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APARTMENT GUIDE 2
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN WEDNESDAY MARCH 7,2007
Parkway Commons
3601 Clinton Pkwy • 842-3280
Any apartment to fit your needs. Over 20 locations in Lawrence.
Where The True Hawks Nest
www.firstmanagementinc.com
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Legal Services for Students has hand-outs available for students to help them understand leases before they commit to an apartment.
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problem renting before, so they're probably like, 'Why? There's no big deal,' " Hardesty said, "Some leases can be pretty straightforward, and if students have rented before, they're more savvy. It's the first-time renters that get into more trouble."
One reason students may refrain from asking for an attorney's help is the fear of causing conflict with their new landlord. Hardesty said there was nothing wrong with asking the landlord for a blank lease.
"If the landlord doesn't want to give you a blank lease so that you can go home and read it or have someone look at it, then they have a problem," Hardesty said. "What are they trying to hide?"
Many properties in Lawrence offer blank leases. For example, Legends Place, 4101 W. $24^{\mathrm{th}}$ Place, has a sample contract available on its Web site at www.thelegendsatku.com. Other places, such as West Hills, Park 25 Apartments, 2401 W.
$25^{\mathrm{th}}$ St., and Campus Court at Naismith (formerly Colony Woods), 1301 W. $24^{\mathrm{th}}$ St., allow students to have a blank lease to take home before signing their own.
"If a student wanted one, we would give them a blank copy of the lease," Jeff Ridenour, manager at Park 25 Apartments, said. "No one has really asked to have a lease in advance, though. They're pretty straightforward leases."
To ensure that students understand their lease, LSS offers two handouts in addition to their services. One has tips for before moving in, such as asking to see the actual apartment and not just a model. The other explains a few common lease terms that many students do not understand. Although these handouts can be helpful in understanding the lease, Hardesty still strongly recommends having an attorney read over the lease.
Kansan writer Carly Halvorson can be contacted at editor@kansan.com.
Edited by Kelly Lanigan
KANSAN FILE PHOTO
Most apartment complexes list the cost of repairs for items damaged during the term of the lease. The cost can range from a few dollars to several hundred.