By Jessica Kwek
Daily Bruin Contributor
Students concerned with living conditions in Westwood now have a
new place to turn for help.
The new Student Tenants Union provides information about
tenants’ rights, especially to transfer students and those
living off-campus for the first time.
“A lot of people, as first-time renters, don’t
really know what’s out there,” said Arminé
Chaparyan, one of the union’s founders.
The union was founded by four students ““ Anita Matta,
Vartan Djihanian, Mindy Serin and Chaparyan ““ as a political
science class project after identifying common grievances among
Westwood residents.
“This is just the beginning,” Djihanian said.
“We’re going to press on for change in
Westwood.”
According to the union’s mission statement, “The
Student Tenants Union shall serve as an advocacy group established
to serve the student tenants of Westwood and to act as a mediator
between the students, landlords, the university and elected
officials.”
The union sponsored an event Wednesday where students could get
legal advice.
“I think there is a lot you can do, especially being
informed of your rights,” said Elizabeth Kemper of Student
Legal Services, which deals with tenants’ rights in 25
percent of its cases.
Kemper addressed student concerns involving high rent,
roommates, security deposits, leases, subleasing and landlords.
“It is very important to read your lease, (to) read the
fine print,” Kemper said, adding that all discrepancies
should be in writing to ensure a landlord follows through with
earlier promises.
Students should also be sure about their plans before signing a
lease, Kemper said.
For example, a six-month lease must be carried out for six
months, and anything less usually requires full payment of the
entire lease by the tenant. Breaking a lease or withholding rent
can result in having a person’s name placed on the unlawful
detainer registry for seven years, making it difficult to rent an
apartment in the future.
Kemper also provided information about rent control.
“Buildings built before October of 1978 are mostly all
under rent control, with some exceptions,” she said.
Buildings protected by rent control will have a Rent
Stabilization Board certificate posted, and many longer-term
tenants in rent-controlled buildings pay a $7 annual fee.
Landlords can only raise rent by 3 percent every 12 months,
Kemper said. They can, however, raise rent more by paying all
utilities and providing other benefits to tenants. Extreme
increases in rent are rare and sometimes illegal.
Many students came to voice personal grievances about their
landlords and their inability to repair damages.
“We told the landlord that we would take legal action,
then she brought in a new dishwasher but there is still a hole in
the door,” said Taleen Tertzakian, a third-year Russian
studies and political science student.
The landlord is responsible for providing “habitable
conditions” for tenants, Kemper said. Landlords legally have
30 days from the time of notification to fix non-emergency
problems, which is why it is important to notify the landlord in
writing.
“It is very important to maintain a paper trail,”
Kemper said. “Write down all complaints.”
Tenants should take pictures of their apartment when they move
in to document its original condition, Kemper said, adding that
this will help in security deposit refunds.
Kemper said students should consider who they wish to live with,
since the only way a roommate can be forced out of an apartment is
through a domestic violence restraining order. Roommates cannot
legally be dismissed simply because they are annoying, Kemper
said.
She also said students should have a roommate contract so each
person is clear on the terms of their living arrangement.
“I strongly urge everyone, even if you’re rooming
with your best friend, to sign a roommate agreement,” she
said.