Landlord
Differences in opinion between landlords
and tenants are as old as off-campus
living.
Students looking for a place of their own
in a sellers' market like State College,
however. face a world of fine print,• un
mentioned clauses and unstated rights in
leases.
Recognizing these problems, legislators
are attempting to set guidelines for ten
ants and property owners. Senate Bill 1079,
sponsored by Michael A. O'Pake, D-Burke,
outlines rights and obligations of both par
ties.
This bill attempts to solve controversial
issues such as:
—protection from leases or rental
agreements requiring tenants to waive
their legal rights.
—landlord-tenant agreement to the con
dition of the dwelling unit.
—security deposits limited to 5110 or one
month's rent, whichever is greater.
—equal responsibility of the landlord
and tenant to maintain a clean, safe unit.
Local office seekers agree that even if
this bill is not passed. something at least
must be done to relieve landlord-tenant
problems.
Do you favor state or borough
ordinances clarifying landlord-tenant
relations?
Does State College
consumer protection
So you've been ripped off by a trayeling
salesman or a town merchant? What can
you do about it?
State College has no formal consumer
protection agency at present. But if you
have a complaint there are a couple of
available options.
The Organization of Town Independent
Students handles written and phoned in
complaints, serving as a liaison between
consumers and local merchants. But since
OTIS can only refer consumers to &Went
Legal Adviser Yates Mast or the
Pennsylvania Bureau of Consumer
Protection in Harrisburg, it can not really
resolve the complaints.
The local Chamber of Commerce also
keeps a complaint file and tries to resolve
problems.
But there is no single agency -Which
handles strictly consumer, oriented
complaints. Many people have called for
the creation of one, while others have said
the current systerri of handling of
complaints is "satisfactory.
Under the borough's proposed home
rule charter, creation of a consumer
protection agency by the borough council
would be possible.
Does State College need a consumer
protection agency?
MAYORAL CANDIDATES
Jo Hays (Democrat)
tenant relations:
MOYORAL CANDIDATES
Hays (Democrat)
I favor standardized rental-lease
regulations in State College, similar to
communities of the same size; paralleling
House Bill 438.
Perez (Republican)
In the Borough a landlord is required to
provide services and maintain his building
according to the housing and building
codes. He is open to citation for any
infractions of these two codes. The
landlord's relation with the tenant is
personal and is by contract in the form of a
lease.
I would need more information before I
could support legislation concerning
landlord-tenant relations.
BOROUGH COUNCIL
Ingrid Holtzman (Democrat)
This is being considered in Harrisburg.
If the state takes action, it will come down
to the municipalities. If nie do think the
Lawrence Perez (Republican)
I do not believe State College needs a
consumer protection agency per se. To
maintain an office to oversee a few
isolated cases would neither be practical
nor economical.
In as much as retail shopping is confined
to small areas any retailer who seeks to
take advantage of his customers is subject
to publicity which could be detrimental to
his business. Cases of malpractice are
unusual and should be handled personally.
Therefore, I would recommend the use of
"Action Lion," a service offered by a local
newspaper to help solve merchant
customer problems.
BOROUGH COUNCIL
Ingrid Holtzman (Democrat)
If the Home Rule Charter' passes,
Council will be studying borough
administration order to determine
current needs. Student groups such as
OTIS, which have done an admirable job
in the consumer area, should then present
concrete evidence supporting a consumer
agency.
John Glatz (Republican)
I think it might be very desirable to have
such an agency. However, I understand
for the borough to step in
time
borough should begin to think about it
John Galtz (Republican)
I believe the problem of landlord-tenant
relationships is significant in State College
and steps should be taken locally if
permitted by state law to clarify these
relationships to protect both the owner
and the rentor.
•
JMnes McClure (Democrat)
'Henry Yeagley (Republican)
1
- I favor the enactment of "landlord
tenant" legislation on the state level. I
understand a committee of state senators
presently is examining a bill to reform
P4uisylvania's landlord-tenant laws and
is holding hearings at various locations in
the state (including University Park). It is
my opinion that strong legislation of this
type could protect both the tenant and the
landlord and is desirable.
Dean Phillips (Democrat)
Senate Bill 1079, a new landlord tenant
act, will go a long way towards clarifying
policies and ordinances adopted by
Council must be environmentally sound.
the Chamber of Commerce looked into this
question and has created a special
committee to investigate problems. I do
not believe State College is large enough to
support a separate Consumer Protection
Agency.
1 _
James McClure (Democrat)
I'm open on this question; would like to
know more about the need; a conditional
yes.
Henry Yeagley (Republican)
A municipality can do only those things
which its governing code permits, and I
question whether this type of legislation
could presently be enacted on a local level.
However, the State College Home Rule
Charter; if adopted, could possibly change
the borough's ability to do this.locally. I
understand there is a consumer protection
bill in the state Senate at the moment, and
I believe this type of legislation could be
most effective if enacted on the state level.
Relative to whether State College needs a
consumer protection agency, I would only
say that the consumer, in today's
marketplace, needs guidance wherever he
happens to be not just in State College.
The complexities of. today's higher
competitive ' economic situation, rising
labor and material costs, and . the influx
into the market of many "low cost" items
of undetermined quality all contribute to
the difficulty of the situation.
and making legitimate the relationship
between landlords and tenants. Such
blatant abuses like confession I of
judgment, where tenants can be tried and
convicted without being told, 'are
eliminated in the new law. Legal channels
for rent withholding and tle right of
tenants to make needed repairs and
deduct the cost from the rent (if the
landlord will not make repairs in
reasonable time) are included. Security
deposits will have to be placed in escrow
protecting the tenant from losing a deposit
if the landlord declares bankruptcy.
If the bill is not passed, borough council
could pass the bill or any part of it as
borough ordniance. I will work both for' the
passage of the Senate Bill and for council
passage if it fails in the state. This would
be legal under a home rule charter that
may go into effect in 1976. It may alsO be
legal under the old borough code.
The intention of 1079 is not to hurt'
honest businessman but to prov l
guidelines and ctemedies - for b
landlords and tenants.
Harold Zipser (Republican)
Landlord-Tenant relations: I favor
and equitable treatment to all segmen
our society. Clarification of o
responsibilities can never be faulted.
need a
agency?
Dean Phillips (Democrat)
State College needs a consumer
protection agency. We have serious
consumer problems especially related to
the landlord-tenant question. Other
serious problems include contract and
warranty violations, failure to accept
defective merchandise for return and
unreasonably high prices in areas where
students are captive shoppers. •
Another serious consumer problem are
the private law enforcement businesses
that enforce parking violations. It is
possible to establish licensing standards
through a consumer protection agency
and the agency would also be able to help
settle complaints in this area either
through negotiation or prosecution.
A consumer protection agency would
moderate between conflicting parties in a
consumer dispute. If necessary they can
go to court on behalf of the consumer. A
small investigative staff, including
student interns and a part-time lawyer
would be hired. Besides settling
complaints, the agency will provide
consumer information and price lists' of
the entire region.
Harold Zipser (Republican)
Consumer
protection agency: I am in favor of any
mechanism that will assure the people fair
treatment. As an, example, for many
years, I have been a member of the Centre
County Advisory Council to the
Pennsylvania Human Relations
Commission.