Wednesday, March 16, 2005
If you are moving into your first apartment, the last thing on your mind is who owns the place. Once you get the lease signed — after checking it with Legal Services for Students — you would probably expect to never see the landlord again. Unless your rent is late.
Here is the catch. Things can, and usually do, go wrong in apartments. The bathtub might not work, the toilet might not flush or the dryer might catch your clothes on fire. It has happened.
While landlords are required by landlord/tenant laws to keep the basics, such as the toilets and sinks, in working order. If they know you and recognize you, they’re more likely to make sure it gets done efficiently.
“Keep an open line of communication,” Michelle Luna, Shawnee sophomore, said. “If they like you, they’re more likely to help you when something goes wrong.”
When moving in to an apartment in August, remember, that is the time when most college students are moving in. That’s usually when things go wrong. You find out the closet doors do not stay on the track or the dishwasher is not actually washing dishes.
In the first few weeks, after filling out a repair request form, there is one thing you must do: Be patient.
If you find a few things wrong in the apartment, there are probably a handful of things that need to be fixed in every other apartment. As long as the repair wait is not keeping you from being clean, it will be fine if it takes a few days.
“I would report problems that come up as soon as possible,” said Nguyet Nguyen, Shawnee senior.
According to the Off-Campus Living Resource Center, Lawrence has a list of requirements that deem an apartment or house livable. The list includes a working lock, stairs in good condition and a railing wherever there are more than four stairs and a water heater cannot be in a bathroom or bedroom. Overall, there are about 50 guidelines set by the city of Lawrence.
The resource center also recommends creating a “Move-in Checklist,” which should be completed within a week after you move in. Take note of damages already present in the apartment so you do not lose part or all of your security deposit after you move out. Taking pictures of especially significant damages is recommended.
In keeping communication with the management company with which you have a lease, you are entitled to contact information of both the manager of the specific apartment and the owner of the company. It is a good idea to have a list of contact numbers for specific incidents that occur outside of business hours, such as a locksmith or plumber.
Check out more information from the resource center about leases, renters insurance and for a list of housing and building codes.
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