Arkansas tenant rights lacking, non-profit offers advice
Samantha Sigmon
Issue date: 10/5/07 Section: News
Many UA students also rent living spaces off-campus. Tensions can arise between the tenant and the landlord, but legally, there is not much a tenant in Arkansas can do as these tensions escalate.
The Legal Aid of Arkansas, a non-profit law firm that provides legal services to low-income clients in civil litigation, said want tenants to know how to reconcile problems with landlords, said Alejandro Aviles, the community outreach coordinator.
"We often view a landlord/tenant dispute as an emergency because it is a large contributor to homelessness. We have a special priority to help students with landlord/tenant problems because we recognize the value peace of mind has when students are attempting to strive for excellence in school," Aviles said.
UA student Kelly To likes her landlords, who are a young married couple, because they are "very nice and extremely helpful, especially because I'm living by myself. If I am having any maintenance problems, they are pretty quick to respond," she said.
Sophomore Irene Pritchard's landlord is pretty easy going and doesn't check on her and her roommate much, she said.
"I think if a landlord if going to make a college student their tenant, they should understand that the tenant is going to engage in illegal activities and not punish the tenant by being a harsh authority figure. We are paying him to live here, he is not paying us to behave," Pritchard said.
At the Legal Aid of Arkansas, non-payment of rent and vacating before or after a lease expires are frequent problems with student-clients. Arkansas does not have any tenant rights, only legal protection, said Marshall Prettyman, director of litigation.
"Pay your rent," Prettyman said, "it is the easiest way to avoid problems with landlords.
"If a person lives out of a multi-person household, each person is responsible for the entire amount and the landlord can pick and choose who he wants to put the screws to."
It is important that a landlord be dependable and fix things promptly, just like the tenant has to pay rent by a certain date, Pritchard said.
The Legal Aid of Arkansas, a non-profit law firm that provides legal services to low-income clients in civil litigation, said want tenants to know how to reconcile problems with landlords, said Alejandro Aviles, the community outreach coordinator.
"We often view a landlord/tenant dispute as an emergency because it is a large contributor to homelessness. We have a special priority to help students with landlord/tenant problems because we recognize the value peace of mind has when students are attempting to strive for excellence in school," Aviles said.
UA student Kelly To likes her landlords, who are a young married couple, because they are "very nice and extremely helpful, especially because I'm living by myself. If I am having any maintenance problems, they are pretty quick to respond," she said.
Sophomore Irene Pritchard's landlord is pretty easy going and doesn't check on her and her roommate much, she said.
"I think if a landlord if going to make a college student their tenant, they should understand that the tenant is going to engage in illegal activities and not punish the tenant by being a harsh authority figure. We are paying him to live here, he is not paying us to behave," Pritchard said.
At the Legal Aid of Arkansas, non-payment of rent and vacating before or after a lease expires are frequent problems with student-clients. Arkansas does not have any tenant rights, only legal protection, said Marshall Prettyman, director of litigation.
"Pay your rent," Prettyman said, "it is the easiest way to avoid problems with landlords.
"If a person lives out of a multi-person household, each person is responsible for the entire amount and the landlord can pick and choose who he wants to put the screws to."
It is important that a landlord be dependable and fix things promptly, just like the tenant has to pay rent by a certain date, Pritchard said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 3 of 3
Robert Depper
posted 10/04/07 @ 11:27 PM CST
This article is interesting but poorly researched. Before my fiance and I bought a house we lived in a rent house owned by a local Fayetteville townie. (Continued…)
Sue Madison
posted 10/05/07 @ 8:01 AM CST
I agree with the previous poster--pay your rent and abide by your lease. If you have problems--talk to the landlord; most problems can be fixed just by having an open discussion. (Continued…)
Katherine
posted 4/14/09 @ 6:32 PM CST
I agree there needs to be more laws protecting tenants. My fiance and I live at The Fairways at Hurricane Creek in Bryant. The other day, we received a notice that we were in violation of the pet policy at our apt. (Continued…)
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