Things You Should Know As A Neighbor
After you move in, even as a renter you assume some
basic rights and responsibilities within your neighborhood.
These are as important as the rental agreement, though
probably not specifically defined.
Be A Good Neighbor
Introduce yourself to your new neighbors.
Be conscious of your noise level, especially during the week.
If you are planning a party, tell your neighbors ahead of time.
When you have several guests at the same time, let them know where to park.
Offer to assist your neighbors with special projects.
Make sure your landlord maintains the appearance of
your house or apartment so that it meets neighborhood standards.
Help keep your property, yard and neighborhood clean and tidy.
Educate yourself on the city’s noise and alcohol
ordinances. Copies are available in the OCL office.
Things You Should Know as a Roommate
It can sometimes be helpful to enter into a signed
roommate agreement with your roommates, especially
if they are people you don’t know. Some things to
include may be cleaning responsibilities and schedules,
pets, noise and party guidelines, study times, and
overnight guests. The OCL office has sample agreements
for you to fill out or use as a basis for your own.
Communication is the key.
The Roommate Bill of Rights
- To read and study undisturbed in own room
- To sleep without interference from roommates or guests
- Respect of personal property
- Clean living environment
- Personal privacy
- Allowing guests (as long as they respect the rights of other tenants)
- Free from fear of physical or emotional harm
- Share the phone
- Honor payment procedures
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City Ordinances
Noise
When living in a community neighborhood, it is
good to be aware of how noise can travel and disturb
the peace of others in the area. According to the
Harrisonburg Police Department, a noise violation
occurs when noise can be heard easily outside an
apartment or house either by neighbors or passers-by.
Contrary to popular belief, the police do not go
looking for noise violations, but rather respond to
complaints made by residents in the community.
There are two very important things to know about
the noise ordinance in Harrisonburg:
- A resident/tenant does not have to be given a
warning before being issued a violation.
- The ordinance is in effect 24 hours a day, seven
days a week. For more information, pick up a
police brochure in the OCL office.
- Common violations to be careful of are loud
music or television, yelling in an apartment or
house, barking dogs, and loud late-night parties.
These are especially true if they happen during
the week.
Alcohol Violations: City of Harrisonburg
Unfortunately, many complaints to the police
department involve public disturbances, and most of
these involve alcohol. Illegal or excessive consumption
of alcohol can put yourself and others at risk.What
follows is a brief description of some of the more
frequent violations. For more information, pick up a
police department brochure in the OCL office.
- It is illegal to be in possession of an alcoholic
beverage if you are under the age of 21. This
includes not only holding or consuming the
beverage, but is also retroactive if you are picked
up on a drunk-in-public charge.
- It is illegal to possess an open container, can,
bottle or cup containing an alcoholic beverage
in any city park or playground or on any public
street in the city. This law does apply to public
sidewalks and parking lots, as well.
JMU Judicial Sanctioning
Students who live off campus are subject to JMU
judicial sanctioning for offenses that occur on and off
campus. Students found responsible for three substance
abuse violations will be suspended from the
university. For details, refer to your student handbook
or
www.jmu.edu/judicial/handbook.html.
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