ANSWER
Before you accept a replacement roommate, check your lease, agree on who can choose the new person, and confirm whether the landlord must approve the new tenant. CU Denver’s housing guidance also says roommate requests must be mutual, and its off-campus housing search does not screen people or properties for you.
YOUR NEXT DECISION
Use the answer to prepare your next conversation
- Read the lease for subletting, assignment, and occupancy rules.
- Write a roommate agreement covering rent, utilities, deposits, and exit terms.
- Make sure the replacement roommate is mutually requested if you are using CU Denver housing processes.
- Confirm landlord approval requirements before anyone moves in.
- Verify the person and the unit yourself because CU Denver’s off-campus search does not screen either one.
Start with the lease and a roommate agreement
CU Denver’s landlord-tenant handbook says roommates should treat the arrangement like a business relationship and write down the basics before anyone moves in. For a replacement roommate, that means checking whether subletting or assignment is allowed, whether landlord permission is required, and whether only named people may live there.
- Put the rent, utilities, security deposit share, damage responsibility, and move-out plan in writing.
- Decide who will find, interview, and choose the replacement roommate.
- If someone leaves early, the handbook says they usually keep paying their share unless the landlord agrees to a replacement tenant.
Confirm the roommate request has to be mutual
CU Denver Housing and Dining’s FAQ says all roommate requests must be mutual, meaning the person you want must also email housing@ucdenver.edu. The Housing and Dining page also says roommate matching is a feature exclusively for First Year and Transfer students for the 2026-2027 academic year.
- Do not assume one-sided interest is enough.
- If you are using CU Denver housing processes, make sure both people take the required step.
- Check whether your situation fits the First Year and Transfer student roommate-matching window for 2026-2027.
Use the off-campus search carefully
CU Denver’s off-campus housing search is meant as a service for CU students and affiliates, but the university, Commuter Services, and Off Campus Partners do not endorse specific landlords or properties, and they do not conduct background investigations for people using the system. So you still need to verify the person and the unit yourself before signing anything.
- Review the listing details, then verify the actual lease terms with the landlord or current tenant.
- Don’t treat a listing as a recommendation from CU Denver.
- If you need a place near campus, the search includes nearby studio listings such as a studio at 1225 Santa Fe Dr, 0.5 miles from CU Denver, but availability changes.
Sources
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