Tenant’s Right to Privacy

In the Commonwealth of Virginia, all information regarding the tenant’s right to privacy is contained in the lease agreed to by the landlord and the tenant. In most cases, leases will specify that the landlord shall have reasonable access to the rental unit upon adequate notice.

• Generally, notice should be given at least 48 hours prior to entry by the landlord, and entry should be made during normal working hours as specified in the lease.
• If there is an emergency the landlord may enter.
• If the tenant has requested work to be done then reasonable effort will be made by the landlord to inform tenants when workmen will be entering.

Discrimination

Federal law prohibits discrimination by a lessor in the rental of housing. Under the law, landlords may not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, disability or age. If you feel you have been discriminated against, it is to your advantage to act quickly. OCL has brochures on the Virginia Fair Housing Law that include steps you can take to ensure an investigation of the matter. Also, the OCL website has a link to the Virginia Fair Housing Law website.

Pets

Many students think living off campus is the opportune time to get a pet. Although animals are great, the decision to get a pet should not be taken lightly.

• Pets can greatly affect where you can live and the amount of security deposit returned to you.
• Keeping a "secret pet" can void your lease and cause you to be evicted. Upon eviction you can be required to pay out the term of your lease.
• There is a leash law in effect in Harrisonburg that states if your animal is out in public, it must be on a leash. You will be fined for violating this law.

Subleasing

Do not budget as if you will be able to get some one to sublet your place and ease your financial burden. You may or may not be successful in finding someone to sublet, remember there are a lot of empty apartments and not a lot of people looking.

Subleasing is generally accepted but requires the written consent of the landlord.

• The sublessee agrees to the terms of the original lease. If they fail to pay their rent, it is ultimately the responsibility of those who signed the original lease.
• Get a security deposit from a sublessee, just to protect yourself.

Sublease contracts and more information are available in the OCL office and sublease opportunities are listed under Housing Informatoin on the left side of this page.

Renter’s Insurance

Check first to see if your parent’s homeowners insurance policy will cover your personal property. If not, you should seriously consider obtaining a policy of your own. It is strongly recommended that you protect yourself and your belongings with some sort of insurance policy.

OCL provides brochures from various insurance agencies that offer renter insurance to students.

Parking

As a member of the community, you need to check if there are parking restrictions in your neighborhood.Many complexes require that you register your vehicle with them and display a permit in order to be able to park in their lots. They may also require guests to register their car and/or park in specific areas. If you live in the downtown area, many streets require you to display a municipal parking permit. To obtain a municipal permit, you need to go to the municipal building downtown and take a copy of your lease and your vehicle registration. If you are not sure about the parking regulations in your area, check with your landlord or neighbors.

Security

Living off campus can present new concerns about home and personal security. The following are a few rules to follow when securing your home:

• Lock all doors and install deadbolt locks if possible. If you find the locks are broken, contact your landlord.
• Install a patio door guard. If you have a sliding glass door, in addition to locking it, make sure you place a wooden stick or block in the lower track to avoid forced entry. If you do not have an old broomstick, you can go to any hardware store and ask for a patio door guard.
• Secure windows. Contact your landlord if your windows do not lock properly.
• Stop your mail if you’re on break or vacation. If mail and newspapers pile up, potential burglars will know you’re gone.
• Keep lights on. Keep some lights on in the house when you go out so it will appear that someone is there. Attaching a lamp to a timer is also a good idea.
• Keep your answering machine message general and do not be specific in mentioning your whereabouts.
• Leave a radio or television on to give the appearance of someone being in the residence.
• Keep all valuables (stereos, televisions, bicycles, etc.) out of sight while you are away.
• Fill out a property inventory form. In case something is stolen you will have a record of serial numbers, cost etc. Copies of this form are available in the OCL office.