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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (May 25, 2000)
009424 MCKENZIE ONBOARD ■ TOTES M BttUSnCNVUMl VI ARRH/FN Travel Gear ^ Luggage From the maker of the Original Swiss Army™ Knife • Logo ID plate • Patterned lining »Neoprene contour shoulder straps *Coal chute pockets & more! Valley Rive?5 Center 2nd Level Up Escalator ti41 34343QG ■*AIR| ■FORCE 110 sophomores 0 juniors AFROTC is looking for qualified University of Oregon students graduating in 2002 to become officers. Our “STAR” program is an accelerated commissioning program uniquely designed for college juniors! leterested is becoming a pilit ar navigator? The Air Force has many career opportunities. Plus GUARANTEED SCHOLARSHIPS for qualified juniors! We after experieece aed leadership, skills coveted in today’s job market. Call Major Tighe-Smith for more details, 1-800-633-7352, ww.orst.edu/dept/afrotc. AIM Til l 008741 Cm around $165 every montli. _Ji5_on 1st donation - $35 on 2nd donation! $30 for the first week $3 extra for first-time donors if you briny in this ad! need your Actp! Seramed Biocenter-Euyene 1 Block east of 8th and Garfield * 1901 West 8th Ave., Euyene ^ 683-94,30 also at 22s B Main St. in Springfield The OPE Classified section... much more than a place for the crossword Pay rent, not a deposit: know your rental rights ■ Renters: protect yourself by putting agreements in writing and keeping copies By Josh Ryneal Oregon Daily Emerald When Camryn Kruger, a junior majoring in journalism, found herself with new landlords, she hoped that they would be as help ful as the previous ones. That wasn’t the case. Kruger claimed that the new property management company took months to fix broken appli ances, didn’t return phone calls and even tried to raise the rent to get them to leave when Kruger’s roommate complained. “I don’t understand how they can get away with this,” she said. Kruger’s problems are not un common in Eugene, where a stu dent-driven rental market can leave students unaware of their rights as tenants. However, there are advocacy groups who are willing to help. The ASUO’s Legal Services and OSPIRG both help students re solve disputes with landlords. Nicole Miani, an attorney for ASUO Legal Services, said that when tenants move out of a prop erty, they should document everything, including taking pho tographs of the house or apart ment when they leave. “Many landlords are pretty fair about this, but get a camera with a date stamp and take pictures of everything, including the floor,” ^ Document any dam age that is there when you move in so you won Y get charged for it when you move out. Nicole Miani attorney ASUO Legal Services jj she said. Miani also said that tenants should document any oral agree ments or complaints made to a landlord with a follow-up letter sent to the landlord confirming the agreement. “You need to get something in writing to have evidence that you complained to them,” she said. Miani said that saving copies of Don’t get taken advantage of Students may not always be aware of their rights as tenants, but the OSPIRG Renter’s Handbook provides a few important facts to prevent disputes with landlords. Take photographs of the property when you move in and when you leave to document its condition and prevent misunderstandings. Write everything down, and written agreements should include everything you have agreed on when you sign. A landlord has 31 days after you move out to refund ail or part of your de posit. if the landlord withholds any part of it, he or she must provide a written accounting of it. If something needs to be repaired, notify the landlord by calling first, then fol lowing up with a written letter. If maintenance problems persist and the landlord doesn't respond, you have the option to terminate a long-term agreement. When you move out, be sure to contact the utility company to shut off service. Otherwise, you may be billed for the next tenant’s services. A landlord cannot evict you with a legal order from a court. You mustleavethe dwelling in thesame condition as when you moved in, mi nus “normal wearand tear.” Broken windows, cigarette burns, dirty kitchens and bathrooms are not normal wear and tear. Source: OSP)RG Renter’s Handbook all paperwork is extremely im portant in the event that disagree ments occur over deposits or the condition of the property. Refundable deposits, often paid to a landlord when a tenant moves into a property, can be withheld in part or in whole if landlords feel damage has been done to the property. However, there are certain rules governing this practice. Miani said that landlords must provide a separate written ac count of money removed from the deposit and must state clearly what damages occurred and when. “Document any damage that is there when you move in so you won’t get charged for it when you move out,” she said. Legal Services doesn’t usually represent students, as most land lord/tenant disputes are handled in small claims court, but it can advise them and help them draft letters. “We don’t usually represent people in court unless it’s a case that will benefit all students,” Mi anisaid. Erin Pursell, University chapter chair of Oregon Student Public Interest Research Group, said that students are often at a disadvan tage when renting properties in Eugene because of a lack of hous ing codes and guidelines. “Not having a housing code makes it difficult for renters and really puts landlords in a position of power,” she said. Pursell also said that because students are only in Eugene for a relatively short period, they aren’t likely to learn rights as renters. “We are seeing a lot of land lords trying to withhold deposits from students and take them for a ride,” she said. Issues with maintenance, sewage and garbage pickups are also big problems, and students should consult a lawyer if they feel that they are not receiving ad equate responses from landlords. Pursell urged students to visit the OSPIRG office at Suite 1 of the EMU and pick up a renter’s rights handbook free of cost. GOING OVERSEAS? keep up on campus life with, the Oregon daily emerald now available on the world wide web www. dailyemerald. com RO. Box 3159, Eugene OR 97403 The Oregon Daily Emerald is published daily Mon day through Friday during the school year and Tuesday and Thursday during the summer by the Oregon Daily Emerald Publishing Co. Inc., at the University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon. A member of the Associated Press, the Emerald operates inde pendently of the University with offices in Suite 300 of the Erb Memorial Union. The Emerald is private property. The unlawful removal or use of papers is prosecutable by law. 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