By Rachael Myer
Arizona Daily Wildcat
April 28, 1998

Searching for the perfect home

Students hunting for campus-area apartments don't need to worry about available space but should focus on the legalities of signing a rental agreement, house-hunting officials said.

"There is plenty of housing," said Ann Wolnick, program director of UA Student Programs. "Take your time. Never believe that is the last apartment."

To start the search, students should refer to the University of Arizona's Apartment Guide and Renters Handbook, available at the Center for Off-Campus Students in the Memorial Student Union. The guide includes pages of advice, a Tucson map locating student-populated areas, an estimation of housing costs, and sample letters to submit when problems with landlords arise.

Psychology junior Alison Cook said it's easy to find vacant apartments but it takes time to research their pros and cons.

"I was concerned about it because I have never lived in an apartment before and I didn't know what to look for or what to ask," said Cook, who started her search by looking through an apartment guide.

The Weekly Housing List, also available at the Center for Off-Campus Students, cites vacant residencies. The list and newspaper advertisements are helpful searching tools, Wolnick said.

She said to consider location, transportation and utilities when determining which apartment to rent.

Try to view the actual rental room when surveying complexes because the models are often kept in better condition, said Susan Ferrell, Associated Students legal services adviser.

Walking around the complex by yourself and engaging residents in conversations can give a realistic impression of what living there may really be like, Ferrell said.

About 80 percent of UA students live off-campus, said Michael Elia, administrative secretary for Student Programs.

The most common problems students tend to have regarding apartments have to do with their landlords, said Ferrell, who provides free legal advice to UA students. In some cases, after several requests, landlords do not complete maintenance needs or they do not fulfill promises initially made to tenants.

"They (tenants) do have rights," Ferrell said. "If they want to assert them they have to know what they are and how to do it."

Make sure everything in the lease is understandable and all the blanks are filled in with the correct dates and amounts, and do not forget to read it, said Ferrell, who is available to check leases before students sign.

"If a landlord makes promises, be sure it is written into the lease," Wolnick said.

State law states that a security deposit to hold an apartment can be no more than 1 1/2 times the monthly rent, Ferrell said.

But landlords aren't the only people who can cause trouble for renters. Roommates often pose their own problems.

"I don't think there will ever be a time in your life when a roommate agreement won't be a good idea," Wolnick said.

She said to keep copies of every document in a renter's file such as the lease, roommate agreement, letters written to or from the landlord or any other documents that could be binding.

Landlords have had different experiences with their tenants.

"From what I have seen, residents not being able to control parties is the main thing (problem)," said Mickey Slowe, assistant manager for Prince Gardens, 1625 E. Prince Road.

"I am guaranteed rent because I can just call the parents," said Debra Alioto, manager of Sand Pebble, 3250 E. Fort Lowell Road. "I have been very successful with them (students)."