A panel of four legal experts answered questions and advised students during a presentation covering leases and landlord responsibilities Tuesday in Covel Commons.
The tenants’ rights workshop was hosted by the Undergraduate Students Association Council Facilities Commission.
Third-year history student Joseph Miskabi, who was the lead presenter and event organizer, said he believes the workshop is important because students living off campus need to learn to live independently.
The panel included director of Student Legal Services Liz Kemper, who said students need to read and understand their leases thoroughly.
“Make sure to get everything in writing,” Kemper said, adding students should keep a copy of their lease and settle any roommate disagreements before entering into a housing contract.
Issues concerning security deposits, termination of a lease, repairs for habitability and tenants’ legal obligations were also highlighted during the workshop.
With issues of security deposits, which is broadly defined as any money the landlord is holding, the panel reminded students that the maximum amount of money landlords can require for a deposit is up to two months’ rent for unfurnished apartments and up to three months’ rent for those that are furnished.
The panel also stressed that no portion of the deposit can be nonrefundable.
Miskabi defined terms such as “landlord” and “tenant,” beginning the presentation with a list of the minimum requirements needed for a lease.
“Think L.A.N.D.,” said Miskabi, who explained the acronym as standing for land, amount, names and description.
Nancy Greenstein, a panel member and director of police community services for UCPD, shared information about theft in off-campus apartments, where students’ iPods and cell phones can easily be stolen by unidentified people at parties in apartments.
Greenstein advises that students who have gatherings make sure they are in common places and are aware of those who enter their apartment.
Sally Molloy from the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles and city prosecutor Susan Strick were also panel presenters at the workshop, discussing their own experiences working directly with the L.A. legal system.
“This is a great forum to get more information,” said Megan Matal, a fourth-year aerospace engineering student who has lived in the Westwood apartments for two years.
“Things happen and you need to know what your legal rights are,” Matal said.
Concluding the workshop, Miskabi reminded students that a law against apron parking will be enforced this coming June and told students to “leave your cars at home” and to get familiar with the busing system.
An apartment-searching strategy workshop is scheduled to be held in De Neve Plaza on Feb. 27. The workshop is hosted by the UCLA Community Housing Office.