8 Easy Ways to Be a Good Neighbor

Know Your Neighbors Introduce yourself.  Share contact information.  Offer your assistance with shoveling or babysitting.  Good neighbors watch out for one another and report any suspicious activity.

    • Live in Mission Hill? You can call the Mission Hill Problem Property Hotline (617-373-3680) to report disturbances or concerns that may be negatively impacting you and your neighbors.

Get Involved Explore your neighborhood.  Help with a local cleanup like Mission Hill or Fenway Breakfast Club! Attend your neighborhood committee meetings.

Know Your Rights Landlords must have their rental units registered and inspected regularly.  Know Boston safety requirements and check if your apartment meets the State Sanitary Code (view MA State Sanitary Code). 

Shhhh! At any time of day or night, loud or unruly conduct is a violation.  Not all neighbors are college students; you may live next to a family with children or an elderly couple trying to sleep. Be respectful, stay quiet!

Take out the Trash Check the pick up schedule for your street or download the Trash App to set up reminders.  Avoid trash fines for “illegal trash disposal” by putting trash out at the correct time and following the local trash guidelines for the City of Boston or your current location.  

Go Green Recycle! Check pick-up schedules and appropriate ways to recycle here.

Be Fire-Safe Make sure that there is always a working battery in your smoke alarm. Extinguish candles when you go to bed or leave.  Make sure guests put ashes in ashtrays; not the floor, yard, or potting soil.  If you have a gas stove, regularly clean the burners. Click here, for more information.

Stay off the Roof Check your lease for roof-top regulations.  If you’re up there illegally, you face serious fines from your landlord and/or Boston Police and potential injury!

Northeastern University Police created a video series with tips for living off campus and being #SMARTneigbors! Check out the first video on trash etiquette below. 

NOTE: Northeastern’s Code of Student Conduct applies off-campus as well as on-campus.

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Northeastern University

Off Campus Engagement and Support (Boston)

151 Speare Hall

(617) 373-8480

offcampus@northeastern.edu

@NUoffcampus

Yammer Community

Network Housing and Relocation

(617) 373-7071

NHR@northeastern.edu

Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm

or schedule a virtual appointment.