Slumlord getting you down?
Renting property is always unpredictable, but seems to be worse in college towns, where the transient nature of most tenants can bring out the worst in some property owners. Why bother fixing a plumbing leak or improving ventilation to ward off mold, when most students will simply move out of town in a couple years anyway? (To be fair, students don't always make the best tenants either, but that's another issue.)
Andrew Quinn of the Daily Barometer wrote an excellent article listing some resources for renters faced with evil landlords. In addition, the city's Rental Housing Code (PDF) is available on the website for the City of Corvallis Housing Division.
Renting is still a crapshoot, but at least renters shouldn't have to burn furniture to keep warm in the winter, or line their living rooms with plastic tarps due to roofing leaks that are never repaired. In Corvallis, it also seems to (mostly) hold true that you get what you pay for, i.e., if you rent a two-bedroom townhouse for $350, don't act so surprised when you find discarded syringes on the front lawn. There are some exceptions to this rule, of course. Pinion Property Management charges absurd prices for properties that seem barely inhabitable, but they also seem to end up with tenants who cause ridiculous amounts of damage.
(For all you landlords who are stuck dealing with lousy tenants, you have my sympathy, but life is still easier as the property owner. The law is on your side, so go evict someone if it makes you happy.)
Andrew Quinn of the Daily Barometer wrote an excellent article listing some resources for renters faced with evil landlords. In addition, the city's Rental Housing Code (PDF) is available on the website for the City of Corvallis Housing Division.
Renting is still a crapshoot, but at least renters shouldn't have to burn furniture to keep warm in the winter, or line their living rooms with plastic tarps due to roofing leaks that are never repaired. In Corvallis, it also seems to (mostly) hold true that you get what you pay for, i.e., if you rent a two-bedroom townhouse for $350, don't act so surprised when you find discarded syringes on the front lawn. There are some exceptions to this rule, of course. Pinion Property Management charges absurd prices for properties that seem barely inhabitable, but they also seem to end up with tenants who cause ridiculous amounts of damage.
(For all you landlords who are stuck dealing with lousy tenants, you have my sympathy, but life is still easier as the property owner. The law is on your side, so go evict someone if it makes you happy.)
posted by Corvallist at
3:46 AM
3 Comments:
Honestly, I love this blog more every day, especially the snappy writing. I'm glad you made that comment about landlords not having it easy, though, because I've personally been victimized by tenants who worked the system. Nolo Press has excellent resources both for tenants and landlords.
By
Anonymous, at 10:39 AM
I searched for pinion hoping to get a little info from past tenants, as I'm about to sign a lease w/them. I agree their security deposit is a little absurd and my 475 per month is high for a one bedroom townhouse, but it's an adorable place, they allow dogs, and the only problem I've heard from current tenants is that the insulation is a little old and extreme temperatures (as if we have those very often) can be a pain in the butt. Honestly, I like Pinion a lot. Word of advice for anyone currently looking to rent: never go through an individual person, always use a property management group. I just got out of a bad situation, and sank more than 300 dollars into renting a room that I can't live in.
By
Anonymous, at 12:24 PM
...another thing; PM's are almost always just the agent for their owner...and while it doesn't make it right, the OWNERS often just want the PM to, "C.T.C.", every month, (Cut the Check), especially the "One-zie...two-zie" Home and Duplex owners. The owner (over half of Corvallis Rentals in Campus Hill are California-based owners - I know for a FACT that the Owner of a LARGE, just under 100 unit Complex near OSU Campus lives in So. Cal, is an Investment Bean Counter whom hasn't ever SEEN his Property), they will often put off repairs over and over, and put ridiculously low "Approval" amounts upon the PM's (spending limits), to keep them from spending any money on repairs (Roofs are the biggie...esp. FLAT roofs), and the PM will get so tired of trying to rent a leaky unit with long-since failed roof that they pass it off to the next PM who takes their turn....I BRIEFLY worked in City Housing in Albany, so we recieved many calls from Corvallis and Albany based students... The PM's are dumping these small Properties, too...no margin at 10 - 12% of $500/mo is worth the headaches and paperwork, ect...The bigger complexes are the only real area the PM's clean up, at least from the financials I have seen.
As far as pets are concerned...again, owner preference...the PM hardly EVER has anything to do with it... I am NOT defending PM's, either....Pinion is the most widely complained about PM in the biz...bar-none! Followed by Duerksen, FP. Bowman, or whatever they call themselves now...and Elite...
By
Anonymous, at 8:05 PM
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