10 APARTMENT GUIDE 2
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN WEDNESDAY MARCH 7, 2007
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9
complaint concerning late night pranksters.
Similarly, there is no specification in the Act concerning the amount of time a leasing company has to respond to work orders.
"We try to respond within the very first day . . . but it's a 'good faith effort," said Heidi, assistant manager of First Management's Lawrence office.
First Management is not the only apartment leasing company that takes advantage of the protections provided to landlords by the Act. The Reserve has similar clauses in its lease as well. However, unlike Chase Court, the Reserve provides a security patrol.
While Megan Harrod, Tuckaway Property manager, describes the Act itself as "long and hairy," she also recommends that all tenants "get a copy of their lease from their leasing complex."
Harrod went on to say, "leases are going to differ, rules are going to differ." She also advises prospective tenants to "ask anything and everything. Don't worry about being a burden. [Apartment complex managers] should do their job and answer questions."
Jackie Ferraro, The Reserve's leasing
and marketing manager, said that most Reserve tenants seemed to be unaware of the complex's strict rule on animals.
"On our property pets are not even allowed to visit and tenants do not realize this until they are fined," he said.
Mallula is not the only tenant who is unaware of all the protections granted to her leasing company in her lease. Nate Sito, Rocklin, Calif., junior, admitted that he was not aware that the previously stated complaints among other clauses were addressed in his lease.
Other clauses in The Reserve's lease allow the company to relocate any member of an apartment to another apartment in the community within five days written notice and state that the Reserve is not liable if any person in the apartment lies on documentation, which might be of concern to residents because The Reserve apartments are mostly pot-luck.
Besides reading their lease carefully and asking questions, Harrod advises lessees to, "get the name of the person who helped you, then when you have trouble you know who to ask for."
Kansan writer Francesca Chambers can be contacted at editor@kansan.com.
Edited by Joe Caponio
Anna Faltermieier/KANSAN
Reading through the lease before you sign it is important because there are clauses in the lease that are important to know.
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