If you already signed a housing contract, and will not live on campus, submit a Contract Release Request. This form is a request submitted to the Contract Release Committee for review. The process is not the same for current residents (Spring 2026) and incoming students (Fall 2026). The contract cancellation form for 2026/2027 opened on December 2.
Eligibility and Refunds
Incoming students who no longer plan to attend UA and returners who have applied for housing, but decide to live off campus, are eligible for release from their contract and to receive a refund if they meet the deadlines stipulated by the housing contract.
For prepayment refunds for Fall 2026, refunds will be issued beginning in April.
$140 Refund Deadline
May 01
Time 11:59 p.m.
$100 Refund Deadline
Jun 01
Time 11:59 p.m.
$50 Refund Deadline
Jun 15
Time 11:59 p.m.
Cancellation Review and Approval
Students who apply for housing for the fall semester sign a contract for the academic year. Students who apply for spring semester or a summer term sign a contract for that semester or term. This affects how cancellation requests are handled.
InfoExemption Eligibility Does Not Guarantee Cancellation
Exemptions are only available for incoming freshmen prior to move-in/start of the school year. After move-in, a first year student who wishes to request to cancel their contract must complete a contract cancellation request and is no longer eligible for an exemption.
Automatically Approved Cancellations
These cancellation requests are granted automatically and do not require committee approval if:
- A returning student requests cancellation before move in/start of the academic year, whichever comes first
- An incoming freshman requests cancellation because of no longer attending UA
- A student requests cancellation because they are no longer enrolled at UA
- A student requests cancellation because they are changing to online courses
Cancellations Requiring Committee Review
These cancellation requests are granted only under certain circumstances and require committee review if:
- A student requests cancellation during the academic year, after they have moved in and/or classes have started
The committee will not release students from their contracts at any time to move to owned or leased off-campus or sorority/fraternity housing.
Spring-Only Cancellations
Current residents who will not be living on campus for spring semester for academic reasons (December graduation, spring co-op, study abroad, etc.) should submit a contract release request for spring semester only. The Spring 2026 cancellation request is now available in the myHousing portal.
How to Request a Contract Release
Spring 2026 Residents
To access the contract release request form, students must go to their myHousing account. It may take up to four weeks to receive a response, depending on time of year and whether the request requires committee review.
Fall 2026 Residents
To request cancellation for the 2026-2027 academic year, students should go to https://housingportal.ua.edu/. From the homepage, click on Dashboard. Then click on View. The next screen is called Application Details, and you can click the option to Cancel Application. Answer the subsequent questions to complete your cancellation request.
Committee Decision Timeline
After the Contract Release Committee reviews your request, HRC will notify you of the committee’s decision via your Crimson email account. For any student requesting contract release for any reason(s) other than not attending UA, allow up to four weeks after submitting the release request form.
InfoReinstating a Cancelled Application
A housing application may be reinstated after cancellation, but it’s not guaranteed. If you request for your application to be reinstated after cancellation, your application completion date will be updated to the date on which the reinstatement is processed (not the date/time the application was originally received).
Obligations Following Your Request
If Your Request Is Approved
If the contract release request is approved, all release fees, prorated housing charges, and other charges as stipulated by the housing contract apply. HRC charges a $500 cancellation fee to students still enrolled at UA if they request cancellation after moving in; students who withdraw from UA will not be charged a cancellation fee to cancel their contract. Students must satisfy all financial obligations to UA before HRC issues any refunds.
Housing charges will be determined based on the student’s move-out date as follows:
October 10
Students who move out after October 10, but prior to the opening of the halls for spring semester, are responsible for rent through the end of the fall semester.
March 1
Students who move out after March 1 are responsible for rent through the end of the spring semester.
If Your Request Is Denied
If a release request is denied, the student is responsible for fulfilling all terms and conditions (including payment, damage fees, etc.) of the contract.