1. To provide student tenants with rental education and information before signing a lease.
2. To help current student tenants resolve housing issues.
3. To provide housing mediation services at no cost to student tenants & property owners.
4. To facilitate understanding of student housing issues and develop practices that benefit the student tenants, property owners and community.

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1. Plastic over windows – An easy and inexpensive way to keep heat in your room rather than allowing it to escape through the windows, after all you are paying for it so you might as well try to keep it inside! These kits can be purchased at a local hardware store, or you can take the do-it-yourself approach…all you need is plastic, strong tape, and a hair dryer.

2. Mini space heater – Warm up your room before bedtime with an energy efficient mini space heater. Let it run for about 30 minutes to warm your room.

3. Draft snake – Add a creative touch to your apartment plus a little bonding time with your roomies by making your own draft snakes. Check out Pinterest for some ideas on how to insulate your apartment from drafts. Sand, rice, or dry beans can be used as the stuffing, just be careful not to get the draft snake wet.

4. Switch the ceiling fans to turn the opposite way – Push the warm air towards you.

5. After using the oven, leave the door open – A great way to let the heat out of the oven and warm your apartment on a cold day. Keep an eye on curious pets.

6. Close storm windows – If your apartment has windows that open, be sure all outside storm windows are closed and the inside window is closed tightly shut and locked.

7. Close outside doors – Be sure all outside doors are closed, and if there’s a gap at the bottom that lets in a draft, ask your landlord to place weather stripping on the door.

Even though you will not be living in the apartment you will still be on the lease.  If your sublettor does not pay the rent or damages the apartment, you will be responsible to pay.

Before subletting:

• Be sure you have permission from your landlord and know their sublet policy
• Make sure the sublettor is screened carefully and is able to pay the rent and has not had past rental problems.
• Use a written sublet agreement.
• Consider collecting a security deposit from the
  sublettor upon move in.

Whether you plan on studying abroad for a semester, going home for the summer, or graduating before the end of your lease term, subletting your apartment is a great way to help defer some of your rental costs while you are away. There can be pitfalls with subletting. To help prevent any problems and make the process as easy as possible, keep the following things in mind:

·    Paperwork: Check with your Landlord to find out what paperwork they require to facilitate the subleasing process and obtain copies of any forms that will need to be completed.
·    Fees: Inquire with the landlord if there are any fees associated with the sublet process.
·    Rent: Discuss and document who will be responsible for what in terms of dates, keys, payment, cleaning, etc.  Be sure to communicate with your roommates as well (if applicable).
·    Utilities: Discuss who will be responsible for utilities and make any changes to utility accounts such as changing names ahead of time.
·    Security Deposit & Damages: Since a sublease is an un-interrupted continuation of your lease, your Landlord may choose to continue to hold your security deposit and return the deposit to the sublessee.  You may want to consider asking for a separate deposit from your sublessee to ensure any damages caused by them are covered.  You will remain responsible for any damage & rent if the sublessee defaults.  In addition, it is a good idea to take pictures of your apartment before the sublessee moves in and ask them to complete a move in inspection form.
·    Liability: Since you will still be on the lease, if the sublessee defaults in rent you will be liable to make up and continue rent payments to avoid any negative rental/credit history.
·    Communicate, Communicate, Communicate: The best advice when it comes to subleasing is to stay in communication with your Landlord, your sublessee, and your roommates if applicable.  This will help prevent misunderstandings or mis-communications and will save you a lot of time in the long run!

Be thorough when completing the form, mark any existing damages and concerns.

It is also a good idea to take photos of the apartment before you move in to document the condition of the property.

The check in form is a condition report of the unit upon move in and protects your security deposit.  The check in form does not serve as a maintenance request.  If there are items in your apartment that you would like repaired or corrected, you should contact your landlord or property manager in writing to request maintenance in your unit.

1. Number of bedrooms?  Number of bathrooms?
2. Check plumbing and electric: turn on faucets, flush toilets, turn on light switches and all ceiling fans & exhaust fans.
3. Check kitchen appliances to see if working; water heater for leaks
4. Check windows for storms & screens
5. Is there a storage area available?
6. Check laundry facilities for working condition and common areas for cleanliness
7. Check walls and flooring for condition
8. Ask who’s responsible for maintenance?
9. Are Pets allowed?  Is there an extra pet fee or pet security deposit?  How much?_____
10. What utilities are included in the rent?

GUIDELINES FOR MEDIATION SESSIONS

The following guidelines apply to all mediation sessions:

1.    The mediation program is a service offered by STEM.  Participants in the Mediation Program should endeavor to make the work of the program and the individual mediators as efficient and productive as possible by exercising good faith, common courtesy and a professional demeanor at all times.

2.    When requesting mediation, the participants shall provide basic information concerning the nature of the case and the participants involved so that an appropriate mediator(s) may be selected.

3.    The mediator(s) should determine and reveal any and all current or past affiliations that he or she has with any of the participants that might cause a conflict of interest or affect the perceived or actual neutrality of the mediator.

4.    Upon selection of mediator(s), all participants and the mediator(s) shall sign the agreement to Mediate form provided by STEM.

5.    The mediator(s) will specify the location of the mediation.

6.    The mediator(s) will maintain impartiality toward all participants. Impartiality means freedom from favoritism or bias either by word or by action, and a commitment to serve all parts as opposed to a single participant.  It also means playing a supportive role in the process.

7.    Prior to mediation, each participant should inform the mediator(s) of the status of negotiations leading to the mediation.

8.    All proceedings are confidential.  Information received by the mediator(s) should not be revealed to participants outside the negotiations.  The mediator(s) shall advise all parts during caucuses that any information will not be shared with other participants unless the revealing participants consents to disclosure.

9.    During the mediation session, the basic rules of common courtesy should apply.  One person speaks at a time, there are no interruptions and each party speaks for him or herself.  The mediator(s) facilitate communication, provide a setting for problem solving and maintain order.  The mediator(s) are not empowered to impose a judgment or fine or to enforce a settlement or ruling.  Mediators help the participants come up with their own agreement.

10.    Upon completion of a mediation, all agreements should be reduced to writing.  It is recommended that the agreement or Memorandum of Understanding be drafted by the participants and signed before the end of the mediation session.  The mediator(s) may draft a letter or Memorandum of Understanding setting forth any agreement but will not draft any final stipulations, orders or agreements.  The parties should accept responsibility for preparing a stipulation and/or settlement agreement for review and signature by all involved.

11.    If the participants are unable to reach an agreement, the participants are encouraged to independently continue civil and respectful efforts to resolve their issues or consider another mediation.