Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, washing machines and dryers are on site and are free for residents' personal use.

Most of our residents move in the weekend before the start of the semester but we can prorate leases to accommodate other times.

Moving off-campus with Affinity has its advantages, including the option to keep your belongings in your rental. If you renew your lease for the following fall, you can leave your things there, except for food. Even if you haven't renewed your lease, you may be able to lease the rental for the summer if the next tenant doesn't need early access when you have to work, intern, complete clinicals or rotations.

During the transition between academic years, you'll typically only need to clean up, remove food, and leave the keys for the summer break if you're renewing your lease. This benefit is a relief for both parents and students. Apart from having your own bedroom, moving off-campus with Affinity can also save you a lot of money.

Yes, we do, but we do not place students and non-students together in the same building. Sometimes we lease to graduating students and place them in rentals that don’t contain students.

You do not need to mow or maintain your lawn. You should, however, be prepared to move some snow. Most of the time our staff will take care of it for you, but we can't always get to all of our properties in a timely manner in the event of a snow storm.

Most Affinity properties are within the PCT patrol area of three blocks from campus. Four blocks is the maximum distance from campus for Affinity Rentals.

No, Penn College meal plans are not required if you live off-campus.

No. Pets may be lovable, but they are not allowed in our rentals.

We include quality furnishings, free use washer and dryer and all the utilities are included. You may also continue a lease after the semester.

Each property's rent is unique and prices range from $2,800 per semester to $4,000 per semester. Pricing may reflect the level of renovations done to the home, distance from campus or level of furnishings.

Most Affinity rentals are furnished well, but there are a few that do not have furnishings.

Our emergency line is available 24 hours a day. Our office personnel are available Monday-Friday 8am until 3pm. Our residents also have access to our Resident Portal App that allows them to request our assistance right from their phone or Internet.

Absolutely.  You can also choose to use our roommate selection service where we find a compatible roommate through degree matching.  

You may have a guest but certain restrictions do apply. Consult you lease for details.

Affinity does allow subletting organized by the resident. All opportunities have to be approved by Affinity.

Yes, most properties offer off-street parking. Properties that have on-street parking usually have adequate spaces for the property directly in front of the property.

We do not charge extra for off-street parking. However, on-street parking permits are required by the city for some locations.

Affinity pays for electric, heating, water, sewer and trash. Cable TV, Internet and phone are not included.

There is no curfew, but there are quiet hour schedules and a general rule to not disturb other residents.

We have 50 properties and 95 units serving 400 students and parents.  There are lots of options to meet students transitioning to off-campus.

You can select properties but keep in mind that properties are rented on a first-come, first-served basis.  For multi-units, we do our best to place similar majors together using our roommate selection service.

If you're a landlord and want to be on the PCT-approved list, it's essential to meet the Williamsport Code's base requirements and pass yearly code inspections. Failure to do so will result in your removal from the list. Moreover, the college can remove you from the list for being unresponsive, unethical, or breaking local and state laws. This applies even if reports are not filed by validated leaseholders or proof of guilt confirmed in court of law. As the college's policies may have changed under new administration, it's best to contact Student Affairs for the current guidelines.

Remember that it's the landlord's choice to be on the Approved Landlord list. While Affinity is currently not on the PCT list, they have provided overwhelming evidence to clear accusations in question related to their removal and are confident in being reinstated. With over 400 leaseholders a year and a strong reputation backed by positive reviews, Affinity remains a preferred landlord for those looking for quality housing options.

Affinity has been taken to court twice in 25 years for mishandling security deposits, failure to provide a report on time, and excessive charges, including cleaning. However, in both cases, the court ruled in Affinity's favor and innocent in all accounts.

As stated in the court cases that were ruled in Affinity's favor, landlords are legally allowed to charge cleaning fees. This is similar to vacation rentals or hotels, which also list cleaning charges. PCT also collects a deposit to manage the end of the lease. However, it is important to note that all fees must be reasonable and not charged for conditions caused by the landlord's own actions.

To ensure the best experience for their leaseholders, Affinity asks for any damages to be reported on move-in forms and for any issues with cleanliness to be reported before occupancy. This gives Affinity the opportunity to address any issues and ensure a clean and comfortable rental for their tenants. Their professional cleaners aim to make sure that tenants do not have to lift a finger upon arrival, including professionally cleaned carpets.

At Affinity, we prioritize the return of security deposits to our residents. While most are satisfied with the outcome, there are sometimes unavoidable deductions. To ensure fairness and maintain positive relationships with our leaseholders, we provide them with a Move-In Packet, Checklist, and Inventory List to review the condition of the rental and furnishings upon move-in. We understand that not all parents can be present for move-out, which can put them at a disadvantage, so we also offer a Facetime walk-through to address any questions about deductions. In group settings, determining responsibility for damages can be challenging. Therefore, we ask that students take responsibility when damages are their fault, as failure to do so may result in charges for their roommates as well. This may not be ideal, but it is the fair and just approach.

When a student or parent finds the perfect rental, they want reassurance from the landlord that it is reserved for them. Similarly, a landlord stands to lose a significant amount of money if a rental is held for an applicant and they change their mind. To provide mutual protection, Affinity has created an online application process. When an applicant requests that a landlord hold a rental for them, they must submit an application with associated fees. It is recommended that applicants confirm the rental's availability before submitting their application, as it is not uncommon for multiple groups to be interested in the same rental. The application includes a statement in which the applicant acknowledges their intention to lease the rental and agrees to provide a non-refundable application fee to secure it. If an applicant changes their mind before signing the lease, they have two options: 1) end the process and lose their deposit, or 2) transfer their application and deposit to another available Affinity property."

At Affinity, our lease is designed to meet the needs of our tenants and their parents, with a focus on providing a safe and conducive living environment for students to succeed in their studies.

The heart of Affinity's lease is to offer flexibility where available, yet be restrictive if necessary, in order to keep students safe and in an environment that is conducive to getting a degree. For example, if the lease states that grills are not allowed, but a tenant wishes to have one and it is allowable by local ordinances and the landlord's insurance, Affinity may grant permission for use. However, if there is a flare-up and it melts the siding, Affinity will enforce the lease and revoke the tenant's ability to grill.

While Affinity may grant special concessions, the lease is ultimately the governing authority for all situations. We believe that all situations are workable, but some behaviors make an action unchangeable. Although it is rare, Affinity may charge an individual for conduct violations depending on the offense. In most cases, our residents are respectful of their roommates, their community, and their landlord, resulting in the ability to align together without penalty."

Leasing for our current tenants typically takes place around October, and new applicant leasing opens in November. 

Moving away from campus housing and into an off-campus rental can be daunting, especially if you're used to having your loans and disbursements automatically managed by Penn College. But many students and parents have successfully navigated this transition for decades. The key to paying your rent on time is planning and organization. The biggest hurdle will be coming up with the funds for your first off-campus rent payment, which is due before financial aid is disbursed.

Affinity's first rent payment is due July first. To overcome this, you'll need to have a plan in place to gather funds in advance, whether it's through savings, summer work, borrowing from relatives, or taking out a personal loan. Once you've secured the funds for your first rent payment, the process becomes easier. As you receive your loan disbursements you will set aside the amount needed for the next rent payment. The fall disbursement will cover your spring rent and the spring disbursement will cover your fall rent and so on. By following this process, you'll be able to pay your rent on time, regardless of when it's due, and you'll also have your last loan disbursement housing money to pay back any loans you may have taken out to cover your first rent payment. With a little planning and organization, you can easily live off-campus and manage your finances without any stress.  Give us a call so we can walk you through this process and ensure it’s the right approach for you.

Affinity utilizes the convenience of technology to offer flexibility to our families and students. With electronic lease signing, co-signers who may not live in the same household or state can easily sign their lease from anywhere.

Each student has their own individual lease, so they are only responsible for their own agreement, even if they have roommates.  Once your lease agreement is executed, you will receive an electronic copy via email for your records.

At Affinity, we take our role as a present landlord seriously. This means that we conduct at least four inspections per year to ensure the safety and peace of mind of both our tenants and co-signers. Our inspections also provide an opportunity for residents to address any roommate or lease compliance issues they may be facing.

We understand that some situations may require anonymity, and we are here to assist you in any way we can.

Why yes, we do! Student tenants are required to setup an online account with Affinity. In this account you can pay rent, ask Affinity’s office questions, make maintenance requests, and view your inventory, lease, move in and move out guides. Here are the downloads for our Resident Center App. which requires a username (provided by Affinity) and password you create.

Apple App Store 

Google Play Store

We aim to ease the financial burden on our residents while promoting accountability. To that end, all homes have usage caps, either on a single meter or multiple submeters. These caps are based on average usage and are designed to prevent financial loss from misuse or neglect of utilities. For example, a leaky toilet that goes unreported can result in a costly monthly bill for the landlord.

Affinity does include electric, water, sewer and gas related to normal use.