As one candidate for ASUO Executive said during last week’s debate: “Housing is good, because without housing, students wouldn’t have a home.”
But just having a home is not nearly enough. The condition of housing in Eugene often fails to make the grade, and many landlords resist performing basic maintenance and repairs. Some people believe that a housing code would provide a financial incentive for landlords to properly maintain their rentals, while others believe that a code would only raise the already excessive rent prices and drive out private ownership of rentals.
Sometimes the frustration and excitement can be too much to handle, causing students to settle for rundown and poorly maintained property.
Heaters that don’t work, bad plumbing, leaking roofs and poor insulation are all common complaints of tenants in Eugene. Tenants sometimes think there is nowhere they can turn to get help, but there are options available.
This year’s ASUO Executive candidates have addressed the issue of renters’ rights. Some candidates feel the implementation of a housing code should be on the horizon, while others feel that the responsibility lies with the City Council, not students.
ASUO Executive tickets Nilda Brooklyn and Joy Nair, and Eric Bailey and Jeff Oliver believe that a housing code will soon be implemented. On the other hand, candidate Bret Jacobson and running mate Matt Cook are against such a code. Candidates Eric Qualheim, Sho Ikeda and Brad Schatzel haven’t taken a position on the issue.
Bailey and Oliver both served in the Residence Hall Association and have made renters’ rights one of the main issues of their platform. Oliver is currently the ASUO housing advocate.
“The student voice needs to be heard to have an effective code,” Bailey said. “A code of substance that can benefit the students.” Bailey said that he and Oliver advocate a housing code, but their potential staff would look into the feasibility of price controls.
Brooklyn said that in addition to being active in the process of developing a code, students need to be at the forefront of the effort.
“Just like the ASUO did with the party ordinance,” she said. “Instead of just oppose the ordinance, they wrote their own ordinance — we need to make sure the lines of communication remain open.”
Jacobson, however, disagreed with the stance taken by the other two candidates on housing issues.
“Generally, a housing code wouldn’t be in the best interest of all students,” he said. “Especially if accompanied by price control. If it wasn’t so sad, it would be funny that the other candidates think that’s a solution.”

Eugene history
The city of Eugene has looked into developing a housing code in the past, forming the Department Advisory Committee for the Housing Code Project in 1996. The nine-person group attempted to develop new housing standards that had been abolished during budget cuts in the early 1980s. The committee determined that Eugene would benefit from a housing code, but funding prevented the recommendation from becoming a realization. In the end, Eugene was left without a housing code.
This year’s Executive has made significant gains in improving relations with the City Council, which will allow next year’s Executive the opportunity to enter with a recent history of good relations, ASUO Community Outreach Director Christa Shively said.
On campus, the current Executive is looking into developing a Web site containing information on renters’ rights and housing issues.
“I know that I didn’t receive any training on how to be a renter,” Shively said. The ASUO “saw the Web site as a good way to pursue alternative outreach.”

Legal assistance
For now, with the lack of a renters’ code of rights, there are many available resources for students on campus seeking advice on dealing with housing problems.
ASUO Legal Services in the EMU offers students advice and some limited representation. Appointments are free for students.
“Easily, the most important thing for tenants is to put everything in writing,” said L. Nicole Miani, an attorney with ASUO Legal Services. “All rights in the Landlord-Tenant Act are dependent upon the landlord having received written notice.”
Miani said the problems that ASUO Legal Services sees most frequently involve breaking leases, obtaining repairs and getting security deposits back.
There are many things a potential tenant can do to improve his or her odds of an enjoyable rental experience, she said. Public records provide information that can be helpful in deciding on a place to live.
“Look at the [civil court] filings and see if they’ve been habitually sued,” Miani said. “If they’re suing a lot or evicting a lot of tenants, that would be a red flag.”
Another option potential renters have is to talk with other people living where they plan to live, or to ask landlords for references, Miani said.