Pitt helps students find roommates and places

Renting an apartment for the first time might seem overwhelming, but Pitt’s Office of… Renting an apartment for the first time might seem overwhelming, but Pitt’s Office of Off-Campus Living can help.

The office provides a renters’ guide, a listing of city-inspected apartments and a roommate matching service to help students find their perfect living mates.’ It also maintains all University-owned apartments, which are properties leased to students who no longer wish to live in dorms.

Kevin Stiles, manager of leasing and support services, said that the office exists to help students who want to live off campus.

‘We provide educational materials, apartment listings, telephone and computer access and advice,’ said Stiles in an e-mail.

Stiles said students can come into the office and have someone answer their questions.

Off-Campus Living provides computers and telephones that students can use to find apartments and make appointments with the help of office staff.’

The renters’ guide, which can be found on the office’s Web site, takes students through the basics of what they need to know before renting an apartment.

A description of neighborhoods helps students decide where in Pittsburgh they’d like to live, and a chart lets them know the average cost of renting and utilities for a single person.

Stiles suggested researching before signing a lease.

‘Educate yourself. Read the lease and ask questions,’ he said in an e-mail. ‘Review the information online … or stop in our office for a brochure, other reference material or advice.’

The renters’ guide also provides a renters’ checklist, which lists questions to ask the landlord, about the facilities and about safety. Students can download the checklist as a PDF and print it.

‘Talk to students that have rented from this landlord in the past. In some cases you can speak with the current tenants,’ said Stiles. ‘As Pitt students you should also review the Landlord Survey Results.’

The survey rates landlords used by Pitt students and can be found on the office’s home page.

In order to help students understand the basics of a lease, the office also has a short guide detailing the nature of a lease, a renter’s legal responsibility and payment and occupancy information.

Information on credit checks and rental insurance can also be found in the Before You Sign a Lease section of the Web site.

The After You Sign a Lease section details information students need to know about their rights as tenants, in addition to dealing with possible evictions, getting back a security deposit and other useful things such as locations of second-hand furniture stores.

‘While we cannot provide students with any legal opinions, we will certainly offer advice based on our experience and our relationship with the various property owners in Oakland,’ wrote Stiles in an e-mail.

This year, Stiles said Off-Campus Living would partner with Pitt Law School’s Community Economic Development Clinic to provide students legal advice on their leases.

The Chancellor’s Office funds the service, and students can call Daniel Friedson at 412-648-1300 to schedule an appointment to have a law student review their leases before they sign.

Stiles said that while the office could not provide any legal counsel to students, Off-Campus Living can point them in the right direction should they need it.

‘OCL does not provide legal representation,’ wrote Stiles in an e-mail. ‘We will also contact a landlord on the tenant’s behalf to clarify the situation or in some cases help when there are communication difficulties.’

The office keeps an updated listing of city-inspected apartments on its Web site. Although Pittsburgh doesn’t require inspection, Off-Campus Living works with landlords to get their buildings inspected to make sure everything is safe and up to code.

‘Upon request from participating landlords, the City of Pittsburgh will inspect rental units for habitability and safety,’ said Stiles.

Stiles doesn’t discourage students from looking at outside sources for apartment listings and guides.

‘I think that a student should use any and all tools available,’ wrote Stiles in an e-mail. ‘We provide information that will help you to avoid problems before you sign a lease.’