Tensions run high between local landlords and students
Joel Pavelski
Issue date: 10/29/09 Section: News
Another senior, Katie Rose McEneely, senior reporter for The Collegian, moved into a new off-campus house after her landlord, Rick Vear, evicted her Saturday night.
McEneely moved into the apartment on Park Street in early August to return to school.
"At first, Vear seemed like a really good landlord," McEneely said. "There was a problem with lighting and a problem with a door that he fixed."
The problems began, McEneely said, when several young men moved into the apartment above her.
"They started having crazy parties on Monday night, Tuesday night, Wednesday night," she said.
When McEneely's parents came to visit on Sept. 4, they noticed the noise and called the landlord. Vear promised that he'd deal with the noise, McEneely said.
When her parents visited again last weekend for Parents Weekend and could not sleep because of rowdy parties, and after McEneely's father had asked them several times to tone it down, they called Vear again, she said.
According to McEneely, Vear said on the phone that her lease was terminated and she needed to leave immediately.
McEneely moved into another apartment the next day.
Because Vear requires that his tenants pay their semester's rent upfront, there are several months of rent that McEneely doesn't know if she'll be able to recoup.
Vear decline to comment on McEneely's departure.
Renters of another Vear apartment didn't receive their entire security deposit back, and what they did receive came late. A portion was held for carpet cleaning.
The three renters, senior Jared Toupin and Mark Perkins '09, said they don't plan on taking Vear to court.
"We didn't know that you only had a certain amount of time to file for your safety deposit," Toupin said. "It might be easy for landlords to mess with seniors because they leave at the end of the year and landlords can kind of take advantage."
Vear said that the cleaning deposit was standard, and the late return of the security deposit was due to Toupin's staying an extra six weeks in summer.
"I'm pretty lenient when it comes to charges," Vear said. "One this one I had $240 in cleaning charges because I had to have a professional come in and that's just what it cost."
McEneely moved into the apartment on Park Street in early August to return to school.
"At first, Vear seemed like a really good landlord," McEneely said. "There was a problem with lighting and a problem with a door that he fixed."
The problems began, McEneely said, when several young men moved into the apartment above her.
"They started having crazy parties on Monday night, Tuesday night, Wednesday night," she said.
When McEneely's parents came to visit on Sept. 4, they noticed the noise and called the landlord. Vear promised that he'd deal with the noise, McEneely said.
When her parents visited again last weekend for Parents Weekend and could not sleep because of rowdy parties, and after McEneely's father had asked them several times to tone it down, they called Vear again, she said.
According to McEneely, Vear said on the phone that her lease was terminated and she needed to leave immediately.
McEneely moved into another apartment the next day.
Because Vear requires that his tenants pay their semester's rent upfront, there are several months of rent that McEneely doesn't know if she'll be able to recoup.
Vear decline to comment on McEneely's departure.
Renters of another Vear apartment didn't receive their entire security deposit back, and what they did receive came late. A portion was held for carpet cleaning.
The three renters, senior Jared Toupin and Mark Perkins '09, said they don't plan on taking Vear to court.
"We didn't know that you only had a certain amount of time to file for your safety deposit," Toupin said. "It might be easy for landlords to mess with seniors because they leave at the end of the year and landlords can kind of take advantage."
Vear said that the cleaning deposit was standard, and the late return of the security deposit was due to Toupin's staying an extra six weeks in summer.
"I'm pretty lenient when it comes to charges," Vear said. "One this one I had $240 in cleaning charges because I had to have a professional come in and that's just what it cost."
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Char (PSI Tutor)
Char(Tutor:Mentor)
posted 10/29/09 @ 11:13 PM EST
As many students may be spending their first time away independently from home I think this article is great to give them the heads up on;
1) How some landlords will stereotype them
2) Their responsibility as members of a community that lives in an area
3) The kind of household/community they want to live within
4) Knowing their rights as a tenant
There are enough stresses when studying without having one's sanctuary become a locus for drama. (Continued…)
Joy Pavelski
posted 10/30/09 @ 2:13 PM EST
First off, lovely lede.
All other things I have to say (mostly shock and consternation over KR's woes) are for private conversation. What a set of stories. (Continued…)
Matt
posted 11/04/09 @ 8:54 AM EST
Every student should be aware of Michigan's tenant/landlord guide. It summarizes the laws in an easily readable form.
http://www.legislature.mi.gov/documents/publications/tenantlandlord. (Continued…)
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