Students who take time off have options for housing contracts
■ Many property managers
lease on a nine-month basis,
but with some planning,
students can leave penalty-free
By Diane Huber
for the Emerald
Students planning to study
abroad, intern or move away from
Eugene for a term next year may
have difficulty finding a place to
live during the terms they are here.
Most property managers lease
their apartments and houses near
campus — meaning students sign a
nine-month contract. If the renter
breaks the contract, he or she usual
ly must continue paying rent until
June or until the unit is filled.
“Some owners are concerned that
if a tenant moves out in April, they
will not be able to re-rent until Sep
tember,” Chinook Properties owner
Greg Young said.
For that reason, most property
managers are hesitant to rent
places month-to-month to stu
dents, he said.
If students want to begin their
homework now, here are a few op
tions for finding a place to live.
Regress to residence halls
Students may have already grad
uated from residence hall life, but
it’s never too late to go back. Resi
dence halls are surprisingly flexible
in terms of how long students need
to stay, as long as students have an
“educational reason” for breaking
their three-term contract, Associate
Director of Residence Life Sheri
Donahoe said.
“The residence hall contract is
for the nine-month University cal
endar. But if they have an educa
tional reason, we release students
of their contract,” she said.
Students must provide Univer
sity Housing with verification of
the program they are involved in,
and they are free of their contract.
But the process is already under
way for next year’s living assign
ments, so Donahoe advises students
to apply soon.
For more information, see
http://housing.uoregon.edu/.
Consider Family Housing
University Family Housing of
fers several options for low-cost
apartments with a month-to
month contract, including West
moreland and Spencer View apart
ments. The only requirement is
that tenants must be enrolled stu
dents over 21, though applicants
with children are considered first,
Donahoe said.
She said getting a space in the
one-, two- and three-bedroom apart
ments can be competitive.
“It depends on who’s coming to
school that term,” she said. “Every
term is different.”
It’s best to apply now for next
year, she said, and applicants will
then be put on a waiting list until
space opens up.
For more information, see
http://housing.uoregon.edu/.
Prepare to dial
Nick Reich, office assistant at the
University’s Rental Information Of
fice, recommends calling around to
different property managers to see if
they have any month-to-month con
tracts. He said most landlords and
property managers require students
to sign a nine-month lease, but there
are a few exceptions.
“It’s just a matter of finding them,”
Reich said.
And the farther away from cam
pus, the more housing options.
“If you’re willing to commute, you
have a much better chance,” he said.
Reich also suggests checking the
paper for listings. Students do break
their leases, especially later in the
year, and landlords are eager to fill
those spots. There are also always list
ings of people looking for a roommate
to fill a space in their house.
Be creative
Some students plan ahead so they
have someone to take their room if
they know they’ll be moving. Others
play it by ear. Bryan Ellis returned
from studying abroad after fall term
and drove around town until he
found a house with a month-to
month sign in the window.
Mike Rozak returned from study
ing in Russia in December. He found
his link to his new living arrangement
at New Max’s Tavern.
“I was quaffing Pabst and chatting
with those around me, and an unlike
ly conversation with a woman led to
her providing me with the phone
number of her ex-boyfriend, who was
looking for a roommate,” he said.
Diane Huber is a freelance
reporterforthe Emerald.
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