Housing in Rome

Off-Campus Apartments

Students are accommodated in off-campus apartments each term. Housing placements are managed by American University of Rome (AUR). For an overview of housing, please visit their website.

A single-name roommate request will be taken into consideration but is not guaranteed.

To get a feel for the neighborhood, CIS Abroad students are typically placed near Viale di Trastevere 215. However, specific housing placements will not be shared with students until arrival on-site.

For AUR Housing Emergencies and Lockouts, please contact +39 339 2122127.

General Housing Rules

While rules may vary from program to program, our aim here is to provide some general guidelines and principles when it comes to encouraging and maintaining a safe, happy, and healthy living environment. The rules below apply to all housing options in Florence: there may be additional rules in your housing contract.

Financial Liability

You should leave the apartment in the same condition as you found it. If extra time is needed to clean the apartment, or if anything is damaged, you will be charged for it. Key replacement fees may be applied to any lost or stolen keys. Energy use exceeding the allotted amount will also be charged to you. You must immediately report anything broken to CIS Abroad.

Quiet Hours

In Italy, by law, there are quiet hours at night between 9:30pm and 8:00am and in the afternoon between 1:00pm and 3:30pm. During these hours, avoid moving furniture, talking loudly, and wearing high heels. If you receive repeated noise complaints, you may lose your housing.

Overnight Guests

Please be very careful about who you invite over, and remember that overnight guests are not allowed. If we learn that you had an overnight guest, you will be fined. If you want to visit friends and family, we are happy to help you find a hostel for them.

Cleanliness

Keep your living space clean and tidy, and don't leave your personal items in common areas. Take the garbage out every day (especially to avoid cockroaches and mosquitoes!) Recycle plastic, paper and glass separately. Sweep or mop regularly. Do not let unwashed dishes sit for too long.

Other Rules (excluding those in your housing agreement/contract)

Smoking is not allowed.
It is strictly forbidden to throw any object or substance from windows, balconies, terraces or roofs. This includes keys, cigarette butts or anything else big or small.
Pets and plants are not permitted in the apartments.
Students cannot move furniture inside the apartment without permission.
Students will live in the bedroom they have been assigned to. No bedroom changes can be made without permission from CIS Abroad.

Guidelines for Easy Living

Create a Roommate Agreement

Come to an agreement with your roommates on what behavior you expect from each other. Make sure to clearly outline your expectations around quiet hours, acceptable noise levels, shared resources, and cleanliness: consider this template if you need ideas.

Be kind to your neighbors. Remember that you are ambassadors for your country. Say hello when you pass them in the halls, and don’t keep them up at night!

Avoid Mold/Mildew

Minimize the amount of moisture in your room. Dry clothes outside or go to a laundromat, and regularly air out your housing to reduce moisture.

Heating in Italy

Switching on the heating in Italy is controlled by regional regulations and is mostly controlled by the condominium. It is turned on according to the needs of the majority of residents. Although it varies from building-to-building, this is generally sometime between 5, 6 or 7 am and 9 or 10 am, and again for a few hours before 10 or 11 pm. Heat cannot be on between 11 pm and 5 am. This means that the hours in between heating are what you could call “Italy room temperature”, which is slightly warmer than the temperature outside.

Wearing warmer winter clothes (ex., wool, fleece, flannel) indoors during winter months is considered normal practice amongst Italians and experienced expats; it is strongly suggested that students adopt this practice for their own comfort.

Should there be a sharp drop in outdoor temperatures, expect to notice the difference even in your unit; it will naturally become harder for your furnace to heat your unit/building. Should you still suspect that your heat is not working, you should:

Let on-site staff know as early in the day as possible – waiting until late afternoon or the weekend will hinder their ability to service your unit on a timely basis. Please note that services may not be provided until the next business day.
Check the different rooms in your unit – it could just be that one particular radiator isn’t working. If you’ve got this particular problem, send a maintenance request specifying which radiator needs to be serviced.
Never play with your thermostat – you could actually be turning the system off!
Never play with your hot water heater!
Never use stoves and ovens for their heat – these are NOT suitable heating solutions for you and your roommates!

Stay Warm with Limited or No Heating

Be smart with curtains: Open your curtains when it’s sunny outside to make the most of passive solar heat. Close them when the sun goes down (or if it’s not sunny). This will reduce drafts and help keep your home warm and dry.
Avoid putting furniture and couches in front of a radiator, so you can heat up the room instead of just warming up the couch or bed.
Do as the locals do: wear warm clothes inside! There’s no shame in keeping a jacket or scarf on indoors.

Stay Cool During the Summer

Close your curtains during the day, when the sun is at its peak, and open your windows in the evening or early morning to take advantage of the cool air. (Since screens are not common in Europe, you may need to purchase an insect repellent, or close your windows before nightfall.)
Don't use the oven on very hot days, as it will heat up the house. Choose to eat out or prepare cold meals like salads and sandwiches.
Dress for the weather in flowy clothing made of linen or cotton.

Maintaining a Harmonious Living Environment

When sharing living spaces, it is important to act responsibly and considerately toward your fellow residents. This includes being mindful of noise levels, turning off lights and closing windows when not in use, and adhering to specific rules outlined in your housing contract.

The goal is to create a safe, comfortable, and healthy living environment for all residents. Rules may vary depending on the program, but these guidelines are in place to ensure that everyone can enjoy their time in the residence hall.

- Communicate effectively with your roommates and neighbors. Establish ground rules for noise levels and other activities, and work together to create a peaceful and comfortable living space.
- Show respect to the other occupants in your apartment or residence. Clean up after yourself and ensure your living space is always tidy and organized.
- Be polite to your neighbors, greet them in the hallways, and avoid disturbing them late at night.
- Maintain the safety of yourself, your roommates, and your belongings. Be cautious about inviting guests and overnight stays.
- Take responsibility for your own cooking and cleaning. Wash your dishes daily and keep the bathroom clean. Avoid leaving your personal items in common areas.
- Keep in mind that you are financially responsible for the condition of the apartment. Additional cleaning may incur charges. Damages to the apartment will be your responsibility to cover.

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