Finding off-campus housing in the city is a bit like crossing Route 1 during rush hour – perilous for the weak and pitfall-laden for the knowledgeable.
As a survivor of both, I’ve combined my own experience with research into rental law and advice from off-campus housing experts to present you with some information I wish I’d had at this time last year. While everyone’s experience is different, this guide is a good jumping-off point for finding out what you need to know.
The first step is actually finding a place. One place to start is the university’s off-campus housing website, www.och.umd.edu. Off-Campus Housing Coordinator Nurredina Workman recommends sorting the site’s results by price to go directly to the cheapest apartments.
Another spot for the housing-savvy is the OCH bulletin board in the Stamp Student Union. Some advertise housing there instead of on the website because bulletin-board listings are free, Workman said.
When looking for a house, Workman said it is important to make sure it meets all your needs. If you regularly stay up until 3 a.m. listening to death metal, a room in a house with small children is probably not for you.
Location is important, but hard to judge unless you know the area well. A place located on a good Shuttle-UM route may work out better than one that makes you walk to the campus daily.
The price of your housing isn’t just rent, but utilities, Internet access and cable, too, depending on the location. Make sure to use the total monthly cost of living there, instead of the rent, when deciding what you can afford.
Some people post listings advertising reduced rent if you do a certain amount of housework. Those listings are uncommon because they’re unpopular with renters, but students willing to pull weeds or review teaching plans for reduced rent may find the option appealing, Workman said.
She suggested choosing roommates you can live with, and cautioned those aren’t necessarily the people who are fun to hang out with. Always remembering to buy toilet paper won’t make anyone the party star, but it’s a desirable quality in a roommate. Likewise, the jungle juice fan may be fun to party with, but think twice before inviting him to live with you – alcoholics make bad roommates.
Getting the most out of off-campus housing begins with the first visit to the property. You need to enter the situation aware of what to look for and willing to protect yourself, said James Jones, director of the Undergraduate Student Legal Aid Office.
When you visit housing, look at the specific room for rent. A model room in an apartment complex means nothing – you want to see the room that’s been advertised. If the room for rent can’t be shown, ask why.
Trust your gut. If something about a landlord feels slimy or off, don’t jump into housing that will leave you uncomfortable.
You should also be on the lookout for health and safety hazards and make sure the rental is not overcrowded and has fire exits, said campus compliance officer Roger Candelaria.
“There are some apartments that are hardly worthy of the name,” he said.
Next, read your lease. Read your lease. Read your lease. Then, for Pete’s sake, re-read your lease.
“Students don’t understand them,” Jones explained. “[They] think if they get in trouble, someone else will take care of it for them.”
However, if there is confusing language in the lease, free help is available. Legal advisors at the Undergraduate Student Legal Aid Office in the Student Union offer lease reviews during walk-in hours. Landlord and tenant issues are consistently among the top two areas the office deals with, Jones said.
If you sign a lease with other people, understand that the signers are legally considered one person when it comes to that housing. If your roommate crashes through a window, he’s not responsible for replacing it – everyone who signed the lease is responsible, Workman said.
Don’t buy expensive new furniture. The majority of students don’t stay in College Park year-round, and there are enough sofas, love seats and recliners on the curbs of downtown College Park at move-out time to make an IKEA run completely unnecessary unless it’s for meatballs. Even if you do buy nice furniture, it’ll be trashed after four years of moving it in and out and up and down stairs, Workman said.
As you’re scouring the trash heaps of College Park, remember no room is complete without a few extra folding chairs. They store anywhere, and when you need them, you really need them.
When your stomach starts growling, you know it’s time to face the next challenge of off-campus living: feeding yourself. Unless you’re going to eat entirely on-campus or at fast-food restaurants, that means occasionally cooking for yourself. Don’t freak out – if you can boil water and operate a stove, you can cook something basic, and recipe websites have instructions for making anything your stomach desires. Make sure to bring the basics: measuring cup and spoons, a nonstick skillet, and a pot that’s big enough to make spaghetti.
Finally, you’ll need to get an operating knowledge of the residence. As questions arise, ask them, no matter how stupid they sound. Otherwise, you won’t find out about the house policy of “no dishwashing until noon” until you get screamed at for violating it.
Respect for the property is another key.
“It is somebody else’s property, so you want to make sure you keep it reasonably clean,” Candelaria said. “That will go a long way.”
In a multi-person dwelling, one bad apple can rot the whole scene. If there’s someone you can’t seem to live with and you’ve exhausted all other reasonable alternatives, you can bring the problem to the landlord’s attention. However, eviction is a legal process and renters are legally entitled to a hearing before eviction, Jones said.
If the landlord makes any promises or talks about fixing anything, get it in writing. In fact, get everything in writing, from the lease agreement to your canceled rent checks to a list of what was wrong with the apartment when you moved in.
If something goes wrong, Jones said it is important to notify your landlord in writing. If it’s something major, he recommends using certified mail with a return receipt.
“It’s not because you don’t trust them,” Candelaria explained. “It’s to avoid misunderstandings. If we both have the same expectations going into this, we’re less likely to run into problems.”
When it comes to paying rent, communication can also go a long way, Candelaria said. As soon as you know you may have to pay late, you should tell your landlord and ask for indulgence because of special circumstances, he said.
Landlords are required by city and state housing code to fix things that inhibit habitability, or the ability for someone to live in the space. In certain instances, issues such as sewage problems, pest infestations and lack of electricity, running water or hot water are governed by these regulations, according to a city documents. Unfortunately, things such as dirty carpets, the occasional spider and loud housemates do not fall under habitability.
Once notified, your landlord has a reasonable time to fix the habitability issue, Jones said. If nothing happens, head back to Undergraduate or Graduate Student Legal Aid for advice. If legal action is required, the paper trail established by keeping copies of communication will help your chances substantially, Jones said.
If you want more details on your landlord’s responsibilities, visit the College Park Code Enforcement Office at 4601A Calvert Road, south of the campus. While you’re there, pick up a copy of “Welcome To College Park,” a helpful info-packet for anyone living in the area.
Just keep an eye out when you cross Route 1. It’s vicious out there.
Useful phone numbers for renters
Animal Management (301) 499-8300
Trash Collection (301) 952-7630
Bulky Trash Collection (301) 952-7600
Housing Enforcement (301) 883-6100
Abandoned Vehicles (301) 772-4233
Non-emergency fire (301) 883-5200 (8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and (301) 583-2200 (24 hours)
Non-emergency police (301) 333-4000
Complaints about police (301) 883-5042
Peer mediation (301) 405-2838
SOURCES: Office of the County Executive, “Landlord-Tenant Rights and Responsibilities” brochure.
Questions to ask your landlord
1. Have there been bug or rodent issues in this apartment?
2. Are utilities included? Are there limits? How much do utilities usually cost? Are they substantially more expensive during very hot or very cold weather?
3. How often does the power go out?
4. Are any improvements planned for the property?
5. How much is rent and how often does it change? What are the last three increases in rent and why did they occur?
6. Who is ultimately responsible for paying the rent to the landlord, each individual or one representative?
7. How will the security deposit be handled?
8. Are pets allowed?
9. Are there noise ordinances?
10. Can you put nails in the walls?
11. How will repairs be handled?
12. Under what circumstances will the landlord need access to the unit?
Questions to discuss with housemates
1. How neat or messy should every member of the household expect to find the dwelling on a “typical” day?
2. What cleaning schedule will be employed?
3. Will you have pets? If so, who bears the responsibility for its care?
4. Will you have community property? If so, who is responsible to replace the property should it break?
5. Is it OK to throw a party? If so, how often and who is responsible for what happens during (and after) the party?
6. Is it OK to have a girlfriend or boyfriend spend the night? How often? At what point does this person need to pay rent?
7. Will you share food? If so, how will you equitably distribute the costs of food?
8. Will you have quiet hours? Is it OK to play loud music at 2 a.m. or have rowdy friends over while others are studying?
9. Is smoking allowed in the unit? If so, when and where is it OK?
SOURCES: “Tenant’s Survival Kit,” published by the Undergraduate Student Legal Aid Office, and Mark Brimhall-Vargas, assistant director of the Office of Human Relations Programs.
Theodore J. Sawchuck is a junior journalism major. When he’s not playing in traffic, he can be reached at ted.sawchuck@gmail.com.
