Faculty Housing

faculty and students

Rentals

The College owns a number of houses and apartments that are available for rent to eligible members of the instructional staff. Initial housing coordination is managed by the Assistant Provost for Administration.

Eligibility

The Provost’s Office is responsible for the assignment of College housing. Eligibility must be confirmed in writing by the Assistant Provost for Administration.

Full-time members of the instructional staff are given first priority for available housing.

Part-time members of the instructional staff with appointments of half-time or greater are also eligible for housing, as availability permits.

Terms

Standard Instructional Staff housing

Standard Instructional Staff Housing consists of College-owned apartments and houses rented on a month-to-month basis for an anticipated occupancy of ten (10) months or more.

Standard Instructional Staff Housing:

  • Is offered based on availability.

  • Is intended to serve as the renter’s primary residence.

  • Is rented at 80% of the current* market rent.

*Market rents are reset annually and applied at the time of lease signing, and every subsequent September for continuing tenants.

Temporary housing occupancy

Temporary Housing Occupancy, also referred to as short-term housing, may be offered based on availability and the time of year.

Temporary Housing Occupancy applies when one or more of the following conditions exist:

  • The anticipated housing need is less than ten (10) months; and/or

  • The College housing will not serve as the renter’s primary residence, such as when temporary housing is needed during an emergency home repair or planned home renovation.

Temporary Housing Occupancy will not be offered during the period in which the Provost’s Office is placing new faculty and coordinating moves for existing faculty through the annual housing survey process. Please consult with the Assistant Provost for Administration to determine when this period begins and ends.

Temporary Housing Occupancy is rented at 100% of the current market rent.

end of term

Instructional staff whose appointments with the College end are expected to vacate College housing by June 30. This allows Facilities staff sufficient time to complete any necessary maintenance, repairs, or other work required to prepare the unit for the next tenant.

Requests to remain in College housing beyond June 30 must be approved in advance, in writing, by the Assistant Provost for Administration.

Repairs and requests

Requests for housing repairs or maintenance should be submitted through AppFolio or by emailing swarthmorepm@arspruce.com.

For after-hours emergencies, including life-safety issues, active leaks, overflowing toilets, loss of heat, or similar urgent conditions, please call (267) 702-3981.

Home Purchase Assistance

The College Home Purchase Assistance program offers tenured and tenure-track faculty, other full-time faculty with three or more years remaining on their appointment*, and regular part-time faculty the opportunity for a ten-year forgivable home purchase assistance loan of 10% of the purchase price of the property, up to $57,500. This loan must go toward the down payment, closing costs, closing “points,” or mortgage insurance premiums associated with the purchase of a home located either within the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District, or within five miles from any SEPTA Regional Rail station along the Media-Elwyn line, including center city Philadelphia, or within five miles of the Frankford Transfer Station line.

Through the Home Purchase Assistance program, eligible faculty have the opportunity to receive College assistance if they choose to make their home within a range of locales in the thriving and diverse greater Philadelphia area, home to a vibrant mix of cultures, a top-notch culinary scene, and world-class art and history museums. Swarthmore is easily accessible on the Media-Elwyn regional rail line, and in keeping with the College’s commitment to sustainability, the Home Purchase Assistance program also encourages our community members to take advantage of public transit at our doorstep.

Down payment assistance loans are administered from one of our preferred lenders or by a lender of your choice.  Contact Faith Lucifero (flucife1@swarthmore.edu) for more information. 

*Normally, visiting faculty are not considered eligible for this program.

Housing Resources

Although Swarthmore does not provide direct resources for finding or listing sabbatical housing, some faculty have made use of the following resources: