Student housing rules & codes - What constitutes a student?
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I apologize ahead of time if this is really the wrong format to ask such a question. But I am a long-time southerner who has only moved to Philly in the last year or so, and have only recently become aware of the housing codes up here - which differ quite a bit from those in my old homeland. I have been looking over (or trying to, they are hard to find) various documents from the townships locally - and am rather dismayed with the blanket generalizations made toward "students". It would seem that any attendee of a college is designated as one, and it carries a 2nd class citizen status. In my mind there seems to be quite the difference between a fresh-faced 18 year old who's never lived on his own and a grad student well into their 20's who spends their late nights grading exams and doing research. One should not simply "assume" that all university goer's are "partiers", or irresponsible/uninvested; furthermore, you cannot assume they are even young. I myself went back to school when I was 30, and I know a number of executives who return to finish their MBAs and law degrees. Now, I am a former homeowner myself several times over, over 30, and successfully employed. My credit scores are exemplary and I have money in the bank. I am in no danger of being deemed "unfit" by any local community for the purpose of leasing a residence. Buying a home again is not in my near future because I am in a rather mobile career, and do not want to make the costly mistake of plunking down 300k+ for someplace that might end up being an hour's drive from work. BUT ... I am close to several people who are hurt by these anti-student codes. And I want to know how "broad" they really are. Sometimes laws are written the way they are to enable maximum prosecution of the "slippery" ones, and sometimes they are purposefully vague for less desirable reasons. Radnor township seemed to be the most onerous - they designated a student as anyone who had been a secondary school in the last 5 months. No differentiation was made between grad students and undergrad, or whether the student was employed full time or not, or over a certain age. This would even mean that a graduating lawyer wouldn't qualify, nor someone 40 years old who went back to school to finish a professional degree, and it -certainly- buggers the people I know, who work 2 jobs -and- go to law/business school part time. These people have no more desire to live next to the KA house throwing "keggers" any more than anyone else, but they are forced to lie to landlords in order to "qualify" for a rental. And a recent grad isn't going to qualify for a house, nor would it be fortuitous for them to "settle down"... yet, they are still as responsible as anyone else for maintaining the quality of life and taking care of the property. From what I have seen in my apartment searches over my lifetime - and it is just as true in the Philly suburbs - it is usually the landlords who let the places run down and don't believe in paying for improvements on "just a rental". Bookmark/Search this post with: |
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Dear Duchess,
Unfortunately, if you have ever had students in your neighborhood, sometimes it doen't really matter if the student is 18 or 25.
Radnor, Haverford, and Lower Merion Township all have problematic student rentals, as well as some that do not bother anyone.
Radnor's code isn't the most onerous, actually, it is quite similar to Lower Merion's in some parts.
And as for students being forced to lie to landlords, we daresay you won't find so much sympathy to those who live next door to some of these student rentals that are considered problematic. Penn Street in Bryn Mawr comes to mind in Haverford Township as a good example.
Yes, there are a lot of slum landlords out there who let properties get run down, but it would also help people to believe student renters were responsible adults if they picked up their garbage and kept their rentals more tidy.
We're sorry if responsible students feel like second class citizens, but for many of those full time residents (renters or ownsers) who have to co-exist with student rentals, they are grateful for the protections that municipal regulations afford them.
If you know students who feel they are being unfairly treated, they can of course contact their local municipalities to see what recourse they have. They should advocate for themselves if there is a problem. As for you personally, you can ask your local commissioner in whichever township you live to explain the student housing regulations....mind you others here may weigh in on how they feel - however, none of us are experts in the various student housing codes - thanks for sharing your perspective.
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permalinkI know in the south, the more common codes that affect housing usage are for rentals as a whole; ie, most suburbs try to keep the rentals vs owned property ratio fairly low. The problem there is more tied to the "lack of investment" of transitional renters vs people buying property they will be living in long term - as well as the fact that most apartment complexes do not have the ability to increase or maintain property values like well-maintained homes can.
As for handling problematic residents, they just have a ton of specific rules affecting specific behaviors. It seems to be more reactive than proactive. For example, you can get SERIOUS fines for littering on property - or even leaving your garbage CAN out. There are also widespread laws against having your grass get too high or the bushes get overgrown, having cars parked there that don't work, obstructing driveways, etc etc. Do these exist here as well?
My issue with laws that are too proactive is that they assume guilt by association - which is a depressing situation to be in, and may tend to encourage even more of the irresponsible behavior that people are *really* discriminating against.
Most responsible renters just do not want the 'trouble' of dealing with township ordinances or having to understand legal clauses - I've found they fall mostly into 2 categories; 1) the ones that are terrified of getting in trouble, and disallow "students" no matter what, and 2) the ones in it for the buck, who are unaware of or don't are about the laws, and cram in people regardless.
I live in the "latter" kind of place now; my landlord owns a beautiful historic building he is letting run into the ground maintenance-wise, has serious pest problems, and rents out to quite a few illegal immigrants (when there's large groups of non-english speaking guys living in the basement apartments, it's a bit fishy - I come from Texas, I know!). I am trying to -get out- and get a better place; the apathy of the management really disheartens me.
The irony of this? My boyfriend *was* what qualified as a student (but knew nothing himself of the student license issue), and sort of stumbled on the place. He was able to rent a 1 bedroom without issue. If the landlord was compliant with the laws, it would've been a no-go most likely.
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permalinkPerhaps I should ask more directly:
What do you -do- if you are partnered/married to someone who is a student? Or if you are a student who is far too old to be living in student housing? Or any other sort of responsible grad student?
It almost seems as though your only options are a) buying, b) moving into the city proper, c) finding a landlord who doesn't care, or d) lying on your application. Those who really want to live in one of the mainline suburbs though, tend to use options C or D. C means slumlords... D just makes you feel icky, and puts everyone involved in potential danger. But the people "forced" into dishonesty just keep it to themselves, stay quiet, try not to piss off the neighbors, and hope that nothing bad happens. And did I mention living in fear that if you "let it slip" you're a grad student to a neighbor, they could report it, ending in everyone's sudden eviction? It's just not the most stable or likable situation to be in, not matter how justified you feel in your heart.
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permalinkWe're not the landlord with property to let. And there are just as many responsible landlords as slum land lords. You just have to look. There are LOTS of apartments, etc for rent right now.
If you are feeling that a landlord is showing prejudice, go the fair housing office in your area. Talk to your local commissioners where you live, go to your township and county offices.
We don't have the answers you seek, not because we aren't interested, but because we don't know anyone in your situation. We can only hope that because you have broached the topic, other posters will join it.
BUT if students lie about being students and get caught, it's on them. Responsible grad students should band together and lobby for better defining of the rules and regs currently in place then if so many feel so strongly about it. Lying about being a student compounds the problem. We encourage people to advocate for change- they should also lobby the schools they are attending to do more.
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permalinkYes, I would have to agree, although this won't help my friends in the short term.
It would seem that something as simple as better definition of "student" would solve these sort of issues. I.e., deciding what is considered a "high risk" student. It is somewhat of an "age" thing, but then, some people are messy and immature their entire lives. Amusingly, most men never really "change their ways" as they grow up, they just get girlfriends/wives who don't let them get away with being slobs anymore! >_>
The typical teenage college student is going to be best-served living on campus anyway... it's not only cheaper, but it's really the last time in life they'll be able to get away with living so free and easy, and being surrounded by friends and peers. Someone who is married, however- well, it seems obvious they don't want to be put in on-campus dorms or shoved into student housing.
But as I've read elsewhere, the schools have more students than boarding space. So they concentrate on the new students first, leaving the seniors and grad students with the short end of the stick.
Perhaps the only answer I seek here then, is how you would feel, as a neighbor, living next to someone you -knew- was a student, but who was a perfectably pleasant citizen. Do the residents of the townships seek out potential violators, even among the "quiet ones", or do the complaints generally get meted out only against the troublemakers?
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permalinkI could be wrong, but isn't this a violation of fair housing laws?
Naturally, most college students would neither have the means nor the time to fight such laws.
What I've found useful was that if one didn't qualify because income for a rental, they could apply as a student. This way, while students were given a chance to rent, those who were professionals (who earned substantial income) were free to rent as they saw fit.
In the end, someone's status should not create a situation that changes the rules. That's discrimination, and as far as I know, that's illegal.
Unfortunately, I'm no lawyer. Check with the ACLU.
For those who have an issue with students, you have two options. Call the police and lodge a noise complaint. if the police are ineffective, work with politicians. If they are ineffective, vote them out. If you can't vote them out, then move. Our "democratic" process was not invented to pass laws that blindly discriminate. This is a slippery slope you are on.
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