University Daily Kansan, August 18, 1983 Page 3 Consumer group clarifies tenants' rights By MARY ANN COSTELLO Staff Reporter Staff Reporter Tenants who are aware of their rights and responsibilities now may avoid an unpleasant dispute with their landlord or roommate later on. A clear explanation of landlord-tenant rights and responsibilities can be found in the "Rental Housing Handbook," published by the Consumer Affairs Association of Lawrence. CLYDE CHAPMAN, director of the Consumer Affairs Association, said a new edition of the handbook would be available in September from both the Consumer Affairs Association, 819 Vermont St. and, 104C in the Kansas Union It also will be available from three offices in Strong Hall — the Office of Residential Programs, the Student Information Center, and the University Information Center. The booklet simplifies Kansas landlord-tenant statutes, Chapman said. Copies of the Kansas Landlord-Tenant Act and a guide to eviction procedures in Kansas are also available from the Consumer Affairs Association. Chapman said the most common landlord-tenant dispute concerned security deposits. Landlords are required by the Landlord-Tenant Act to conduct an inventory of the premises in the form of the tenant within five days of occupancy. "Many landlords fail to do the inventory." Chapman said. "The result is that there is no record of the premises or the premises other than they both say." According to the act, a landlord who retains part of the security deposit must itemize deductions in a written notice to the tenant and return the remainder of the deposit within 14 days. It is not out but in any event no later than 30 days. "Most landlords take that to mean they have 30 days." Chamman said. IF THE UNUSED PORTION of the security deposit is not returned within 30 days, or there is no itemized statement of deductions, the tenant is required to return the security deposit plus one and one-half times the amount not returned, as damages. If there are no deductions, the deposit must be returned to the tenant within 30 days. Chapman said that reading a lease agreement carefully before signing it and having a written roommate agreement would prevent many of the disputes brought to the Association or small claims court. If a tenant fails to give proper notice, he said, the deposit may be forfeited at the landlord's option or as provided in the rental agreement. required a tenant to give 30 or 60 days notice if he would not be renewing a lease, but tenants often overlooked or forget about the requirement. ROOMMATE DISPUTES are another big problem that many tenants don't consider, he's said. For instance, roommates may find they are incompatible, then one may want the other to move out. Chapman said he would try to explain their rights to them and to mediate their tension. He said some lease agreements A written roommate agreement may help to settle roommate disputes, he said. The agreement outlines each roommate's responsibility for rent, utilities, food, damages, etc. He said roommates should have the agreement reviewed by a legal authority or the Consumer Affairs Association to determine whether the agreement was binding. A sample roommate agreement form and sample landlord tenancy notice are included. The following landlord tenant rights and responsibilities are summarized from the revised "Rental Housing Handbook": - Oral promises made before signing a lease must be written into the lease to be binding. *Both oral and written rental agreements are subject to the provisions of the Kansas Landlord-Tenant Act. - The maximum security deposit a landlord may require is one month's rent for an unfurnished apartment, one and one-half month's rent for a flat, and an additional one-half month's rent for a pet deposit, if pets are allowed. - *Landlords do not have to pay interest on security deposits to tenants. - A landlord must give a tenant reasonable notice of his desire to enter a dwelling, and he must enter at reasonable hours. But he may enter without the consent of the tenant in an extreme emergency involving a potential loss of life or severe property damage. - Forfeiture of the security deposit when a tenant terminates a lease early is questionable when the amount of the rentceeds the amount of rent due or damages. - When it is not possible for the landlord and tenant to informally resolve their differences, the principal courts used in landlord-tenant disputes are small claims court and district court. By GENE HUNTER Staff Reporter Group I and II parking violations, if paid within 14 days, cost $7.50. These include parking in the wrong zone, without a permit, parking illegally in a loading zone, or having a permit improperly applied or in bad condition. After 14 days, Group I and II fines go up to $12.50. Students new to the University of Kansas have many lessons to learn, and the smart ones will learn quickly. The smart habits are habits in a vice that can afford. Professionally Managed by Middle States Management Company Most officials think there is enough parking space to accommodate everyone at KU, but they admit that it is often inconveniently located. KU officials said that there are no plans at this time to expand parking. Bob Brown, chairman of the Parking and Traffic Board for the 1982-83 academic year, said that money was not the problem. Group III and IV violations cost $25 if paid within 14 days and $30 after that. These include blocking drives and Allen Wiechert, KU director of facilities planning, said there had never been any formal discussion of building more parking space near the center of campus. He said it would not be practical "primarily for aesthetic reasons" and the mobility of pedestrians through campus." In fiscal year 1982, KU Parking Services issued 72,380 parking tickets, according to its director, Don Kearns. The company has denied that they were issued to "bona fide" visitors. "THEE IS VERY LITTLE space to put any more parking without destroying the landscaping completely," he said. Wiechert said he would not favor the idea of building a multi-level parking structure in the open spaces on either side of Malott Hall because it would take up space that could be occupied by an academic building. There are four types of parking violations at KU, according to Kearns A caveat for new students: learn well KU parking rules KEARNS SAID THAT Parking Said to have 1868 in parking for fiscal year 2014. parking in fire lanes or stalls for the handicapped. 2100 A W. 25th • Holiday Plaza • Lawrence, KS 66044 A fine selection of traditional leather goods for the student and the professional. 914 Massachusetts 842-6046 Use Kansan Classified. SPECIALLY PRICED CATALOGUE "BELLA DONNA" Modern Records Kief's has Special Savings on both Stevie Nicks releases: ON MODERN RECORDS AND CASSETTES OBSERVATION ATLANTIC CORPS COURSE WWW. www.atlanticcorps.com MFG. 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