Damage to Property / Damage Billing (Residential Living)

Policy Author:
Student Affairs

Responsible Office – Department:
Student Affairs

Effective Date of Policy:
August 17, 2022

Policy Narrative

Residents agree to pay for damages for missing property and equipment and for any additional cleaning and service costs they incur. Residents will also be billed for damage to or within the residence hall beyond normal wear and tear based on the current cost of labor and materials. Such charges must be paid upon receipt of the bill. If two (2) or more students occupy the same room and individual responsibility for extra cleaning, damage, or loss in the room cannot be ascertained, charges will be assessed and divided equally between the residents of the room. Residents share responsibility for the condition of the common areas within their assigned residence hall. Students may be assessed fees for damage or missing property to common areas beyond normal wear and tear or property loss that cannot be attributed to any particular individual. The total costs for damage to the common areas will be divided among everyone who resides in the building. Where it can be shown that an identifiable person or persons caused particular damage, the cost of that damage will be charged exclusively to the responsible individual(s). These charges must be paid to the University in accordance with the established billing schedule. Persons found damaging University property will be subject to disciplinary action. Any appeals concerning damage billing must be received in writing by the Housing & Residence Life Office within 30 days of the billing date.  

The Residence Life program strives to provide a positive educational living experience for resident students. All resident students are expected to comply with established standards of living listed in their Residence Hall Agreement. Rooms are furnished with beds, desks, chairs, and dressers. The standards of living include, but are not limited to:

1. Maintaining adequate standards of personal hygiene or room cleanliness so that the state of the room does not interfere with the general comfort, safety, security, health or welfare of roommates, suitemates, or the larger residence hall community
2. No intentional effort to force a roommate/suitemate to move out of the room or apartment will be tolerated

Resident students are responsible for any damage or excessive cleaning that is required. Damage will be assessed for cost of repairs or replacement, and charges will be assigned as follows:

Room and Apartment Damage

1. To any individual who accepts responsibility or is found to be responsible for the damage
2. To all occupants of a room/apartment where the damage was done and direct responsibility cannot be determined
3. Damage shall be classified as either accidental or malicious. 
4. Accidental damage is damage occurring through unintentional happenings. Restitution will be assessed for accidental damage. 
5. Malicious damage is disruptive behavior resulting in damage. Disciplinary action will be taken and restitution assessed to students involved in malicious damage. Repeated occurrences of malicious damage by an individual or a group of individuals will be investigated to determine whether further disciplinary measures are warranted, including dismissal from University housing and/or the University.
6. Each residential student will have the opportunity to appeal assessed damages to the Director of Housing and Residence Life by a specific deadline. Should the appeal be denied, the student is held responsible for the damage.

Common Area Damage

1. Common areas are defined as any space other than individual student rooms, i.e., bathrooms, hallways, stairwells, lounges, elevators, lobby areas, etc.
2. In common areas where excessive damage occurs and responsibility is not determined, it may be necessary to hold responsible all occupants of the section, apartment floor, or building where the damage occurred.
3. Individuals held accountable for damage to a common area will be held financially responsible and will be billed by the Office of Student Accounts, upon request of the Office of Housing & Residence Life.

Students responsible for malicious damage to common areas will not only be billed for the damage, but may also be subject to disciplinary action

Purpose of Policy

To create and maintain an equitable environment where students have the optimal opportunity to succeed academically, personally, and professionally and where any and all Daemen University Community members feel safe, valued, and respected.

This policy’s virtual location is in the Residential Living Policies section (Section 4) of the Student Handbook –  https://www.daemen.edu/student-life/student-affairs/student-handbook/section-4-residential-living-policies.