Know your rights when renting off campus
Kaitlin Paulsen
Issue date: 1/20/10 Section: News
For many students, living on campus is like staying at a hotel. There is no need to think of paying utilities or worrying about something that is broken-UMD maintenance can take care of that. And also most like at a hotel, on-campus students don't hesitate to crank up the thermostat because the heating bill has already been paid.
For those who live off campus, it's a different story. Students have bills, and whether they are for electricity or the Internet they come every month without fail. In addition, off-campus students have another matter, and that is dealing with the rental property's landlord.
Experiencing problems with a landlord might not be the case for every student, but there are some students that have had their fair share of problems with their landlord.
"I had both heat and maintenance problems with my landlord last year," junior Sarah Purcell said. "Previous tenants shattered the window and the porch door didn't lock either. When we moved there in June there was duct tape on the door, and the landlord didn't make replacements until February."
In order for Purcell to get the attention of her landlord, she risked not paying her rent for at least four months until her landlord finally fixed the property.
Thankfully, there are organizations in Duluth that can help out students in situations similar to Purcell's.
Organizations like Churches United in Ministry (CHUM), and the Better Neighbors Program around Duluth are trying to improve the relationship between tenants and their landlords. By doing so, both the landlord and the tenants can make sure that they are being treated fairly.
"We do think that landlords take advantage of students. Students just aren't aware of what they can do and that they don't have to suffer in silence," Allen Richardson said, Community Organizer of CHUM.
Richardson is working to create alliances between renters in Duluth's five core neighborhoods. The plan is for renters who are having difficulties with their landlord to find support through other renters within their neighborhood. For instance, renters can help one another by writing a letter to their landlord or signing their name to a document in support of their neighbor. These renters' associations can be used as tool to enforce the laws that landlords must obey and students are welcome to join.
For those who live off campus, it's a different story. Students have bills, and whether they are for electricity or the Internet they come every month without fail. In addition, off-campus students have another matter, and that is dealing with the rental property's landlord.
Experiencing problems with a landlord might not be the case for every student, but there are some students that have had their fair share of problems with their landlord.
"I had both heat and maintenance problems with my landlord last year," junior Sarah Purcell said. "Previous tenants shattered the window and the porch door didn't lock either. When we moved there in June there was duct tape on the door, and the landlord didn't make replacements until February."
In order for Purcell to get the attention of her landlord, she risked not paying her rent for at least four months until her landlord finally fixed the property.
Thankfully, there are organizations in Duluth that can help out students in situations similar to Purcell's.
Organizations like Churches United in Ministry (CHUM), and the Better Neighbors Program around Duluth are trying to improve the relationship between tenants and their landlords. By doing so, both the landlord and the tenants can make sure that they are being treated fairly.
"We do think that landlords take advantage of students. Students just aren't aware of what they can do and that they don't have to suffer in silence," Allen Richardson said, Community Organizer of CHUM.
Richardson is working to create alliances between renters in Duluth's five core neighborhoods. The plan is for renters who are having difficulties with their landlord to find support through other renters within their neighborhood. For instance, renters can help one another by writing a letter to their landlord or signing their name to a document in support of their neighbor. These renters' associations can be used as tool to enforce the laws that landlords must obey and students are welcome to join.
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