Finding housing in the communities surrounding MIT can take some time and attention, but there are several resources to help you as an incoming postdoc at MIT.
Off-Campus Housing
Find apartments and roommates through the Off-campus Housing website. You will need an MIT web certificate, which you can obtain once you have an MIT identification number. (See Information for New Postdocs.) After you make a profile, you can check out listings and the Resources page, including information about:
- rental scams to watch out for
- tips on working with realtors
- your rights
- leases
- security, neighborhoods, and more
Additional resources for off-campus housing:
- MIT Postdoctoral Association’s Postdoc Housing Resource
- Key administrative contacts for postdocs. Your department, lab, or center may be able to help you get an ID number as soon as possible, and may have additional housing advice.
- Additional information from the International Scholars Office (helpful to all newcomers)
- Many postdocs recommend finding housing near public transportation.
MIT On-campus Housing
On-campus graduate housing is prioritized for members of the MIT graduate student community. However, postdocs, visitors, affiliates and cross-registered students who are seeking to live in on-campus may select housing through a Self-Selection process, subject to housing availability. Please note that housing availability is typically very limited given the high volume of MIT students who are interested in living on campus
If you have questions, please connect with MIT Housing and Residential Services. Staff are available through a variety of channels, including drop-in virtual office hours.
Sublicensing
Visitors, postdocs, affiliates and cross-registered students may also sublicense a housing unit from a current resident during the summer or Independent Activities Period (IAP) breaks.
Beware of Housing Scams
Please be alert to the possibility of common housing scams, particularly on Craigslist. Victims have reported two main types of housing scams. In one, a victim sends someone a deposit for a property. In fact, the person receiving the money has no authority to rent, or the property does not exist. The person committing the fraud keeps the deposit check and disappears, and the victim does not find out until they try to move in. In the second type of scam, someone pretends to be offering a sublet apartment or a roommate situation. The perpetrator will send a check to the victim for more money than is requested, and then ask that the balance be sent back. The original check bounces and the victim loses the money they thought they were returning to a potential roommate/sublet.