The Associated Students Isla Vista Tenants Union, in collaboration with the First Year Residential Experience, discussed housing strategies for students transitioning from living in the dormitories to Isla Vista in the upcoming school year. The event was hosted in the Santa Cruz Residence Hall main lounge on April 26.
The IVTU provides legal, educational and financial resources for I.V. tenants. Nexus file photo
The Associated Students (A.S.) Isla Vista Tenants Union (IVTU) provides legal, educational and financial resources for I.V. tenants. It is responsible for distributing financial resource grants, including emergency rent assistance or security deposit assistance.
20 students attended the presentation led by IVTU Vice Chair and fourth-year political science major Daniel Fourchy and IVTU Outreach Director and third-year history and environmental studies double major Sasha Pantoja.
Fourchy offered advice about renting in Isla Vista, stating that security deposits present challenges among renters. He shared that security deposits may not exceed the amount of one month’s rent for landlords who own more than two residential properties, which is “essentially every landlord” in I.V. he noted.
One of the most important parts of asking for your security deposit back is having documentation of damage before moving in, Fourchy added. When tenants ask for their security deposits back, Fourchy said that landlords may withhold tenants’ security deposits without legitimate damage made to the unit.
“If you’re claiming that [the unit] came in a certain condition and you don’t have a picture or a video of that, it makes it very hard to make that claim. When you’re moving in, document every inch of your property: photos and videos,” Fourchy said.
If the unit is damaged before the tenant moves in, they should contact their landlord and notify them of the damage so they’re not held liable, Fourchy added.
Pantoja advised tenants to get a security deposit from sublessors in case they damage the unit. She highlighted that the master lease — the first lease signed — should include subleasing rules and that tenants should “have an agreement with [their] sub-lease in writing.”
When it comes to moving out of a unit, Fourchy recommended that tenants remain attentive to the way their landlords handle their security deposits, noting that 21 days after the move-out date, they must send you an itemized statement for your security deposit. Additionally, Fourchy noted that landlords “cannot deduct from normal wear and tear.”
To help navigate renting issues, Fourchy recommended students use A.S. legal resources. The IVTU shares an office with the A.S. Legal Resource Center, where two full-time lawyers work. Fourchy added that they can read your lease and advise you on the next steps.
“You can meet with them at any time for free,” Fourchy said.
A version of this article appeared on p. 7 of the May 7 print edition of the Daily Nexus
