Slumlords have gotten away with ignoring safety hazards, making phony promises and stealing security deposits for too long. The Landlord Library is a long-overdue first step in holding them accountable.The guide, published by USG, includes rankings of campus-area landlords as well as a lengthy section of tips on renting an apartment. It’s a good start, but students also need a place to go for free legal advice, and our law school has the responsibility to provide it.Law school dean Gregory Williams hasn’t been keen on the idea of providing legal services for students. He has resisted committing the faculty and support needed to make a clinic a functioning reality. In doing so he not only ignores his part in a larger university community, but he also has made it clear that training his students to protect the rights of the poor and underrepresented isn’t a priority.The Landlord Library makes the case best. Grading them like a class, 10 landlords got Ds and 10 flunked in overall ratings. Three of those landlords didn’t even break a 5 out of 10. The reasons are simple: On average, 64 percent of the six worst landlords’ tenants said the necessary repairs hadn’t been made by the time they moved in. An average of less than 35 percent said their landlord attended to maintenance concerns in a timely manner.The reactions of the worst landlords have been typical. They have no reason to change the situation; because of a huge tenant pool they’ll always have a market to peddle trash. When in doubt, change the subject. In a Lantern article following the library publication, a spokesman for Scarlet and Gray Properties questioned the presence of advertising in the booklet rather than addressing their 4.6 overall rating. Jack Beatley, owner of Locations Limited, ignored the fact he received the lowest overall score and quipped, “I think USG should take an opinion poll on themselves, and their rating would be a 2.0.”Funny stuff. Even funnier is his suggestion that he had more people renew leases this year than ever before, despite 63 percent of students responding they wouldn’t rent from him again. Also humorous is the ad for Inn-Town Homes on the inside of the back cover. Turn back a page, and you’ll find they placed third to last. When I called Inn-Town to see if they were as taken with the irony as I was, one of the managers continued the popular diversion technique and rambled about their large standard deviation.Which is to say, as is the case with many slumlords, people either love them or hate them. Many keep up their nicer properties while letting the borderline spots get cruddier and cruddier until they burn down or are condemned. My place is an example of a landlord letting a good property go down the toilet.Codes state that landlords must put smoke detectors on all floors including the basement, keep dwellings free of pests, and ensure fire escapes and stairs are safe and accessible. At least my place has smoke detectors. The bats in my walls probably count as pests. The 15-foot drop in the place of back stairs is surely a safety hazard.I’ve complained to my landlord, but as is often the case, it matters little. The library has taught me to direct my complaints elsewhere. Long ago, the city code enforcement division should have been involved. Hopefully, they’ll check out my place during the exterior inspections of north campus apartments they’re doing now. As for interior problems, they can’t inspect if no complaint is lodged.John Rosenberry, head of the department, reassured me on my biggest fear: Landlords can’t retaliate if you complain. Memorize the numbers 4509.07, because that’s the code that says landlords can’t raise rent, deny services or evict you if a complaint is lodged. Students need to be proactive and put the three-day turnaround Rosenberry touted for his inspectors to test. The phone number is 645-8139.Landlord and tenant issues go well beyond these violations. Another number to remember is 5321.16. This law says that a landlord must return your security deposit, or a detailed list of reasons why not, a month after you’re gone. If they don’t, they must pay double the amount and your legal fees. And legal fees are the reason a clinic is so badly needed.The people who have to deal with slumlords throughout their lives will never have the fair representation they need. With a legal clinic, the law school trains lawyers in an area that may not promise glamour or wealth, but the betterment of their community. With the help of a clinic and active code inspectors, student experience with landlords could be a lesson on how the law works for them.
Nathan Crabbe is a junior from Akron. Death threats, marriage proposals and dirty jokes can be sent to [email protected].
