Off-Campus Living Alfred University

This presentation will cover: Advice from AU students Requirements to live off campus Local laws in Alfred How to read a lease Neighborhood concerns Fire safety

ADVICE FROM OFF-CAMPUS STUDENTS

Our current off-campus students say*…

• 91% felt they had adequate information on how to reada lease/rental agreement

• 84% feel comfortable approaching their landlords ifthey have problems

• 73% agree that their landlords have been responsive totheir concerns in a timely manner.

• Only 60% have personally checked their fire alarmsand fire extinguishers in their apartment

• 50% feel comfortable approaching their neighbors witha concern

• 57% have hosted a party (5+ people) in theirapartment, and 97% say they fully understand theirlegal risk and liability when they host parties.

• However, we have several arrests each year of off-campusstudents from parties, so that 97% may not be entirelyaccurate.

• 97% would recommend their apartment to others.

What do they wish someone had told them before moving off? • How much cleaning I have to do

• All the hidden expenses (utilities, wireless routers, etc.)

• Hidden information in a lease

• What to do when your landlord does not address issues

• That rent isn’t factored into financial aid awards

Requirements to Move Off Campus

Requirements to Move Off Campus • You must have lived on campus for six semesters.

• This includes co-op, leaves of absence, study abroad, etc. Also,if you transferred here, you’ll be given credit for thesemesters you were in school elsewhere, even if you did notlive on campus.

• You must have a GPA of 2.0 or better• Exemptions to the six-semester rule include veteran status,

age 23 or older, married/partnered, children, or commuterliving with parent 50 miles away or less.

• If you have had sanctions for Code of Conduct violations,those must be completed.

Some years we have huge incoming classes and to make room, we allow some students to move off after four semesters. We don’t know that until mid-May of each year.

LOCAL LAWS in ALFRED

Every town has unique laws and ordinances that new residents may not be familiar with. Here are a few that Alfred residents need to be aware of.

Local Laws in Alfred

Open Container Law

No person shall possess an open container of or consume an alcoholic beverage on any public lands within the Village and Town of Alfred

•$50 minimum fine

Local Laws in Alfred

Social Host Law No person having control of any residence shall allow an open house party to take place at said residence if such person knows or has reason to know that any alcoholic beverage or drug is being unlawfully possessed, served to or consumed by a minor at said residence • $250 to $500 fine or 15 days

imprisonment.

Local Laws in Alfred

Rubbish Law

Garbage cans shall not be placed at the curb or roadside prior to 3 pm the Monday preceding pickup. Empty containers shall be removed from curb or roadside no later than 12pm on the Wednesday following pickup. All garbage cans shall have the owners name, house number and apartment number painted on them.

• $25 to $250 fine

Local Laws in Alfred

Disturbing the Peace

No person(s) shall: use obscene or abusive language or gesture in a public place, congregate with other persons in a public place and refuse to comply with a lawful order of the police to disperse, or obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic

• $150 to $500 fine.

Local Laws in Alfred

Noise Law

No person shall operate or permit to be operated any mechanical or electronic device for the production or amplification of sound in such a way that it produces unnecessary noise.

• $150 to $500 fine

Local Laws in Alfred

Fire Law

No person shall kindle or maintain an outdoor fire within the boundaries of the Village of Alfred unless it is an approved container (outdoor fireplace, metal or clay chimnea, manufactured metal fire pit with a mesh cover).

• $50 to $250 fine.

Local Laws in Alfred

“Cushy Furniture" and Outdoor Storage Law

The storage of upholstered furniture (not manufactured for outdoor use) in outside areas is prohibited. Outside areas include rooftops, yards, unenclosed porches, decks, patios, and balconies visible from the street. Storage of indoor items and construction materials in outdoor areas is

prohibited.

• $150 to $500 fine

READING A LEASE

Click HERE for a sample lease, provided by the State of Georgia (no reason we picked Georgia – it was just a really good sample)

Your lease should include:

• Signing date and term of the lease

• Complete name and contact information for landlordand tenants

• Location of the rental unit

• The agreed rent – amount, when and where payment isdue, penalty for late payment, additional fees.

Sometimes different methods of payment cost more. For example, although a monthly payment plan is convenient, a landlord may charge an extra “service fee” per month. Credit card payments may also be subject to this type of added fee.

Your lease should include…

• Extra charges for storage, parking, early move-in, etc.

• Utility charges

Pay attention to whether or not electric and gas use is capped. You may need to pay extra if you go over a certain limit. Also, sometimes cable, wi-fi, internet , trash pickup, and water are included in the lease, sometimes not.

• Security deposit required

The lease should include information about when/how you will get your money back after you vacate the property.

• Pet policy. (If they say “no pets,” they reallymean it.)

Your lease should include…

• Provisions for subletting (renting your space to someoneelse if you need to be away on co-op, study abroad, etc.)

• Occupancy limits for guests

Some landlords specifically do not want renters

to have house parties, and to stop that, they will limit the total number of occupants. You could be evicted if you violate that.

• Whether the unit is furnished or unfurnished

• Conditions for terminating the lease

• Conditions under which you could be evicted

• Provisions to renew the lease

Your lease should include… • When the landlord is allowed to enter your property without

notice

• Who to contact for repairs and emergencies

Generally the landlord or property manager would be the

first call. However, you should find the contact information for the Code Officer as well. That person’s job is to evaluate properties to ensure compliance with local and state laws, which includes investigating complaints. The Code Enforcement Officer and elected officials for the Village of Alfred can be found by clicking here.

• General landlord and tenant rightsEvery lease has elements that don’t fit into other categories. Yours might include random things like expectations of shoveling snow, lockout fees, background checks, etc.

NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS

Hosting a party

• Let your neighbors know

• Keep it inside

• Keep it under control and clean up immediately afterward

• Make sure there is food available as well as non-alcoholicoptions.

It is illegal to serve alcohol to people who are underage. You need a way to identify and monitor underage individuals at your party. You are legally liable for the behavior of your guests, including driving drunk on their way home, accidents, assaults, vandalism, disorderly conduct, etc.

Remember that you probably live near families with young children, elderly people, and your professors. This is their home year-round. A healthy college town depends on mutual respect.

Reporting problems

• Village residents and student tenants are encouraged touse this form to report problems. Once it’s sent, it goes tothe Alfred police department. If the report involves villageresidents, the police will act on it. If the report involves AUor Alfred State students, they will forward the report to thecampus. Off-campus students can be held responsible foroff-campus violations, per our Code of Conduct.

NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS REPORT

Finding a place to live

AU does not endorse or advertise individual listings and students are responsible for conducting their own research on available properties. We allow postings on our website from property managers and real estate agencies, and we link to community websites that contain individual postings.

Check out the listings at our Off Campus Living website.

Fire Safety Off Campus

The following photos of vacant lots all have

something in common. See if you can guess what it is.

44 West University

31 South Main

42 South Main

North Main St. across from McLane Center

Corner of Main and W. University, across from the bus stop

All of these vacant lots were Apartment buildings a few years ago. The most recent fire in student apartments occurred on October 29, 2009 and burned down the building across from the bus stop.

October 29, 2009

October 29, 2009: Looking downtown from Saxon Drive across from the Brick

October 29, 2009

Corner of Main and West University

October 29, 2009

Corner of Main and West University

October 29, 2012

Main and West University

Before October 29, 2009 Main and West University

Circa 1910 You can see how sad it is that this historic structure, around for almost 100 years, was burned

down in a fire. While about 25 people were displaced, no one was badly injured.

Fire Safety Apartment Buildings vs. Residence Halls

Fire will spread through Apartment Buildings at an incredible rate; the older the building, the more rapidly it will spread

Current residence halls are built with modern, fire-resistant materials.

And we are sure you know all about fire drills and safety inspections that regularly occur on campus. Not so in apartments.

Building Construction Materials

Escape Routes: Residence Hall hallways and stairwells are wide and protected by fire doors that help prevent the spread of deadly smoke and heat. There are usually two or more relatively easy routes out of a residence hall.

Apartments often have a single exit route through narrow hallways and down narrow flights of stairs. Tenants often store stuff in the hallways (such as boxes or bicycles) which can trip you up when you are trying to escape through smoke and heat.

Apartments often have a single exit route

through narrow hallways and down narrow

flights of stairs. Tenants often store stuff in

the hallways (such as boxes or bicycles)

which can trip you up when you are trying to

escape through smoke and heat.

Local Alarm vs. Automatic

In residence halls, all detectors are hardwired to 911 dispatch, so no one has to call in the alarm.

In apartment buildings, assuming the building has a general fire alarm system at all, it is probably a “Local Alarm” which is not triggered automatically. This means someone must call 911, so there will be a longer delay before the Fire Department arrives.

Battery-Operated Smoke Detectors? It is so tempting to take the battery out if the alarm sounds

due to cooking or shower steam, etc.

Please don’t!

You should personally check your smoke detectors to make sure they’re present, and that they work. Also, change your batteries twice a year. Many people change them with the seasonal time change: “change your clocks, change your batteries.”

Smoking

The number one cause of residential fires is still careless use of smoking materials. Countless fatalities result from cigarettes that are not properly extinguished.

Even if you do not smoke, you will need to pay attention to whether your guests are smoking and being safe with it.

Do other tenants in your house or apartment building smoke? They put you at risk, too.

Advice from Fire Department:

Choose an apartment carefully, not just for price and location, but for safety considerations. Select an apartment with decent exit routes and tenants who will exercise good judgment at all times. Become familiar with the operation of the Fire Extinguishers in the apartment and never tamper with the smoke detectors.

Control HEAT SOURCES: Keep combustible materials away from ignition sources

Heat Sources Include:

Open Flame Devices: Candles, Grills, Matches & Lighters

Stoves and Ovens

Heaters

Hair Dryers, Curling Irons

Electric Plugs and Cords

Don’t step on or "pinch" cords

Don’t overload outlets

Don’t use inadequate extension cords

Before You Have an Alarm:

• Do a fire safety check in your room

• Have two exit routes planned (and practiced)

• Familiarize yourself with nearest extinguisher and how itoperates

• Find your smoke detectors and make sure they work

• Find your carbon monoxide detector and make sure itworks.

If a fire alarm sounds:

• Get dressed – unless smoke and heat are already

in your space

• Check door for heat

• Check hallway for smoke. If air is clear, exit the

building and met at central location to

"check in" and take a head count

If there is smoke in the hallway:

• Stay in room, block gap at floor

• Open window for fresh air

• Signal to people on ground

AVOID INHALING SMOKE AS BEST YOU

CAN!

In case you encounter a small fire:

Decide: pull alarm and exit building vs. attack the fire yourself

• Can you smother it immediately? (e.g., put a lid on the pot? stamp

it out with your shoe?)

NOTE: DO NOT USE WATER ON A GREASE FIRE!

• How long will it take to get an extinguisher and return?

• How big will the fire grow during that time?

• How much time does the extinguisher give you? (only up to about30 seconds of chemical)

In case of burn injury

• STOP THE BURNING!

• Stop, Drop and Roll to extinguish flames

• Douse with water or spray with extinguisher

• Remove burned clothing

• Do NOT apply ice to burned skin

• Do NOT cover with any ointment or creams (such asbutter)

• Try to avoid breaking blisters open (to prevent

infection)

FINAL STEPS TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR OFF-CAMPUS LIVING

Checklist of items to complete 1. Watch the off-campus powerpoint (almost done!)

2. Complete the off-campus living release form,available here.

3. Correctly answer a 10-question quiz available here.Once you hit “send,” your results will go directly tothe Student Affairs office. You must get at least 8correct; you’ll be notified if you have missed toomany questions.

Check our Off-Campus Living webpage for more information.

If you’ve met all the requirements and have completed these three tasks, you should be eligible to move off campus. However, you should wait to sign a lease until you receive final approval via email. If you do not hear from us within one week of submitting your quiz and your application, please call 607-871-2132 or email studentaffairs@alfred.edu.

Thank you to Lang Agency Realtors and A.E. Crandall Hook & Ladder Company for their help with this presentation.

Questions? Email residencelife@alfred.eduAsk for Karen J. Porter or Vicky Gebel in Residence LifeAU’s Off Campus Living website is available here.