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Show Tenanfs profesf ftgi rent on run-dovn apartments i I ir i r y Ht -It v v r r Ik . , - . .y ,. , i f '' ' - v f . , , , - - -.!lT:i.t,,l.5.i.K .i BY JEFF SMITH Chronicle Staff Finding decent places to live, for reasonable prices has plagued Utah students for years. In the Central City area the situation went from tolerable to unbearable in two apartment buildings at 3rd E. 6th South. The trouble began when the landlord of one building, Don Glenn had his mortgage foreclosed on by Western Savings and Loan (WSL), which then raised the rest. Two University students, Scott and Kathy were paying $65 a month for their apartment, but were informed that they owed $40 in back rent and a $25 cleaning charge. The two lady representatives from State Realty which is acting for WSL also stated "they wanted to be selective selec-tive about who they rented to" according to Scott. "Slum House" Authority and see that it creates new housing, instead of just giving the landlords money. Charge For Expenses Immediate action that could be taken is that the tenants add up their maintainance expenses and deduct them from their rent, slated one speaker. She also commented com-mented that the avenues and the west side had just as many rent problems as Central City. A handbill told of the five rights that a tenant has that are frequently violated by landlords. They are: (1) The landlords must give you a written notice to leave before attempting to evict you from your apartment; (2) the landlord cannot lock you out of your apartment for any reason; (3) landlords cannot turn off the tenant's water, lights or gas; (4) the only person who can evict a tenant is a law officer with a Writ of Restitution and (5) the land- InrH pannnf taWp possession of a Back view of the Kelso apartments. The rent here is $105 per month. There is one water heater and five garbage cans for the entire building. Photo by Chuq renter's properties without a court order and the tenant has had the right to appear in court to defend himself. Fee to join the tenant union is $1. A mass meeting will be held Nov. 30 at 7:30 p.m. in the Board of Health Auditorium 610 So. 2nd East. At an SDS forum Tuesday student stu-dent Scott WarnTck outlined the mechanics and goals of a tenant's union. He told of a time one night when he was awakened by two women who said they were from "State Realty." "They told us that as of yesterday we owed them $25 cleaning fee for an apartment which hasn't been cleaned by anyone but us for the last 30 years, and at that time had no back door." When they refused to do so until the repairs were made, the two women said that they liked to select their tenants very carefully, and the occupants would be required to pay a $25 "Everyone pays a dollar, and that dollar gets us a number of good things. One, it gets us representation repre-sentation by a good lawyer. If your rent is raised from $85 to $105, you can give it to him and he'll handle the case. And even if he doesn't get anywhere you can still keep the case in court for six months at the old rate." Speaking on the same subject, Connie Arellano said that many renters don't have the slightest application fee, in Scott s words, "to live in their slum house." The Kelso apartments across the street from the 569 South building are owned by Robert E. Erickson, owner of the Erickson Pharmacies. The rent there was raised to $105. One Water Heater The Kelso has broken windows, one water heater for the building and five garbage cans for the entire tenant population, which has 60 children alone. Because of the abuses by landlords land-lords to their renters, people in the area have begun to revive a tenant union. At a meeting on Nov. 19, Central City residents pointed out that there are 10,500 people in the area with families averaging three to nine children. The meeting brought out that by joining together the union can keep track of the Housing. idea what their rights as tenants are. One of the goals of the union will be to educate Central City renters as to their rights. An SDS member said that last summer's protesting and picketing of slumlords did little good because be-cause very few community people were involved in the action. The Community Action Program, which is handling the organization of the union, is trying to recruit volunteers, including University students who rent in Central City. |