A 90-page guide to living off campus called “Landlord Library,” offering information about finding an apartment and dealing with neighbors and landlords will debut at tonight’s Senate meeting.
The guide, produced by Associated Student Government, will soon be available in kiosks around campus, at the ASG office in Norris University Center and on its official Web site (www.asg.northwestern.edu).
“Many students at NU have a difficult time finding somewhere to live and knowing what exactly to look for in a lease – what’s fair and what isn’t fair,” said ASG external relations chairwoman Jada Black, who compiled the booklet in about six months.
“I thought it’d be great to have something produced by students that covers all the practical information about living on your own,” she said.
The guide includes tips on finding apartments, signing leases and putting down security deposits, and information on ASG services, voter registration and elected city officials, said Black, a Medill junior.
“Landlord Library” also contains answers to specific questions that could arise after students have settled into an off-campus residence, Black said.
“A lot of my friends had questions about how to go about finding an apartment around campus, from what do I do with a mattress that the landlord left behind to what to do with recycling that wasn’t picked up on a certain day, ” said Black. “This guide covers all of that information.”
Most students who initially move off campus do not understand the city and its workings, said Vice President For Student Affairs William Banis. Evanston residents recently complained at City Council meetings about the way NU students treat the property around their apartments.
“If (Landlord Library) is used and if students read it, it will make life easier for them and for neighbors who are disgruntled,” Banis said.
Weinberg senior Natalie Moore said she decided to move off campus to have more living space and greater flexibility with meals. She said landlord problems have been the toughest to deal with.
“Landlords are a really important part in finding an apartment,” Moore said. “If I had known that my roommate and I would have so many issues with our landlord, then I don’t think we would have chosen to live here.”
Most students looking for off-campus housing sign contracts without taking time to compare prices, Moore said.
“It’d be beneficial for students to find the best values beforehand so they wouldn’t be cheated,” Moore said. “Where I live now, it’s way overpriced for what it is. I don’t think we’re getting what we’re paying for.”
Senators passed the bill asking for a guide to off-campus living during the third week of Fall Quarter, Black said.
“I wanted it to be a comprehensive guide that students can use as a resource from the first day they start looking for a place to the day they move out,” Black said.
“I was encouraged by the Northwestern administration to foster better relationships with the Evanston community,” she said, “and this guide serves to bridge that gap.”