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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
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of the Erb Memorial Union. The Emerald is private
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