Opinion: Letter

STU defends tenant rights

Far too many of us have been there — the kitchen faucet leaks, the bathtub won’t drain, and the frigid winter wind howls through that gap where the window ends and the windowsill begins. You call the landlord and they say they’ll be right over the very next day to fix all that and more. The next day rolls around, and they are nowhere to be seen. Your problems are not solved, and you are left feeling justly frustrated and ignored.

These problems may seem relatively minor, but what if they were far more serious, such as issues with pest infestation, an underperforming furnace or an inadequate front entry? Suddenly these matters have become gravely more urgent and pressing. But what if your landlord is still a no-show? What are you left to do? What are your options?

Up until now situations such as these may have left you feeling lost and confused, like no one is standing in your corner. No longer, because beginning this semester UW-Madison will have an outlet for the violations of tenant’s rights that so often remain an unspoken part of student life. This place is the Student Tenant Union.

The Student Tenant Union, which opens its doors for all of your rental concerns Feb. 2, aims to shed light on the often convoluted and ambiguous world of landlord-tenant laws and rights. The STU can help with problems both big and small, from subletting and roommate agreements to evictions and hazardous living environments. At the STU you can also learn about what rights you have when you enter into a rental agreement and what your landlord can and cannot lawfully require of you.

For example, have you ever had a portion of your security deposit withheld for carpet cleaning when all that had changed about the condition of your carpet was the result of normal wear and tear? Well, if this has happened to you, then you were the victim of an unlawful lease agreement because in Wisconsin, you cannot be charged carpet cleaning costs that result from normal and expected wear and tear. This is true even if your lease stated you were responsible for carpet cleaning costs. This is just one of many facts student renters may find astounding. The fact of the matter is many landlords in this city who cater to students prey on their ignorance when it comes to their renting rights. The only way to change these practices is to know your rights and to use them.

STU aims to create a housing climate in Madison where landlords compete for the best tenants, instead of tenants competing for the best landlords. This could have the effect of bringing down the often exorbitant cost of substandard student housing. This can be done only by being aware of and exercising your rights as a tenant. The STU can help through teach-ins on tenant rights and campaigns, such as the best and worst apartments in Madison, all of which will take place beginning this very semester.

As a student renter in Madison, you have rights. As a student renter in Madison, you are even a protected class, making it illegal to discriminate against you based solely on your student status. But all of this information is of little consequence unless you know and use it.

To learn more about your renting rights and to get assistance with problems you encounter renting as a UW-Madison student visit the Student Tenant Union beginning Feb. 2. The STU is located in the new Student Activities Center (333 East Campus Mall), Room 3164 and is open Monday through Thursday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday through Sunday 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. The STU will be happy to help empower the student renting community in Madison.

Bobby Gryzynger

Outreach coordinator, Student Tenant Union