Editor:

D. Shayne Christie's article, "Apartments, halls and houses leave many living options," in the July 31, 1996, Wildcat seems to unfairly promote particular companies for locating off-campus living accommodations. While I don't object to representatives of companies being interviewed, there is no justification for listing the phone numbers and Internet addresses of those two particular companies without also listing phone numbers for every other rental agency in Tucson. By giving such special treatment to these two companies in the article, it suggests that they are somehow better than other companies.

Having dealt with one of the "favored" companies, I can assure you that the column inches would have been put to far better use by listing some of the suggestions that are in the renters' handbook published by the Center for Off-Campus Students. A good suggestion in it is that anyone considering renting an apartment or house obtain a video camera (a 35 mm camera will do in a real pinch) and videotape the initial walk-through, making sure that every door, every window, every wall, every little nook and cranny shows up on that tape as well as a newspaper with that day's date on it and the agency's representative conducting the walk-through. This will give a person undeniable proof of the condition of the rental at the start of occupancy. The same videotaping procedure should be done at the time of move-out.

Without documenting the conditions on videotapes, renters are left open to having landlords make false damage claims to avoid returning deposits. If all landlords were honest, this wouldn't be necessary, but, unfortunately, not all of them are. The rental agencies that offer "free locating services" are paid a commission by the landlords, so don't expect the agencies to be very eager to have conditions well-documented.

A final note. If a landlord does wrongfully keep your deposit, don't let him or her get away with it. Make an appointment with the campus attorney. ASUA provides the service free of charge to all UA students. Take advantage of it and don't let a crook win.

Mary Beth Vender-Fay
Library Science Graduate Student