dispose properly).

• Lock doors.

• Return labeled keys to office (mail slot if closed).

• Once keys are returned, you cannot re-enter—anything left inside is forfeited.

Summer Reminders for Renewal Tenants

• Sublets: Must be registered/approved; $15 fee; for Collegetown sublets – Cornell students only; 1 per term; no Airbnbs or short-term (<1 month) sublet forms must be filled out completely and returned to the Renting Office. If you sublet or let anyone use your apartment over the summer—even if no money is exchanged, there is a $20 fee.

• Downtown: Downtown Sublet request forms
• Collegetown:. Collegetown Sublet request forms

• Electricity: Keep on; only fridge should remain powered when away.

• Mail: Submit a mail forwarding request to USPS.  This can be done in person or on their website.  This will avoid returns to people or businesses that send you something after you leave.

• Apartment care: Lock doors/windows, close blinds, shut off lights/appliances (except fridge).

• Trash: Remove promptly to avoid pests in summer heat.

Downtown

Ithaca Renting Downtown offices – 118 Prospect St., Suite 200

Contact our office by filling out the form below:

Collegetown

Contact our office by filling out the form below:

Parking – General

Parking is available as a separately licensed option in assigned spaces in several convenient locations. There are parking options available for both Tenants and Non-Tenants. All parking spaces are assigned. Parking policies differ between Collegetown and Downtown, so please refer to the specific FAQs for your preferred parking location for additional information:

Collegetown FAQs

Downtown FAQs

Collegetown Parking Locations are on Dryden Road, Buffalo Street and Williams Street.

Downtown Parking Locations are on Prospect Street.

You may make payments online through our Tenant Portal, or by check, money order, or wire transfer.  Please contact the Rental Office for wire transfer information.   For periodic rent payments, you may set up your checking account to make an Online Payment. 

We also accept payment through ACH and Credit Card. (Visa and Mastercard) This is accessed through the Tenant Portal.  ACH is assessed a $2.95 transaction fee.  Credit  and Debit Card payments are assessed a $2.95 transaction fee, and convenience fee equal to 2.7% of the payment.  These fees are charged by the service provider and not by Ithaca Renting. Please note that American Express and Discover are not accepted by the Portal.

Students planning to pay for their apartments with any sort of financial aid disbursements should carefully evaluate their financial aid package and amounts to see if off-campus living is even feasible. Please visit Cornell’s financial aid website for more information about living off-campus.

We do not offer alternate payment plans, monthly payment plans, and Cornell does not pay us directly for the apartments. Of greatest importance for students with financial aid is making sure the apartment chosen fits in your budget, making sure you never choose an apartment that starts in June, as the payment dates are earlier and do not match up with your potential financial aid disbursement, and making sure that there is a source of money available during the summer months for the first quarterly payment which will be due.

Leases are generally for one year, beginning in June, July, or August.  Each apartment has a pre-set starting and ending date that cannot be changed.

Leases for apartments with more than one resident are typically joint leases, with a group of roommates named together on the lease. In some locations, individual room leases are offered where a tenant can rent an individual room in an apartment or suite and the landlord will fill the other rooms.

Occasionally we offer specials that may include lease durations for less than 12 months.  Check with your leasing agents to see if there are any specials available now.

The Collegetown and Downtown apartment locations have different offices and slightly different policies Click on FAQs for either COLLEGETOWN (link to FAQs Collegetown) or DOWNTOWN (Link to FAQs Downtown) to  access more specific information, including Lease Documents, including our Sample Lease, Rules and Regulations, and any applicable Lease Addenda for each location. 

Heat and hot water are included in the rent for all of our properties. Some properties, such as Cityview Apartments, Collegetown Center, Collegetown Plaza and Collegetown Court buildings also include trash removal. Tenants are responsible for their own electricity payments.

Check with your rental agent to see what is included with the unit you are seeking to rent.

Pets are generally not allowed in any IRC property.  There are a limited number of apartments that the Company has decided to make available for a tenant to have a pet. There is a small additional “pet rent” for these tenants.  There is a small additional “pet rent” for these tenants and tenants must provide the Landlord a copy of their rental insurance policy before taking occupancy.

Please contact our leasing agents for more information.

The Company complies with Federal and State laws regarding service animals.

Please see our policy about service animals (SAs) and emotional support animals (ESAs) here: Service Animal Policy

All IRC apartments are furnished.  In limited circumstances Tenants may arrange for the use of their own furniture, but this must be arranged prior to the commencement of the lease term.

Tenants are permitted to sublet their apartments during the lease pending agreement by all other named Tenants on the lease and approval from the Rental Office. Subletting is always done at the Tenant’s own risk. Subletting does not relieve the Tenant of any Lease obligations.

Sublease Agreement forms are found on the FAQ/FORMS section of your location, on the right side listed under FORMS:

COLLEGETOWN FAQs and FORMS

DOWNTOWN FAQs and FORMS

Be sure to use the correct form! 

 Eligibility & Approval

• All sublets in must be approved by your Renting Office before starting.

• COLLEGETOWN Subtenants must be Cornell students (summer sublets may also be grad students from other universities).Not allowed: Ithaca College students, high school students, non-students, or anyone deemed risk by the landlord.

• Only the tenant named on the lease may sublet; subtenants cannot re-sublet.

Minimum Term, Occupancy Limits and Prohibited Sublets

• Collegetown: Minimum one academic term (Summer, Spring, Fall)
• Downtown: Minimum 2 months.

• No graduation weekend, winter break, short-term (under 1 month), or AirBNB  type rentals.

• No multiple summer sublets. You are permitted to have one sublet per academic term (Spring, Summer, Fall)

• Studio/1-bedroom: max 1 person, as per the terms of your lease.

• 2-bedroom: max 2 people (any combination of tenants/subtenants) You may not exceed the number of tenants allowed in your room or apartment according to your lease terms.

Steps for Sublet Approval 

1. Fill out a Sublease Agreement Form from the FORMS section of your Apartment Location (Collegetown or Downtown), linked above. Fill out each section as required on the form. READ THE FORM.

2. Include: price, dates, payment terms, damage deposit, all roommate approvals, subtenant info, and parent/guardian signature for all students for subtenant.

3. Be sure to check the Electricity and Internet option questions on the form.

4. Subtenant must provide photo ID and complete an information form,

5. Pay the  sublet fee (in person or via Tenant Portal).

6. Sublet is approved only if all lease obligations are up to date (no late rent, missing forms, etc.).

7. Sublets are generally approved within 10 days. Be sure to submit your sublet form early.
8. Sublet forms with missing or incomplete information will cause delays. Carefully review your form and include all of the required information, and don’t forget to submit a valid ID for the Subtenant.
9. Sublet Approval will not be unreasonably withheld. We want you to have a good sublet experience, which starts with your careful consideration of your sublet needs.

Tenant Responsibilities

• Find your own subtenant (no listings provided by landlord).

• Set sublet price and terms yourself.

• Collect your own damage deposit from subtenant.

• Arrange key hand-off (no after-hours pickups).

• Ensure subtenant follows all lease rules (no pets, no smoking, max occupancy limits).

• As required by your lease, keep the electricity service on even if you’re away.

• Keep up with the END of your Sublet- communicate with the Subtenant regarding moving out of your apartment, cleaning, and your agreed key return plan.
• Make sure you have provided an address to mail your original Security Deposit to the office if your lease is ending.

Tips for Finding a Subtenant

• Post widely: Cornlet, Cornell Off-Campus Living, Facebook housing groups, Craigslist (with caution- this has been a source of scams). Tell your friends. Share on any listservs, groups or mailing lists that you can!

• Verify subtenant is a Cornell student via Cornell Directory ( look up their netID).

• Avoid vague pricing, do not use terms like ‘Negotiable’, ‘make me an offer’ → lowball offers.

• Include clear start/end dates, price, photos, and details. Personalizing your listing will generate more interest.

• Keep listing active until sublet is approved. For some listing platforms, this means that you will need to update multiple times a week.

• FALL Semester Sublets are the most sought after. You should not negotiate the price at all for a Fall Sublet. 5 Months FULL rent at a minimum.
• SPRING Semester Sublets are common, but make sure your listing is up to date!
• SUMMER Sublets often will require a price reduction, and you should aim to get 75% percent of your rent or more, and not less than 50% of your rent.

• If a prospect makes you uncomfortable,  decline. Watch for scammers!

Here are some troubleshooting steps to try:

1. You need your own router to connect to the Ethernet port in your wall. We recommend a better quality router that is compatible with the newest standard WiFi 6. You do not need a modem.
2. Make sure you plug the Ethernet cable into the correct jack. There may be more than one jack in a room. Some are for cable TV and some are old telephone jacks. The cable should click into place and fit smoothly. In Collegetown Center, there is typically a small sticker with a number next to the Ethernet port.
3. To test the service, connect an Ethernet cable directly from the jack to your computer. If your computer connects via this direct link, the problem is with your own personal router, no the internet service. The internet provided is a fast, reliable, hard-wired service. Any problems with service are typically related to router issues.
4. If you have tried all of these steps and still don’t have internet service, please contact the Rental Office.

Renter’s Insurance is required by the terms of your lease. The building insurance does not cover any personal items belonging to any tenants. If there were water damage, smoke/fire damage, theft, or if a guest injured himself in your apartment,  renter’s insurance would help to cover any damages.

There are numerous ways to secure renter’s insurance. If your parents own a home in the United States, first see if you can be added on to their homeowner’s insurance policy. While you may have been covered under your parent’s homeowner’s insurance while you were living in a dorm, once you move to any off-campus apartment that coverage typically ends.
If you own a car, contact your auto insurance company to see if they offer renter’s insurance and if there is a discount for having both auto and renter’s insurance with them.
You can search for ‘renter’s insurance Ithaca NY’ to see a list of local insurance agencies or even just ‘renter’s insurance’ for a broad range of companies.

When you are ready to get a quote for your renter’s insurance, you will need to know some basic information about your apartment including your address, approximate age of your building, size of your apartment, number of bathrooms. Your insurance company may have some more specific questions, so please contact the office with a list of questions if you need assistance. You will also need to estimate the value of your possessions. This is probably much higher than you think! There are several charts of personal property calculators that you can use to help determine your own estimate.

Here are two articles for further reference:

• The Basics of Renter’s Insurance
•  Renters Insurance FAQ

Yes.  We have compiled the following list of commonly-requested local destinations, so you can type the specific address into your mobile device and get directions.