New USU Web site gives voice to student tenants
Students can now rate their landlords and apartment complexes online to help inform other students about housing experiences.
The site “Rate Your Landlord,” found as a link on the A-Station Web site, has been an idea for a long time, said Tagg Archibald Associated Students of USU executive vice president. The site allows students to voice their views and opinions on Logan housing, while allowing other students to check out the information.
Archibald said he hopes this will prevent students from entering into housing contracts blindly – resulting in financial or legal trouble.
Archibald gave the example of a friend who once lost money because he thought his landlord was unfair. His friend was unaware of the potential problems when he moved in, but later found out that many former tenants had suffered the same problem, Archibald said.
“Hopefully that kind of information will help students when checking out apartments for next year,” Archibald said.
Whether purposeful or not, Archibald said some landlords do take advantage of students. Students can now rate their landlord’s fairness, friendliness and response to student needs and repairs. Landlords who see or hear about their ratings are likely to want to improve, Archibald said.
“We hope it will improve the standard of living in Logan,” he said.
Students can also rate their apartment complexes on location, quality, diversity and maturity of students, parking availability and enforcement and price.
Students can also post additional comments. Results will be posted soon and continually, Archibald said, and eventually the site will have more apartment information such as room layouts and pictures.
“As a student government, we want to make sure students are happy living where they are living and as long as the A-Station is up this free service will be going,” Archibald said.
The success of the site, which has been available for more than a week, depends solely on the participation of students, Archibald said.
ASUSU members are trying to increase the awareness about the service and may include the information in next year’s freshman packets, he said.
“A lot of students are not educated as to what is good in the valley and what is not good in the valley,” Archibald said. “Now they can double check some of the facts and make an educated decision.”
Jeff Lake, webmaster for the A-Stations, said 20 students have posted to the site, but students will not be able to view the postings until there is more than that submitted.
-hilaryi@cc.usu.edu