<p>Also beware of landlords who rip the kids off at the end of the lease claiming absurd charges for “repairs” that were nothing more than normal wear and tear. Since they’ve already got your money (security deposit), you are pretty much at their mercy.</p>
<p>This is based on personal experience.</p>
<p>DO NOT rent the house at 107 Piedmont Ave (off JPA)!!!</p>
<p>Same thing happened to us. They even charged us for repairs after a toilet flooded when all the kids were on Wnter break. The whole thing is a huge racket.</p>
<p>Our D’s apartment was always impeccably maintained. I helped her move out this past summer and scrubbed it from top to bottom (even spackled all nail holes). We got a letter saying they were withholding her deposit and charging us an additional fee to replace her mattress. She had 6" of mattress toppers on the mattress, and I actually removed it to vacuum under the bed when I moved her – there was NOTHING wrong with the mattress. I did contest the charge and was told we would receive the deposit back. I would encourage you to take photos of everything at move-out to ensure you won’t forfeit your deposit.</p>
<p>My sons are 4th years and lived at Grand Marc and now another apartment. I used this time as a great learning experience. We went over the importance of reviewing a lease and the key points. That this was a legal document/contract and you need to be sure it is not a one-sided agreement. Always be sure you ask questions and get clear answers and not ‘don’t worry about that clause’. Next, make a COPY of all documents and keep the original in a safe place. (Yes, they tried to increase their rent by $85 a month instead of $25 and assumed they did not keep their reup lease. Yes, that did not work in their favor.) Make note of all maintenance and take pictures of all problems for the entire time you are there. Also write down all initial issues as part of the lease agreement as an addendum. Last, if you have an issue it IS okay to have a parent intervene. Any issue they had that we knew they were taking advantage of them, because they were students, we showed up or made the call. Let’s just say that after a calm and very well informed parent made the call it was an entirely different conversation. They know they are kids and don’t keep documents, track of issues, or monies owed. This is a great time to educate your student on these issues. My sons are very grateful for all they learned about renting over the past few years. When S1 lived in an apartment in NYC for his internship this summer he called and thanked me for knowing exactly how to handle situations with the landlord/management company in a productive and professional manner.</p>
<p>All of this is great advice…in our case we were too trusting of the landlord. But we had no reason not to…he’s a professor at JMU!</p>
<p>My S who had a great experience at the Grand Marc, they didn’t try to take advantage of the students, is now renting a large house with friends from a landlord with a very bad reputation for not fixing things. My son was a bit wary because of the stories, but has found the landlord to be very accommodating. Each time he calls to have something fixed, he articulates the problem, after doing a bit of investigating himself, and they come to fix it. They really seem to appreciate that he cares about the property. He has troubleshooted and identified the causes for things that have been a problem in this house for years. They are all fixed now and he has a great relationship with the property owners. An articulate, well informed squeaky wheel can really pay off. And as Woosah said what a great life lesson. With that said I have no illusions of getting my security deposit back but that has more to do with the abuse the property takes than the things they have fixed. I knew that going in.</p>
<p>That might make a good facebook page - for students to post good and bad experiences with off-campus properties.</p>
<p>Some smaller colleges maintain lists of recommended landlords. There is an incentive for the landlord to treat students fairly, or the college would remove them from the list.</p>
<p>Our experiences with C’ville apartments mirrors those of others. Second year DS learned the lesson of “location, location, location . . .” He and three guys, some of whom had more limited budgets, rented a four-bedroom duplex on Preston. Each room had its own bath, parking was included (though the lot was VERY tight) and rent was $375 each. A bargain for a pretty spacious place that was relatively clean and maintained reasonably well. The only challenge was a delayed move-in since the former tenants were grad students who had lived in the place 3 or 4 years, so the place needed complete repainting and many repairs before move in and the landlord was a local resident/investor who wanted to do the work himself. Another challenge was the location was somewhat remote and DS was loathe to take cabs, etc., home from the Corner or fraternity house. Luckily he had no incidents on lone walks home. Third year was in fraternity, a definite step down in space, cleanliness, etc. Fourth year it was all about living near The Corner with best friends. A large group snagged a house on 14th (a dump!), and two other groups of 4 rented at The Pointe. I gather that complex goes very fast – I think we signed the lease first week of October. Great location and pretty nicely appointed, but quite pricey ($625 ea.) – with $75 month for a parking space in a VERY tight lot. They collect $500 per renter damage/wear and tear fee up front. The problem with that is there is little incentive to take care of the place since one has already paid $500 for damages he knows he can’t recover. By Graduation, the place was trashed and it wasn’t fixed up over the summer because one resident was staying for grad school and lined up 3 other friends to move in. Glad I don’t have to return there . . . .</p>
<p>Despite threats that students who don’t line up places in the early Fall will be on the Street, don’t buy it, Parents. They may not get their first choice, but there is housing for those who who wait. For guys, there are often rooms in Fraternity houses for second years, so that could be an option to consider. Grand Marc seems to always have apartments and can be relatively cost effective if one is willing to share a room. </p>
<p>Another consideration for apartment dwellers – Don’t count on subletting. There are not a lot of “summer only” students coming to UVa, and there are not a lot of summer interns coming to town needing summer housing. If your rising 4th year student can find one, it is best to get a lease with a June end-date, so at least you are not still paying rent after he or she graduates. If you are really unlucky, you can end up with one lease that runs through July and then another for the next year that starts in June, so make sure you and your student check the lease start/end dates to avoid two rents over the summer.</p>
<p>
Excellent point. While some of our summer staff sublet, many have off-Grounds housing already because they planned on staying in Charlottesville over the summer.</p>
<p>From my 3rd and 4th year experience, houses are in general, terrible. Not all, obviously, but most of the ones behind the Corner were gross, ill-maintained, and a hectic situation.</p>
<p>I’ll also second either putting down a “utility deposit” for whoever is paying the bills, if the utility complex doesn’t already. Dominion required us to put down $100 in advance (which helped cover the last bill) one year, but the next year, my roommate and I were stuck with a power bill to split after our third roommate refused to pay since she hadn’t lived there all summer (all of us had graduated in May). 'Twas a mess…</p>
<p>I (as a parent) handled the finances for my son and his 4 housemates for the house they rented 2nd and 3rd years. I put all the utilities in my name and paid all the bills. I collected a single payment from each of them every month. No issues collecting at all…they were a close knit bunch. The other parents were glad to have me handle things.</p>
<p>I realize that the kids might have missed a life lesson in financial managment, but there will be time for that later. I didn’t want grades and the rest of the college experience to suffer at the hands of a landlord, Comcast (grrrr!), City of Charlottesville, Dominion Power, Dixon trash, etc. </p>
<p>It worked for us and they’ve gone their separate ways as 4th years and I’m sure they will all survive without my assistance.</p>