The key to a positive renting experience is quality communication between tenant and landlord, Tenant Resource Center representatives said Wednesday.
Local landlords and a city building inspector joined members of the TRC for an open discussion with students concerning students' rights and responsibilities as renters.
The panel was presented as part of Tenant Education Week, presented by the TRC and Associated Students of Madison.
UW-Madison senior Jamie Kodner, campus outreach coordinator for the TRC, said students should not rush into signing a lease during the fall in an attempt to secure living arrangements for the next school year, as vacancies often exist well into the spring. She added a lease must be one-quarter over before a landlord can legally show an apartment.
Kodner said leases are difficult to break once signed and students can be held liable for rent if a roommate fails to pay.
She said the TRC recommends signing a roommate agreement, available on the organization's website.
\A landlord is screening potential tenants and, as a tenant, you should screen your potential roommates,"" Kodner said.
Kodner added the TRC keeps evaluations of landlords by past tenants on file.
""There are ways that you can investigate your landlord to see if it is a landlord you're going to want to have,"" Kodner said.
TRC campus outreach coordinator Cat Marcus said once a student decides on a rental property, it is important to understand the terms of the lease.
""I know a lot of us don't read the fine print for everything we sign, but this is a contract and you are legally bound to it, so you need to know what it is you are agreeing to,"" Marcus said.
Marcus said renters should be aware of lease items such as rental dates, property address, cost of utilities and deadline for renewal. She added renters often are able to negotiate specific lease terms with landlords.
""I think the whole thing is to not feel afraid to approach your landlord and work things out,"" Marcus said.
Paul Ninneman, manager of the Downtown Apartments, located on the 100 block of E. Gorham Street, said the perception that students mean trouble for landlords is not necessarily true.
""My student tenants, I find, are easier to deal with and over the years have gotten better and better at knowing how to be tenants,"" Ninneman said.
