Students looking to gauge the relative safety of off-campus rental housing units in the city of Ithaca now have a new tool.

Student and Campus Life has developed a safety rating of one to five stars for properties within the city of Ithaca, based on publicly available information, as a new feature on the university’s Off-Campus Living website.

The safety rating is in addition to the Certificate of Compliance that rental properties in the city of Ithaca listed on the site must have from the city’s Building Division. Properties outside of the city limits that are listed on the website continue to meet their municipalities’ previously established safety thresholds, but they do not include a safety rating from the university.

Factors that are considered in determining the safety score include the presence of sprinkler systems, fire extinguishers, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms; construction type; and applicable building code.

The safety rating is not a representation of aesthetics or the quality of a unit or landlord, and it is not an assessment of the neighborhood’s safety, said Ryan Lombardi, vice president for student and campus life. “It is an overall assessment of the relative safety of rental properties within the city, based on objective property features, construction elements and building certifications already on file with the city’s Building Division. The safety rating gives students and their parents a high-level assessment that can help them choose safer living environments without having to consult those files,” he said.

The safety rating is the first feature of a more detailed ratings system on the website that will be rolled out over the coming months, Lombardi said.

The safety rating program recognizes landlords who have exceeded compliance requirements while also inspiring others to make improvements, he added.

The city of Ithaca is the steward of the safety data, Lombardi said. “Cornell is grateful for the assistance of the city’s Building Division with this initiative, and we look forward to continuing to work with the division to promote the safety of Cornell students and all Ithaca residents,” he said.

Lombardi announced the new ratings feature in an email to Ithaca-based students Sept. 8.