PIEDMONT INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY 2016 Stevens Hall Apartments Guidelines

Transcription

1 2016 PIEDMONT INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY 2016 Stevens Hall Apartments Guidelines A guide to community living and financial policies for the residents of Stevens Hall Student Apartments.

2 1.0 Management of Apartments 1.1 Stevens Hall is managed by an Apartment Manager located in the Business Office of PIU and under the direction of the PIU Resident Housing Committee. The Apartment Manager is responsible for the basic management and enforcement of the guidelines of this agreement. 1.2 When the Apartment Manager is not available, Director of Student Services will serve as the temporary contact person. 2.0 Application Process for Apartments 2.1 Applications can be obtained in the PIU Business Office from the Apartment Manager. 2.2 Applicants must complete an application and summit to the Apartment Manager. 2.3 A $25 non-refundable application fee is needed with each submitted application. 2.4 With an approved application the renter/tenant will be placed on the waiting list based on the size apartment requested and the date of application. 3.0 Availability of Apartments Stevens Hall Apartments are only available on a first come basis to approved PIU married students, PIU single graduate students, and PIU faculty/staff members. 3.1 Waiting List Procedures The waiting list is prioritized by requested apartment size When the requested size becomes available the Apartment Manager will contact the first applicant on that size list Once notified the applicant has 15 days to accept the apartment The applicant will be passed over and the next applicant offered the apartment if the following happens: a. Applicant does not accept the apartment verbally within the 15 day acceptance period b. Applicant is unable to pay the appropriate deposit within 30 days of move in date c. Applicant is unable to pay the first month s rent within 30 days of move in date d. Applicant is not properly enrolled in courses to be eligible 3.2 Requesting Larger Apartment Requests to move to another apartment will be handled just like the initial reservation Current residents must request in writing to the Apartment Manager to have their name added to the waiting list If the request is to move to a larger apartment the deposit on hand must be increased accordingly All Student Accounts and rent must be current in order for any request to be considered. Stevens Hall Apartments Guidelines 1

3 3.3 Married Students One of the spouses must be a PIU student enrolled for at least 6 hours during both the fall and spring terms. Summer enrollment is not required Couples planning marriage may reserve an apartment prior to their marriage. One of the two may move in as early as 14 days before the wedding Due to size and available bedrooms, apartments will not be rented to families who have more than one child or who are expecting a second child at the time of the initial rental contract Those who begin renting while having only one child are advised that they will be required to move out at the end of their current lease in which the second child is born Apartments will not be rented to families who have a child seven years of age or older Those who begin renting while having a child who is under the age of seven are advised that they will be required to move out at the end of their current lease in which the child turns seven. 3.4 Graduate Students PIU single graduate students must be enrolled for at least 5 hours during both the fall and spring terms. Summer enrollment is not required There is a limit of two students per room allowed. 3.5 Faculty/Staff Members A faculty/staff member must be a full-time employee A faculty/staff member is also limited by the same guidelines as a married student concerning families Single faculty/staff member cannot have additional tenants living with them. 4.0 Basic Guidelines for Stevens Hall 4.1 Lease Contract Year All leases are for the length of no longer than 12 months Apartments will be rented for a minimum of (1) full semester (i.e., 4 1/2 months). After the first semester, the agreement may be canceled by either party by giving a thirty (30) days written notice to the Apartment Manager month leases begin on July 1 and end on June All leases will end on June 30 no matter when it was entered into. 4.2 Lease Agreements and Limitations Apartments may not be sublet to any other persons, including family Tenants are required to give a thirty (30) day written notice to the Apartment Manager when moving out of Stevens Hall Upon graduating from PIU, tenants are to vacate Stevens Hall at the end of the current lease contract. Stevens Hall Apartments Guidelines 2

4 5.0 Moving In 2016 [PIEDMONT INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY] If a tenant either voluntarily removes themselves or is administratively removed from the academic program, the tenants are to vacate Stevens Hall within thirty (30) days of the time that the tenant is no longer in the academic program of the University All occupants tenants, family, and guests of Stevens Hall are expected to comply with the spirit of the PIU Student Handbook Residents of Stevens Hall may not offer baby-sitting services for hire. 5.1 The University wishes to rent the apartments in a clean, acceptable condition. Both the Apartment Manager and the applicant tenant should thoroughly check the condition of the apartment together in advance of finalizing the acceptance. 5.2 Tenants are required to sign a Maintenance Checklist upon receiving apartment keys. 5.3 The tenant must refrain from damaging the apartment in any manner. No tacks, nails, or screws may be driven in the walls without the specific approval of the Apartment Manager. 5.4 Any desired cosmetic improvements, including paint and carpet, to the apartment must first be submitted in writing to the Apartment Manager for Director of Facilities approval. 5.5 Tenants cannot change the front door knob without Apartment Manager and Director of Facilities approvals. 6.0 Moving Out 6.1 The apartment is expected to be in move-in condition. 6.2 Tenants will be expected to remove all personal items from the apartment. The cost of removal of items will be assessed to deposit. 6.3 The tenant is required to make an appointment with the Apartment Manager to do a final inspection. 6.4 It is recommended that the tenant be present when this inspection is performed since it will determine the amount of deposit returned. 7.0 Community Life 7.1 Residents are expected to demonstrate consideration for others at all times. Noise in the hallways must be kept to a minimum. 7.2 If the apartment needs to be aired out from cooking or other odors, the tenant should open the windows inside the apartment while keeping hallway door closed. 7.3 Items left in the hallways longer than two days will be subject to a $5.00 per day fine to be assessed by the Apartment Manager and added to the rent bill. 7.4 All garbage must be enclosed in plastic bags and disposed of in the dumpster nearest the Kitchen. 7.5 Garbage may not be left in the halls under any circumstances. 7.6 Entrance doors to Stevens are NOT to be propped open, except for very short periods of time while the entrance is being watched by the person who wants the door held open. The University recognizes the temporary need to keep the doors open when furniture is being moved in or out. However, security concerns demand that great caution be exercised and that such open-door exposure be absolutely minimized. Objects to hold the doors open should never be placed near the hinge edge of the doors for this will cause the door to twist and fail Stevens Hall Apartments Guidelines 3

5 8.0 Dress Code 9.0 Children 2016 [PIEDMONT INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY] to operate properly. Always place any object to hold doors open near the outer edge of the doors, the greatest distance from the hinges. 8.1 Tenants, including all family members living in Stevens Hall, are required to abide by the dress code for students found in the PIU Student Handbook. 8.2 Tenants are expected to dress in modest public apparel while in areas outside the apartment but still in Stevens Hall. 9.1 Residents are responsible for their own children. 9.2 Children are not allowed to run or play in the halls, entrances, stairs, or under the stairs. 9.3 No toys, including tricycles, bicycles, roller skates, wagons, etc., may be left outside the apartment Guest Guidelines 10.1 Tenants must notify the Apartment Manager, in advance, of any overnight guests No one, including family members, will be permitted to stay in the apartment for more than 5 nights 10.3 Tenants must abide by the visitation guidelines in the PIU Student Handbook pertaining to having PIU students as visitors This is considered a very sensitive area and will be strictly enforced Non-Resident Floors 11.1 Non-resident floors should be avoided except for university business and laundry service Residents are not to use the entrances of the non-resident floors as access to their apartment Dress code on non-resident floors is classroom dress during business hours Utilities, Appliances, Electronics and Grills 12.1 No installed appliances may be moved from one apartment to another No outdoor antennas (radio or television), air conditioners, clothes washers, or dryers may be installed Grills are to be stored in the tenant s own apartment after they have cooled down. State law requires that grills must be at least ten (10) feet away from a building while in use Grills should not be used on the Green Street main entrance Maintenance and Apartment Access 13.1 Maintenance requests should be submitted to the Apartment Manager by The University respects the privacy of all tenants If at all possible, notice will be given if the Maintenance Department needs to do work in an apartment. Stevens Hall Apartments Guidelines 4

6 13.4 The University reserves the right to enter an apartment if unable to contact the tenant and in the event of an emergency Parking Guidelines 14.1 Stevens Hall residents must follow the Parking regulations in the PIU Student Handbook Parking on Green Street in front of Stevens is reserved for faculty parking Laundry Service 16.0 Storage 15.1 The university provides a self-service coin-operated laundry room on the first floor The laundry room is on a non-resident floor 15.3 When using the laundry during business hours tenants should be in classroom dress Tenants are expected to clean up after themselves including wiping up spilled detergent on machines and floors. All trash should be placed in receptacles Clothes should not be left in the laundry room The laundry area cannot be used as an air drying room to line dry clothes Weapons 18.0 Pets 16.1 PIU provides no storage areas outside of what is available within the apartment No weapons or firearms of any kind are permitted in Stevens Hall No pets or animals, except fish in tanks of 5 gallons or less, are allowed in Stevens Hall Insurance 19.1 The tenant is strongly advised to purchase renter s insurance from their local insurance agent The tenant is responsible for insurance on his or her personal property. The University will not be accountable for any loss of property of the tenant due to fire, theft, burglary, or any other removal of the tenant's property from Stevens Hall The University will not be held liable for any accidental damage to persons or property in or about the apartment or the apartment complex resulting from electric wiring, water, rain, snow, broken pipes, disrupted plumbing, gas leaks, boiler eruptions, or electrical connections The tenant hereby agrees not to make any claim for any such loss or damage The University will make every effort to make any needed repairs as soon as practicable Financial Policies 20.1 A deposit equal to the monthly rent and the first month s rent is due at the time of signing the lease contract. Stevens Hall Apartments Guidelines 5

7 20.2 If a current tenant requests and receives permission to move to a larger apartment, the tenant will also need to increase the escrowed deposit to match the larger deposit of the larger apartment The monthly rent is $ for a small apartment, $ for a corner apartment, and $ for a large apartment Rent is to be paid monthly. It is due within the first ten (10) days of each month, and is to be paid at the University Business Office Monthly rent includes the apartment rent, water, sewage, electricity, and internet access. All other services (i.e. phone, cable TV, etc.) would be an additional cost to the tenant with approval from the Apartment Manager Rent paid after the tenth will be increased by twenty dollars ($20.00) as a late charge fee After two consecutive months of no rent paid by 10 th day of the second month, eviction steps will begin A NSF fee equal to the current PIU Business Office published rate will be assessed to a tenants account for all return checks Tenants are strongly encouraged to communicate with the Apartment Manager if the ability to pay the monthly rent in a timely fashion is not possible The first month s rent for a new tenant if mid-month will be pro-rated based upon the date for which the apartment has been reserved with the following stipulations: a. If the reservation date is before or on the 15th of the month, the tenant will be responsible for the full monthly rent of that apartment. b. If the reservation date is on or after the 16th of the month, the tenant will be responsible for half of the monthly rent of the apartment A tenant s final month s rent will be pro-rated based upon the date the tenant intends to move out as given in the written notice with the following stipulations: a. If the tenant has given written notice that the date he or she intends to move out is on or before the 15th of the month, the tenant will be responsible for half of the monthly rent of the apartment. b. If the tenant has given written notice that the date he or she intends to move out is on or after the 16th of the month, the tenant will be responsible for the full monthly rent of that apartment Security deposits will be refunded when the apartment is vacated. Security deposits will be refunded on an all or nothing basis. Meeting the following requirements will result in a full refund: a. Thirty days written notice must be given to the Apartment Manager. b. When the tenant is preparing to vacate the apartment, the Apartment Manager will provide a checklist of all areas that need to be cleaned. After the tenant has vacated and cleaned the apartment, the Apartment Manager and the tenant will view the apartment together to determine if additional cleaning and/or repairs are needed. The apartment must be in substantially the same condition as when rented and clear of all personal belongings. c. All keys must be returned to the Apartment Manager upon check out Rent continues at the full rate as long as the apartment is occupied. Occupancy is defined as the presence of one's person and/or his or her personal property. If tenants leave their apartments for any length of time, such as for MAP assignments or vacations, they are still accountable for full rent each month Stevens Hall rent will be considered part of the total School bill for the student resident. If both spouses are taking classes, i.e., each has a School bill, neither may graduate nor be considered current on his or her School bill until the Stevens Hall rent is paid up-to-date. Stevens Hall Apartments Guidelines 6

8 21.0 Tenant Waiver Policies 21.1 Any tenant wishing to ask for an exception to a guideline, must present the desired exception in writing to the Apartment Manager The Apartment Manager does not have the authority to grant exceptions The Apartment Manager will forward all exceptions to the Director of Student Services to be considered by the Housing Committee The committee will provide a written response within 30 calendars days of the Apartment Manager receiving the request. Stevens Hall Apartments Guidelines 7