Short answer: earlier than you think, and with the whole group agreed before anyone calls a landlord.
The rules that set the clock
Fairfield University only allows seniors to live off campus, and a student has to be released by the Office of Residence Life first. That release comes out of a lottery Residence Life runs during the first semester of junior year. The University's own guidance is to wait for your release before signing a lease, and we think you should know that before you talk to anyone, including us.
Every year roughly 400 seniors move into houses around Fairfield Beach Road, Reef Road, and Lantern Point. The supply of houses does not change much from one year to the next, so the good ones are spoken for well ahead of move-in. Our houses are typically leased two to three school years in advance.
What that means in practice
- Freshman and sophomore year: figure out who you actually want to live with. The group matters more than the house.
- Sophomore spring through junior fall: this is when groups start touring and putting their names on houses for senior year. If you wait until you are released, many of the houses will already be gone.
- Junior fall: the release lottery. If anyone in your group might not be released, tell us before you sign, not after, so we can talk through the options together.
Size the group to the house
Every one of our houses is listed at its approved occupancy, and that number does not move. Our beach houses are approved for four people; houses off the beach are approved for five. Size the group to the listing before you fall in love with a house; if you have one more friend than a house allows, tell us, because there is usually a house on a nearby street that fits.
What parents want to know
Parents usually sign as guarantors, and they ask the same three questions: how the rent is paid, what the deposit is, and what happens when something breaks. The leasing process post covers the sequence. The short version: everything is signed online, every guarantor gets their own portal login, and maintenance requests go through the same portal with a photo attached.
Where the houses are
If you have not spent time at the beach yet, start with our guide to the Fairfield Beach neighborhood.
Start here
One person applies for the whole group at apply.lanternpointmanagement.com, picks the school year, and selects the houses you like. A person from our team calls back within two to three business days. Questions first? Call or text (203) 418-7800.
Sources: Fairfield University Office of Residence Life housing lottery information; Fairfield University Living Off-Campus page. Lantern Point Management is an independent local landlord and is not affiliated with Fairfield University.