More than half of the University’s student body rents apartments each year. The Tenant Union aims to assist students in making one of the first big financial decisions of their lives. It exists to provide “advice from people who are very experienced in the landlord-tenant relationship,” said Mary Ann Midden, staff attorney at Student Legal Services.
During the 2010-11 school year 8,225 students used the services offered by the Tenant Union.
The office tries to answer questions, provide information and give advice about rental issues, said Esther Patt, coordinator of the Tenant Union. Using the Tenant Union is free for students because a student services fee covers the charge.
“The Tenant Union should be a student’s first stop when they decide they want to rent an apartment,” said Nancy Dietrich, housing counselor at the Tenant Union. “We will help them come up with suitable housing choices based on what type of housing they are looking for.”
The Tenant Union informs students about the issues to consider when thinking about renting, Dietrich said. It can also help students review a lease before signing a contract. A session to review a lease may include a Tenant Union employee’s explanation of the provisions in the contract. They also make suggestions for changes aiming to protect student interests, Patt said.
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The Tenant Union is able to help students because employees know the language of the lease.
“They know what the market is like,” Midden said. “They know to check to see if there were electrical outlets in the room.”
Another piece of advice the Tenant Union gives is to make sure all roommates are set in stone. Signing for an apartment too early in the year may give students the advantage of a good location, but “roommates share joint liability for rent and too many students sign leases so early in the year for the following year that their roommate situation falls apart,” Patt said.
Student should make plans if one roommate is thinking about studying abroad, graduating early or taking a semester off.
“Students need to understand that they are not just choosing companions for the year. They are choosing partners in a legal binding, irrevocable real estate contract for thousands of dollars,” Patt said.
Caution should be used when renting an apartment that has not yet been built or is undergoing renovations. Living on a construction site is not fun, Patt said.
Midden’s final piece of advice is not to fall in love with a property before learning the ins and outs of the apartment and its lease.
She said to always ask, “How responsible is the landlord going to be?”
The Tenant Union has documented evidence of all complaints filed against landlords and is able to show this list to students.
“Too many students treat choosing an apartment like buying a shirt. Do they like it, does it fit and is the price OK?” Patt said. “This is a real estate contract, and they are not just buying a product. They are expecting service and selecting their home for a year. It’s a serious decision.”
