<p>Can anyone provide help with avoiding pitfalls of signing a housing lease? I googled to check into this and mostly found insite for the landlord. </p>
<p>A couple of things make me uncomfortable....a check for rent will need to be mailed to California and there is a late fee of $50 plus $10 per day for a payment made after the 3rd day of month. I guess I could mail with return receipt to verify that it arrived safely. The other is I don't see anywhere that the owner is responsible for timely repairs to the apartment..."Resident agrees to keep the premises and all items in good order and good condition and to immediately pay for costs to repair and/or replace any portion of the above damaged by Resident, his guests and/or invitees, except as provided by law. It is agreed that all dirt, holes, tears, burns, and stains of any size or amount in the carpets, drapes, walls, fixtures, and/or any other part of the premises, do not constitute reasonable wear and tear." </p>
<p>Does the above mean the the resident is responsible for repairs such as broken dishwasher, etc? Does the above mean that the resident is responsible for worn carpet? All carpet packs and shows wear over time.</p>
<p>Gato1, I recall that your Freshman had a high priority number and got one of the older dorms. Have you contacted housing lately? My D has told me that she knows of a number of students who decided to live off campus for fall who had pretty good dorm locations. Her friend from HS learned her roommate to be for fall in Degraf has made arrangements off campus and she has not yet been assigned a new roomie. Given that your D is honors, have you called all the appropriate places and inquired about the chance of a change.. Housing, Honors, Dean of Students? If you can believe this, there are even students who put down a deposit and a housing deposit and who are a no show for move in and even for first day of classes? Did housing give you any chance of a change?</p>
<p>Thanks for the suggestions but actually, the apartment lease is for my older daughter attending college in another Fla. city. I just appreciate all the knowledge and helpful advice here and thought someone might have some experience sifting throught the legal language of leases. </p>
<p>Younger D at FSU did contact honors and housing with her dilemma and was told to reapply to housing, but they are again using the priority numbers to reassign dorms that are open. I am trying to be hopeful for her, but also realistic. She is loving it here so far for summer: loves her new freedom, made lots of friends, says her teachers are really interesting, and sounds so content when I speak with her on the phone:)</p>
<p>So glad to hear summer is going well. My D loves it, and has commented that she will never want to leave. She has a tiny double for summer, and after about a day I have not heard another word about it. She loves the independence, the new friends along with some old friends, and so far so good with her classes. And, I even get calls from her!!!</p>