Year-round Housing: Move-Out Process
Thank you for living in university housing!
We hope you enjoyed your time on campus. As you prepare to move out, please follow the instructions below to complete your checkout from your space.
Review the information below to make sure you follow all checkout steps and complete the process before leaving your space. Improper checkout fee(s) will be charged for failure to comply with move-out instructions.
If you have questions about charges, fines and fees, visit Financial Responsibility.
For mid-semester lease cancellation, you will continue to be charged rent until your keys are returned. The Lease Break form is available at the OSU Housing Portal.
- Summer 2026 Move-Out Deadlines
Residents must vacate their summer housing assignments by the deadline that applies to them:
- July 29 at 5 p.m. – Residents transitioning to fall staff housing.
- August 1 at noon – Residents without a fall housing assignment must move off campus.
- August 2 at 5 p.m. – Residents transitioning to fall student housing.
- Express Checkout Process
- Pick up an Express Checkout Key Envelope at the FRC before your departure day.
- Prepare room for move-out
- Scan the QR code on the envelope or go to the OSU Housing Portal to access the Express Checkout form and follow the listed instructions.
- Lock your door(s) when you leave.
- Place your keys inside and seal the envelope. Drop it off at the FRC.
- If the FRC is closed, use the drop box outside the FRC Building.
- Mailed or shipped keys will not be accepted.
- Clean Apartment
- You may receive Improper checkout fee(s) for damaged and/or uncleaned apartment or for leaving items in the apartment.
Note: As with all chemicals, cleaners and abrasives, read the instructions. Mixing supplies can cause damage or harm to people, equipment and facilities. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and stop cleaning if damage becomes evident.
Range (stove top and oven)
- Don’t move ranges or unhooked gas lines for any reason.
- Clean stove top with an all-purpose cleaner or dish soap.
- Clean oven, burner pan, broiler pan and grill with an oven cleaner.
- Clean stove hood and vent/exhaust filter. Soak filter in hot, soapy water in the sink. Rinse and dry.
- Clean walls next to the stove. Walls must be free of dirt, grime, grease until smooth to touch.
Sinks
- Clean sinks and countertops with an all-purpose cleaner, dish soap or abrasive cleaner.
- Sinks and countertops must be free of dirt, grime, grease until smooth to touch.
- To empty the water from fish tanks and/or turtle tanks down the drain, use strainer to catch rocks. Run cold water for two minutes afterward.
Refrigerator
- Remove food from refrigerator and freezer.
- Clean the inside of refrigerator with dish soap and water. Inside walls and shelves must be free of dirt, grime, grease and smooth to touch.
- Pull the refrigerator from the wall. Remove debris. Clean the floor and walls behind the refrigerator.
- Return refrigerator to its place. Close door. Refrigerator must be plugged in and turned on.
Bathroom
- Clean sink and tub/shower with disinfectant cleaner.
- Clean tub/shower walls with soap-scum cleaner and/or abrasive cleaner.
- Clean toilet bowl using toilet brush with toilet-bowl cleaner.
- Bathroom fixtures (toilet, sink, tub/shower, cabinet) must be free of dirt, grime, scum, etc.
- Remove items from medicine cabinets. Clean metal medicine cabinets with hot, soapy water.
Cabinets, shelves and drawers
- Clean sink and tub/shower with disinfectant cleaner.
- Clean tub/shower walls with soap-scum cleaner and/or abrasive cleaner.
- Clean toilet bowl using toilet brush with toilet-bowl cleaner.
- Bathroom fixtures (toilet, sink, tub/shower, cabinet) must be free of dirt, grime and soap scum.
- Remove items from medicine cabinets. Clean metal medicine cabinets with hot, soapy water.
Blinds
- Clean Venetian blinds with a damp cloth. Use soapy water on soiled spot.
Mirrors, windows and windowsills
- Clean mirrors, windows and windowsills from the inside of the apartment with a window cleaner and paper towels.
Walls, ceilings, doors and baseboards
- Remove dust and cobwebs from ceilings, baseboards and floors.
- Check walls, doors and baseboards for marks and handprints. Remove with soapy water.
- Clean light switches, electric plates, door handles and baseboards, etc.
- Clean walls around stove and refrigerator. See above.
floors - Vacuum all carpets. Treat carpet spots and stains with an appropriate cleaner. Shampoo only if it’s soiled or stained.
- Sweep, then mop tile floors, including those in kitchen, bathroom and closets. Use a floor cleaner to mop tile floors.
- Clean floor vents for the heaters/air conditioners.
- If you applied wax to your tile floor, strip old wax. Remove heel marks, stains, dirt and built-up wax next to walls and corners. Dispose of cleaning water in the toilet. Don’t rewax floors.
Furniture- Dust and remove stains and spills on furniture/cushions.
- Use a cloth with soapy water to clean vinyl cushions
- Dust and remove stains and spills on furniture/cushions.
- Use a cloth with soapy water to clean vinyl cushions.
- Use commercial upholstery cleaner on fabric cushions.
- Use furniture polish and a dry cloth to clean wooden surfaces on furniture.
- Move university furniture back to its proper place.
Lights
- Dust light fixtures and ceiling fans.
- Check light sockets (except florescent lights) to see if light bulbs need to be replaced. Report burnt out bulbs to HRL Facilities and Maintenance Office at 405-744-8510.
Personal items
- Remove personal items from apartment and breezeway.
- Remove food and clothing items from cabinets, drawers, closets and appliances.
- Throw trash in the nearest dumpster. You will be charged for any items you leave behind, including trash and items you believe could be useful to new residents.
- Nothing besides university furniture can remain in the apartment.
- If you want to leave furniture or appliances, contact Family Resource Center (FRC) at 405-744-6539 during business hours a week in advance of your checkout to ask what items are accepted at FRC loan closet.
- Items, including those from the loan closet left in the apartment or outside of the FRC door, will result in aproperty abandonment violation.
- Discontinue/Cancel Services
- Remember to discontinue any services you have signed up for. These may include telephone, newspaper subscriptions, and so forth.
- File a Change of Address (form)
- Your mail will not automatically be forwarded unless you submit a Change of Address form. You can submit a Change of Address in person or online:
- University Mailing Services (601 N. Willis, within walking distance of the apartment neighborhoods) provides the following services: United States Postal Service (US Mail), FedEx, UPS and USPS.
- Stillwater Post Office (809 S. Lewis St.) or at www.usps.com.
- After you move out, we are unable to open the mailbox for you.
Finally, to return items or donate items to the loan closet, you must take them to the FRC in person during business hours. If you leave items in the apartment or outside of the FRC door, you may be charged for checkout violations.
- Your mail will not automatically be forwarded unless you submit a Change of Address form. You can submit a Change of Address in person or online:
Ask your RA if you have questions about the move-out process.