Wednesday, august 20, 1975
daily nebraskan
page 30
The Student Legal Services Center has prepared several
tips for students leasing an apartment or house. The
recommendations reflect the Lincoln landlord-tenant
situation and the recently passed Nebraska Residential
Landlord Tenant Act which affects all leases after July 1.
1975.
mutually agreed that the entire deposit will be refunded if
the apartment or house is left with no damage, ordinary
wear and tear excepted.
1. Find out the actual owner of the property and writ
down that person's mailing address and phone number. The
person who shows the property may be acting only as t
rental agent for someone else.
6. Do not sign any written lease unless you thoroughly
v ,a :t oh iinrferctanri its contents. Deletions andor
UdTC IMU .
additions may be made to any written lease before signing
' Tp t iL tU .k.nm Mac written leases are
II DOM paiuca Uliuii ure wuuijv. .....
heavily weighted in favor of the landlord.
2. Ask for the name and current address of the previou:
tenant. Contact that person regarding the landlord anc
problems that have occured. If the landlord will not givt
you the name, he may have something to hide.
Talk to neighbors
3. Talk to one or two of the neighbors (without the
landlord being present) about the property.
4. Thoroughly inspect the property for defects or
damage prior to entering into any agreements to lease.
Check all appliances to make certain they operate. Make a
list of the existing damages and have the owner or his agent
sign and date it.- Keep it in a safe place.
5. Try to negotiate as low a damage or rental deposit as
poisible (none is best, of course). Make certain it is
Verbal teases binding
7. If a written lease is to be signed to not rely on any
promises of the landlord that are not covered in writing,
especially those regarding getting out of the lease before its
expiration or repairs that are orally promised to be made.
8. Verbal leases are in most cases just as binding as
written ones; just harder t,o prove in court. In many cases
they are preferable to written leases heavily weighted in
favor of the landlord.
9. Leases that are on a month-to-month basis require a
full 30 days notice prior to a rent payment date for
termination or changes, unless the parties agree otherwise.
Generally, terminations or leases coincide with rental
payment dates. Attempts to terminate a lease in the middel
of a payment period may still require the previous rental
period's notice. However all leases with monthly payments
are not month-to-month leases. Many are for a set period of
to- one year, six months, etc., but may have speaal
notice requirements even though rent is paid monthly.
Copy correspondence
10. All important correspondence with landlords should
be done in writing, with a copy made and retained by til
tenant. 11. For written leases, ask for a copy of the lease in
advance to study.
12. Always get a receipt when paying deposits or rent.
Always pay by check if possible.
1 3. Keep all correspondence and receipts iri a safe place
with the copy of the lease.-
H Do not make any quick decisions. Many problems
arise when tenants are stampeded or pressured into signing
a lease without any deliberation.
Clauses often unenforceable
15 Many written leases contain clauses that are
unenforceable, but you will never know unless you as an
attorney. If you are a student and have questions contact
the Student Legal Services Center.
16. It is a good idea for any tenant or landlord to read
the new Nebraska Residential Landlord Tenant Act for a
better explanation of their rights and responsibilities to
each other. More information on law is available at the
Student Legal Services Center.
fivo idnuto bike rido
from campus
titli & Sornhuslcor
F01GI
25 of? any accessory
(good through August) '
I'Jg want you to know no
ecause:
MR. BIKE does not sell heavy adult bikes with welded frames and
one-piece cranks.
MR. BIKE does not sell bikes developed during the boom years and
may disappear now that the boom is over.
MR. BIKE iafii. offer quality lightweight bicycles developed by some
of the world's oldest and largest bicycle manufacturers.
MR. BIKE does offer free brake and derailleur adjustments for one-year
following purchase. v ' -
MR. BI KE will repair any bicycle and will guarantee all repairs.
MR. BIKE offers plenty of free parking with air-conditioned shopping
, (ice tea on warm day).
MR. BIKE offers a fine selection of RALEIGH FUJIS - PEUGEOTS
vistas.-, . . - ;
AND '
MR. BIKE offers low, low prices, and if you need It, Mr. Bike offers,
easy payment credit.
Tflbiimk off it
for cworwtlilim
BankAmericard is welcomed on campus for
Tuition and fees.
Residence Hall room and board.
Books.
Plus... i til buy everything money will buy
at retail outlets all over town.
If you don't have a BankAmericard, apply
for one soon. At your BankAmericard
bank or at the BankAmericard Service
Center, 8th Floor, First National Build
ing, 13th and M Street.
BankAmericard Service Center
8th Floor -First National Bank -Lincoln
National BankAmarlcard Incorporated, 1B7S Service Mark Owned and lleanatd &y BankAmaricard Corp.
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