Incorrect leases could lead to conflict

by Casey Clapper
Staff Writer

During the final week of the 2002-2003 school year, students living off campus might find themselves without a place to stay if they do not check the dates on their leases now.

David Baer, managing attorney for The Center for Student Advocacy, said the center has uncovered mistakes in the ending dates of at least two contracts between landlords and tenants. The mistakes list the ending dates on some leases to be prior to the end of finals week in spring quarter.  

Baer said he is encouraging tenants to check their contracts now for mistakes because the center has been unsuccessful in getting some landlords to fix the mistakes voluntarily.

"We want them to check their leases and let us know (if there is a problem) so we can help students resolve that," he said. "We don't want it to be exam week and tenants be camping out on the street."

Some landlords might be taking advantage of tenants with incorrect ending dates by charging extra money for the additional week after the lease ends or by asking their tenants not to report defective conditions to code enforcement, Baer said.

"It's the landlord's mistake, and they're trying to balance the mistakes on the backs of students, which we just think is wrong," he said.

The code enforcement office does about 200 complaint-driven inspections a year, said Steve Pierson, director of city code enforcement. The office responds to every problem, but encourages tenants to deal first with their landlord.

University Off Campus Housing, 92 N. Court St., is one rental company with a possible mistake found in their contracts, Baer said. The company manages about 1,000 beds.

University Off Campus Housing could not be reached for comment.