Look Learn Lease 2014

1

LOOKLEARNLEASE

THE INS AND OUTS OF LEASINGFIND THE BEST APARTMENT WITH THESE HELPFUL TIPS

YOUR SOURCE FOR APARTMENTS, HOME ACCESSORIES & MORE

Look, Learn, Lease! 2014 2

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2014 Look, Learn, Lease! 3

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FOR MORE INFORMATION: [email protected]


CONTENTS

MANAGING MAINTENANCE

6

RULES FOR ROOMMATES

8

STAYING SAFE

14

SUCCEEDING AS A COMMUTER

20

STAFF

Editor Javi Salazar

Design Jose Cruz Center for Student Media

Advertising Gabriela Padilla

On the cover Left to right: Javi Salazar, Angela Ho and Peter Ly. Cover Photo Dayana Rodriguez Cover Design Jose Cruz

ABOUT LLL!Look, Learn, Lease! is a production of the Center for Student Media at the University of Houston.

© 2014 University of Houston Center for Student Media. No part of this magazine may be reprinted without the permis-sion of the Director of Student Media. Phone: 713-743-5350 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.uh.edu/csm

To Advertise Call: 713-743-5340



A common issue for renters is in discern-

ing the items the landlord must fix when

something falls into disrepair.

The terms of your lease define which repairs are

and are not up to the landlord and the circum-

stances for each situation. State law mandates

that any damages risking or harming the well-

being and/or security of the main residents must

be repaired by the owner.

Repairs related to comfort, convenience or

aesthetics are rarely the landlord’s responsibility,

unless stated otherwise in the lease’s terms.

Take the first step toward a repair by contacting the

apartment or property manager in writing. If you

do not receive a response in ”reasonable time” as

the Texas Apartment Association states, you have

the right to place legal pressure on the owners in

the forms of early lease termination, mandatory

repairs, legal penalties and attorney’s fees.

“Reasonable time” is defined as 30 days, but it

is objective. For example, if the water utility is

faulty, then reasonable time is more akin to two

days because it is used daily and falls under

“health and safety.”

Legal action requires specific and at times

lengthy and costly measures. Contact a city

building inspector or county health department

official before enacting legal procedures; it is

their job to know and spot any damage violating

health statutes and local housing laws.

If the landlord remains inactive in making repairs,

mail a second notice to the property manager.

This will result in either the landlord caving or in

solid proof during legal procedures.

If something needs repair — know your rights.

Identify whether the damage is covered in your

lease’s terms, report it to the landlord or man-

ager and then contact an inspector if needed.

KEEPING UP WITH UPKEEP

BY JAVI SALAZAR



BY KAYLA WATTERS

ROOMMATE RELATIONSHIPS

AVOIDING THESE NO-NOS WILL KEEP PEACE WHEN SHARING A LIVING SPACE

S haring a room with a

stranger can be scary.

Living with others re-

quires respect of the other

person, or an unpleasant ex-

perience might be in store.

Violating the following rules

means you run the risk of be-

ing a terrible roommate.

1. Invasion of Privacy

Discussing personal space

is crucial. Definitions of per-

sonal space can vary greatly.

Entering bedrooms and “bor-

rowing” items may be an

annoyance, but if this has not

been discussed, a roommate

may not realize that is causes

a problem.

2. Lack of Communication

“No communication! No clear

guidelines are set about the

important things like visitors,

cleaning schedules and sleep-

ing schedules,” says student

Candace Caruthers when

asked to describe a terrible

roommate.

3. Not Cleaning Up After Yourself

If clear standards for cleanli-

ness have been set, make

sure to uphold them. No one

wants to come home from

school or work to see a mess.

Roommates do not double as

maids.

4. Taking Over the Thermostat

Many people sleeping at a

certain temperature. Discuss

with your roommate what

temperature you each like the

room so you can compromise.

5. Bringing the Party Home

College students have a repu-

tation for partying. Being un-

der the influence likely means

being louder (and perhaps

smellier) than usual. When

planning on a late night out,

inform roommates. No one

wants to be disturbed when

sleeping, especially when tests

are coming up that morning.


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R enters usually have access to a kitchen

with at least a basic fridge and a stove.

When you’re a student, that means you

have an easier time skipping out on a meal

plan than their on-campus peers.

Before cruising to Wal-Mart or riding to a

Metro stop near a grocery store, consider

a farmers market. According to the United

States Department of Agriculture, a “farmers

market” is an area where local farmers or their

workers sell produce, potentially including

meat, dairy, and grains.

A quick Google search of “farmers market” on

the UH campus yields dozens of results.

One such market near UH is the Canino

Produce Company. Canino focuses on fruit,

Latin American products and locally or near-

locally grown produce, although there is a sec-

tion with assorted standard-issue groceries.

“Produce from a farmers market is better than a

regular groceries store because new produce

is sold every day,” said shopkeeper Mitzy

Vigueras of Canino Produce Company’s nopali-

to (cactus) and fruit stand, Chilango & Gloria.

“It’s always fresh and supports local, usually

small businesses.”

The most important aspect to know about

any farmers market is the business hours. For

example, the farmers market at Rice University

is open from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Tuesdays

only. Other farmers markets have specific days

of the year on which they are open, and some

have websites that list their hours.

Farmers markets can also have different atmo-

spheres. Canino, for example, has a vibrant,

old-country feel to it, brimming with activity

and traditional Mexican products. Choose

a farmers market based on your tastes and

needs and enjoy all it has to offer!

FRESH FINDSBY JAVI SALAZAR


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BY AMANDA HILOW

LEGAL LINGO

READING AND UNDERSTAND THE LEASE REPRESENTS A PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY

T he first thing to keep in

mind while searching for

an apartment is that as

a tenant, there are rules and

expectations to meet. Fully

understanding responsibilities

in the tenant-landlord relation-

ship is essential to life after

leaving the nest.

However, it is no easy feat

and cannot be taken lightly.

According to professor Richard

Alderman, interim dean of

the UH Law Center and of-

ten known as the “People’s

Lawyer,” the most important

part of any landlord-tenant

relationship is the lease.

“You have to read the lease

because regardless of any law,

a lot of your rights and respon-

sibilities depends on what the

lease says,” he said.

Alderman said it is necessary to

read the lease carefully before

signing, and if a tenant does

not like something in the con-

tract, they should not sign the

document until the landlord

agrees to remove it.

“It’s a contract, and you’re

bound,” Alderman said. “You

might be thinking you might

get married, or you might have

to move, so you have to make

sure to put something in the

lease in case of this. Otherwise,

you might be liable for sub-

stantial damages when you

move out. You may owe the

amount of rented lease until

someone else moves in.”

Acting against the lease agree-

ment can seriously affect an

individual’s financial or living

situation for years afterward.

“If you miss a payment, you

break the lease,” Alderman

said. “If you do anything that

costs the landlord money, it

will be on your credit report,

and it will affect you negatively

for seven years. And for seven

years, it will affect your trying

to rent another apartment.”

The bottom line, Alderman

said, is to fully understand what

you are agreeing to before

signing anything.


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R egardless of where you live, safety is a con-

cern. UH Police Department officer Lt. Bret

Collier shares his top tips.

If you commute via personal vehicle, try to

park in well-lit or attended parking lots. For ex-

ample, UH’s lots 12A, 9C and 4A contain kiosks

manned by security 24/7.

If you commute and study in libraries, remind

yourself to avoid leaving alone late at night.

Awareness is your best friend, and four or

more eyes are far better than just two.

Even a cautious person may inadvertently let vul-

nerabilities exist in their residence. The following

tips ring true for those living alone:

Do not give or lend keys to someone not

specifically listed in your lease agreement. If your

home is “broken into” with no sign of breaking

and entering, then unfortunately, you’re out of

luck. This includes leaving a spare key minimally

hidden nearby for a friend or guest.

Even if you’re in a hurry, always lock your

doors, windows, etc.

Consider renter’s insurance.

Even if not on a personal basis, know what

kind of people your neighbors are, and work out

an agreement to watch out for one another.

The following are some general pointers:

If you ride a bike, use a bicycle rack and lock

it with a U-shaped lock. Place the lock through

the front tire to prevent tire theft. Register the

bike’s serial number with UHPD.

When witnessing a crime, make certain to

notice every detail as realistically as possible and

contact law enforcement ASAP.

On a last note, be safe, but don’t live your life in

fear.

“Statistically speaking, college campuses are some

of the safest communities in the country,” Collier

said. “While we do let students know about the

crimes that are occurring, this doesn’t mean there

are more crimes than other areas.”

SAFE AND SOUNDBY JAVI SALAZAR


Find a cool place to live

by reading the Classifieds section in

THE DAILY COUGAR®


BY KAYLA WATTERS

EASING TRANSIT TROUBLES

D riving around Houston

can be overwhelming.

Driving in unfamiliar

areas can not only be frustrat-

ing but also dangerous. In

addition, numerous students

do not have access to private

transportation.

Metro, the city’s public trans-

portation system, makes

traveling easier for commuting

college students.

“Taking Metro is actually pleas-

ant. For just $0.60, I can get

across Houston on local routes

and MetroRail with my student

discount on my Q-card,” says

UH student Barrett Ochoa.

“All of the buses and trains

are generally clean and free

of trash. The best part about

taking Metro is not having to

worry about driving or traffic.”

A Q-card is a smartcard used

on public transportation to

pay as by waving the card in

front of a machine.

“Q-cards with student discount

can be obtained at the Metro

RideStore located at 1900

Main from Monday-Friday, 8

a.m. - 5 p.m.” Ochoa says.

“Students must fill out an appli-

cation and provide their Texas

driver’s license or ID, class

schedule with credit hours

listed and their fee receipt.”

Students unfamiliar with public

transportation often wonder

where to take the Metro.

“The best way to get started

on transit is by downloading a

couple of apps to your phone,”

Ochoa says. “The Metro Trip

app gives real-time bus arrival

information. It’s really helpful

because it lets you know when

exactly to walk to the bus stop,

shortening the wait.”

For busy college students,

Metro is a convenient, safe

and cheap transportation

choice.


THE DAILY COUGAR®

All the news you want, straight to your inbox

Sign up at thedailycougar.com


MONTHLY EXPENSE CALCULATOR

NOTES

Rent

Telephone

Cable/Internet

Utilities

Car/gas/insurance

Groceries

Dining/going out

Miscellaneous

TOTAL


The University Eye Institute (UEI) offers a complete range of

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Our team of renowned experts provide advanced eye care based

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4901 Calhoun • Entrance #2A Open to the public, Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

To request an appointment please call 713.743.2015 www.uei.uh.edu

A good

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We recognize that com-

muter students may face

unique and different

challenges than students

who live on campus. Not

only do you deal with the

daily commute, often you

need to balance home,

social, and academic

responsibilities.

Commuter Student

Services’ mission is to pro-

vide support services and

effective communication

to help facilitate com-

muter students’ success

and connection to the UH

community.

We’re here to help answer

questions, offer referrals

and serve as advocates on

your behalf as a commuter

student at UH.

For more information

please visit www.uh.edu/

commuter or contact us at

[email protected]

SERVICES FOR COMMUTER STUDENTS

BY ALLISON WELLS


TIPS FOR COMMUTER STUDENTS

Get to campus early

to beat traffic and to get a

good parking spot!

Talk to other students,

faculty and staff — UH is a

wonderful place to meet

people!

Get involved in cam-

pus life by joining a stu-

dent organization or club.

Attend lectures, spe-

cial programs and campus

events.

Go to the UH

Recreation and Wellness

Center (it’s free!) to work

out or to find out informa-

tion on intramurals, sport

clubs, Outdoor Adventure

trips, and more.

If possible, get a job

on campus.

Utilize study areas on

campus such as the library,

University Center, or study

lounges within the various

colleges.

Don’t eat lunch in

your car — come to the

dining halls.

Make sure to read the

“CoogNews” electronic

newsletter, an email you’ll

receive every week as it

will tell you what’s happen-

ing on campus and how to

get involved.

Stay on campus after

classes — there’s always

something going on!

If you’re a new com-

muter student to UH

(under 30 hours), take the

Map-Works survey!


SERVICES FOR COMMUTER STUDENTS


TELL THE OWNER: IF IT’S BROKE, THEY’LL FIX IT

Keeping Up With

Commuting

by Shaniqua Johnson

At Commuter Student Services, we understand the ins and outs of being a commuter. Thus, we’ve put together a collection of tips to help make your

commuting experience easier and more productive.


STAY SOCIAL Make the best of your college years by taking the opportunity to meet, learn and interact with new

people. Here are three tips to not only get involved but to develop a sense of belonging and pride

for your campus:

MAXIMIZE YOUR TIME Time is precious, and moreso for a commuter student. You may be juggling multiple responsibili-

ties, but it doesn’t have to be a daunting routine. Grab your planners, to-do lists, sticky notes or

whatever method works best for you; planning is key!

THE COMMUTE Commuting is one of the biggest challenges for commuter students. School zones, gas prices and

rush-hour traffic are not your friends; however, your rides don’t have to be bad experiences. You

don’t have to “rush” during rush hour. Just plan ahead.

Take advantage of group projects — These are required in many courses. While fretting over a big as-

signment, you might as well make friends.

Join a student organization (or two) — Each semester, the university hosts several student organizations

fair. Get in on the action and find an organization that aligns with your interests. Besides, they give away

lots of freebies.

Get Involved — This is a web-based tool that connects you with registered UH student organizations.

Simply log on to AccessUH, click the Get Involved icon and access a directory containing 500+ student

organizations.

Class Schedule — Plan your schedule around your desires and tendencies. If you don’t like waking up

early, register for later classes. Remember, mid-morning and afternoon classes are usually the first to fill

up. If you have to sign up for an 8:30 a.m. class, take it all in stride and start planning.

Break Time — If you have long breaks in between classes, use this extra time to study, see an adviser,

eat lunch or work out. Spend time doing tasks that you can scratch off of your to-do list. Save on gas and

make the most of your time on campus while you’re there.

Work — Managing work and school might seem impossible at times. However, the good news is that

many students do this every day. On-campus jobs are generally more flexible around your schedule. Off-

campus jobs may offer more work hours. Either way, plan ahead and talk with your supervisor.

Map — Map out alternate routes. It’s best to know other ways to get to campus, especially for days

when weather and road closures make getting to class on time nearly impossible.

Drivers — Explore campus parking. Drive to campus before the start of the semester to become familiar

with parking lots, garages and regulations. Use the UH Parking Lot Tracker to gauge times when parking

spaces are most available.

Metro Riders — Go on a test ride before classes start. Be sure to note Metro arrival and leave times.

Plan your schedule accordingly and include time for possible delays.

Note — Take note of your professors’ attendance policies. If possible, dig up any syllabi or word-of-

mouth from other students about courses so you can set your morning classes as ones without harsh

tardy or absence penalties.


4901 Calhoun • Entrance #2A Open to the public, Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

To request an appointment please call 713.743.2015 www.uei.uh.edu

Cornea & Contact Lens Service

The University Eye Institute (UEI)

offers a complete range of daily and

extended wear lenses for patients

who wish to experience the many

advantages of wearing contacts.

Our team of renowned experts

provide advanced eye care based

on your individual needs.

When

glasses

get in

the way

...try

contact

lenses

DC_Hotspots_Contacts 2014_004.indd 1 3/7/14 3:19 PM

Look Learn Lease 2014

Documents

director of student

ad student discounts

university of houston

reasonable time

legal penalties

legal action

legal procedures

legal pressure