Leasing at South Campus Commons & The Courtyards
South Campus Commons and The Courtyards are public-private partnership student apartment communities located on university-owned property. They are owned by Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO) and managed by a private management company, Capstone On-Campus Management (COCM). Students living in these communities sign 11.25-month leases with COCM rather than completing our Residence Halls and Dining Agreements for university-owned residence halls.
Leasing at South Campus Commons and The Courtyards primarily occurs through the formal Commons/Courtyards Apartment Selection process in February and March of each year. Additional leasing opportunities are available outside of Apartment Selection through the Lease Transfer Process and the direct leasing of vacant spaces that may remain after Apartment Selection.
Apartment Selection Process
Prospective students interested in living in South Campus Commons or The Courtyards for the 2026–2027 lease term can learn about eligibility, priority order, the leasing process, and more.
Lease Transfer Process
Current Commons/Courtyards leaseholders can review eligibility requirements, FAQs and the process for ending their lease early through a lease transfer to another eligible student.
Looking to Renew Your Lease?
Find important dates below if you’re a South Campus Commons or Courtyards resident for the 2025–2026 lease term.
| Date | Information |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, October 8, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. | 2026-2027 Commons/Courtyards Gender Inclusive Leasing Application for new applicants opens |
| Monday, December 1, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. | 2026-2027 Commons/Courtyards Lease Renewal and Gender Inclusive Leasing Renewal Intent Forms open |
| Thursday, January 8, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. | 2026-2027 Commons/Courtyards Lease Renewal and Gender Inclusive Leasing Renewal Intent Forms; and Gender Inclusive Leasing Application for new applicants closes |
| Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. | Students that selected “Transfer’ in their lease renewal forms can view their Commons/Courtyards Apartment Transfer Selection Appointment Time in their Housing Portal |
| Wednesday, February 11, 2026 | Commons/Courtyards Group Formation and Apartment Selection Virtual Webinar |
| Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. | Commons/Courtyards Group Formation Module available in student’s Housing Portal |
| Tuesday, February 17, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. | Commons/Courtyards Apartment Transfer Selection Day |
| Monday, February 23, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) | Deadline for students to sign their 2026-2027 Commons/Courtyards Apartment Lease |
About South Campus Commons & The Courtyards
South Campus Commons (SCC) is located next to the South Hill Community residence halls at the southern edge of the campus. COCM staff manage the leasing, maintenance, service desk operations, and all financial matters for South Campus Commons. COCM contracts with the Department of Resident Life to provide the residence life program at South Campus Commons.
The South Campus Commons community offers:
- 7 apartment buildings
- Over 2,000 students
- Private bedrooms
- 4-bedroom/2-bathroom units
- 2-bedroom/2-bathroom units
- Limited three-bedroom, one-bedroom, and studio units
- 11.25 month lease
We support the hiring and supervision of Resident Assistants who live and work within the South Campus Commons community. Residents living in South Campus Commons must adhere to the conditions of the South Campus Commons lease as well as the UMD Code of Student Conduct and the rules and regulations set forth in the Community Living Handbook.
The Courtyards (CTY) is located at 8000 Boteler Lane at the intersection of University Boulevard and Metzerott Road, near the Xfinity Center and less than one mile from the center of campus. COCM staff manage the leasing, maintenance, service desk operations, and all financial matters for The Courtyards.
The Courtyards offer:
- 7 garden-style apartment buildings
- Over 700 students
- Private bedrooms
- 4-bedroom/4-bathroom units
- 4-bedroom/2-bathroom units
- 2-bedroom/2-bathroom Standard units
- 2-bedroom/2-bathroom Deluxe units
- 11.25 month lease
Students must adhere to the conditions of The Courtyards lease as well as the UMD Code of Student Conduct.
How are residence halls different from public-private partnerships?
The South Campus Commons or The Courtyards lease is a contract between MEDCO and the student tenant, not between the student and UMD. These apartment complexes are owned and managed by the Maryland Economic Development Corporation (MEDCO).
MEDCO-owned residences for students:
- South Campus Commons
- The Courtyards
UMD-owned residences for students:
- Cambridge Community (Bel Air, Cambridge, Centreville, Chestertown, and Cumberland)
- Denton Community (Denton, Easton, and Elkton halls)
- Ellicott Community (Ellicott, Hagerstown, and LaPlata halls)
- Heritage Community (Johnson-Whittle and Pyon-Chen halls)
- Oakland Community (Oakland Hall)
- Leonardtown Community (Buildings 244, 245, 246, 247, 248, and 249)
- North Hill Community (Anne Arundel, Caroline, Carroll, Dorchester, Prince Frederick, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, St. Mary’s, Wicomico, and Worcester halls)
- South Hill Community (Allegany, Baltimore, Calvert, Cecil, Charles, Frederick, Garrett, Harford, Howard, Kent, Montgomery, Prince George’s, Talbot, and Washington halls)
If a student voluntarily or involuntarily leaves the MEDCO apartment, they are liable for the base rent as defined in the lease.
| Key Provisions | MEDCO’s South Campus Commons & The Courtyards Apartments | UMD Residence Halls |
|---|---|---|
| Termination by Student | Steps for a student Tenant to transfer/assign a lease to another student are found in Section 16 of MEDCO’S Lease. Transfer fees may apply as stated in Section 16. | Cancellation information for UMD’s Residence Hall Housing and Dining Agreement (the “Agreement”) is found in the Terms and Conditions sections titled “Cancellation and Late Fees” Items 1-6, “Release from “Agreement” Item 1-4, and the “Agreement Buyout” Items 1-2. |
| Termination by MEDCO or UMD | “Landlord’s” termination provisions in MEDCO’s Lease are found in Sections 3, 7, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 18. | UMD’s right to terminate the Agreement is provided for in the section titled “Termination of Agreement by University” Item #1. |
| Force Majeure - (Certain events which excuse a party’s performance under an agreement.) | Section 42 provides that “If the Landlord or Agent’s performance hereunder is materially hampered, interrupted, or rendered impossible, hazardous or interfered with by reason of fire, flood, casualty, lockout, University closure or other actions, act(s) of God, riots, terrorism, strikes, labor difficulties, pandemics, epidemics, quarantine, civil commotion, natural catastrophes, earthquakes, any act or order of any public authority, administrative or judicial regulations, order or decree or by any local or national emergency, and/or any other cause or event, similar or dissimilar, beyond the Landlord or Agent’s control, then the Landlord/Agent shall be excused from performance under the Lease and will not have any liability in connection therewith.” | In the section titled “The University” Item #1 provides “[The University] Will provide services described in this Agreement on a continual basis, although interruptions may occur by an act of God, availability of resources as determined by the University, maintenance activities, or other conditions that are reasonably beyond administrative control. Standards and levels of services are determined by the University. The University expects any disruption of services vital to the health and safety of residents will be restored within a reasonable amount of time.” |
| Parties | MEDCO as “Landlord” Student as “Tenant” Although not a party to the Lease, Capstone On-Campus Management, L.L.C. is MEDCO’s property manager | The Department of Resident Life, acting on behalf of UMD, enacts and enforces the terms and conditions of the Agreement. UMD students become Residents after completing the Agreement and being confirmed for residence hall housing. |
| Start and End Dates | Lease start and end dates vary each year, beginning in August and ending in July. See Section 1(h) in the current Lease for exact dates. | Agreement start date is the date of approved check-in date for the Fall semester until the last date for final exams for the Spring semester. (There is no occupancy allowed during Thanksgiving, Winter and Spring breaks, except in certain circumstances.) |
Contact Us
Questions regarding your eligibility to live in either property
Phone: (301) 314-3645
Email: pppleasing@umd.edu
Questions about South Campus Commons apartments
Phone: (301) 314-2499
Email: southcampuscommons@cocm.com
Questions about The Courtyards apartments
Phone: (301) 314-2466
Email: thecourtyards@cocm.com