Improving Living Condition for Off-Campus Housing Students

Patrick Kopps

Rutgers University

109 Guilden St.

New Brunswick, NJ 08901

October 16, 2012

Dr. Tim Grimm

College Avenue Dean of Students

Bishop House

115 College Avenue

New Brunswick, NJ 08901

RE: Improve the Living Conditions for New Brunswick Off-Campus Housing Students

Dear Dr. Grimm

Synopsis

The living conditions at the majority of Rutgers off campus housing locations here in New Brunswick are poor and unacceptable. Problems with gas, electric, and water, broken walls, windows, and doors, mold, mildew, security, fire codes and more are all common problems. These issues are all responsibilities of the landlords and are regularly unattended as old tenants move out and new ones move in. With the imbalance between high demand and the limited supply of properties here in the city, combined with the high turnover rate of tenants, the landlords get away with poorly maintaining their properties, and ultimately mistreating the tenants of those respective properties. To add insult to injury, this high demand has also increased prices in the private housing sector, making these people wealthier while they do their jobs less (Christie, Munro, & Rettig). Also, studies found there is no correlation found between price and quality for the majority privately rented housing (Goodwin). Additional problems include the unjust withholding of security deposits, the inability to fix serious, health hazardous damages in a timely manner, and rodent infestation including squirrels, possums, and raccoons. According to a study conducted at the University of Utah, with students preoccupied with their academics, internships, job hunting, social events, and more, they often neglect to address housing problems (Wang, Arboleda, Shelley, & Whalen). I currently live at an off campus address on Guilden Street and deal with these issues and my landlord on a regular basis and will continue to until my lease ends at the end of the school year.

Problem

Adequate...