Paying Your Rent

Learn about paying your rent on a residential unit at Columbia University. 

Details

The tenant of record must issue all payments. Payments received that are not issued by the leaseholder will be returned to the tenant with a letter of explanation and a reply envelope. The issuance of payment by the tenant of record is then expected. 

You must make your payment in the form of a personal check, money order, traveler's check, or bank check. We do not accept credit or debit cards. 

Rent payments issued by the tenant of record are processed and deposited within 24 hours of receipt. Columbia Residential must first approve any adjustments to tenant accounts on the Morningside Campus. 

For tenants at the Irving Medical Center, the Office of Housing Services must approve any adjustments to the account.

Rent bills are generated on the third Thursday of each month for the following month. A rent statement is produced every month with a reply envelope.

Before the first of the month, this statement is delivered by the United States Postal Service directly to your apartment mailbox.

All billing statements will read that your rent is due on the first of the month. The statement is perforated. The pink portion goes in the reply envelope with your payment. Keep the white part for your records.

Payments received after the 10th may not be reflected on the next billing statement.

Please note: Requests for address change are honored by an approved leave of absence or during University holiday. Requests should be emailed to [email protected].

Still have questions?

Visit our Service Center.