Emily Garrett | Only you can prevent off-campus fire

My house is freezing, the carpets are stained, the washing machine rarely works and I've named our mouse Melvin. However, I live in a great location and feel lucky not to be paying $800 per month like some students.

The inconveniences of off-campus living never bothered me much. In college it's normal to live in a drab and drafty old house, right?

Last Saturday at 6:00 a.m. I awoke to find my room filled with smoke. I stumbled outside in my pajamas and watched as smoke billowed out the windows and flames shot out the top of the house next door. We joined the crowd gathered at the corner of Locust and 41st streets as firefighters ran hoses up our stairways to combat the blaze.

As my housemates each woke up one by one and joined me outside I realized that our fire alarm hadn't gone off. If the fire had been started in our house, it's likely that more than clothes and computers would have been lost. Needless to say, I decided that maybe the conditions of my shabby house are a bigger deal than I originally thought.

Although the cause of the fire is still under investigation, I began to notice potentially hazardous conditions in my house with new eyes.

Ashamed at my ignorance and lack of responsibility for my own safety, I visited the Office of Off-Campus Living, which I discovered is only half a block away from my doorstep.

Upon arriving, I was warmly greeted by the Director of Off-Campus Living Miki Farcas who, as she stated, "will happily meet, sit down, and talk with you." After nearly an hour, I left the office with awareness of my rights as a tenant.

For example, landlords must provide waterproof ceilings and walls, adequate heat, locking doors, properly working plumbing and smoke detectors, just to name a few. Landlords are also required to make repairs promptly and properly. That's great, but how do I get my landlord to keep my house up to code?

The city of Philadelphia recently made this easier. In Sept. 2006, the Rental Suitability Bill took effect. This bill demands three things of landlords:

1. Landlords must provide new tenants with a copy of the City of Philadelphia Partners for Good Housing which details rights and responsibilities of tenants and landlords.

2. Landlords must apply for and provide new tenants with a copy of a Certificate of Rental Suitability which verifies that there are no critical code violations in the residence.

3. Landlords must attest that all fire protection equipment required is present and in working order and that the property is free from defects which affect the health and safety of the occupants.

Sounds like a perfect plan, right? But wait, there's more. The Licenses and Inspections Department now accepts requests for free inspections online and the Office of Off-Campus Living also provides free inspection services for Penn students. All you have to do is apply, call or stop by. It's so easy!

Unfortunately, according to Farcas, students, especially undergrads, don't realize that "you're a lot more responsible for your own safety" when you move off campus. "Students are hopeful and optimistic that everything will be fine and usually it is. But sometimes they end up saying 'if I had only known.'"

Only one student I interviewed knew their smoke detectors had been tested within the last year (which is required by the Philadelphia Fire Code). Several also expressed dissatisfaction with the upkeep of their residence and Engineering sophomore Matthew Piccoli detailed dangerous plumbing problems.

But since you've made it this far in my column, you know that the tools for safety are at your fingertips. Farcas stressed that defending your rights as a tenant are as easy as "taking a few pictures of the house when you move in, keeping communication open with your landlord and documenting that communication."

She also encourages students to take advantage of the resources the Office of Off-Campus living provides. And if you still have questions call Miki or stop by and she will gladly help.

As College junior Caroline Phillips stated, "I think that if you don't get on your landlord and aren't aggressive, things don't get done."

She is exactly right. We may not feel grown up, but the responsibilities are mounting and if we don't look out for our safety, no one will. So do yourself a favor and take your rights into your own hands before you end up watching your life go up in smoke.

Emily Garrett is a College sophomore from Waukon, Iowa. Her e-mail address is garrett@dailypennsylvanian.com. Carpe Di-Em appears on Tuesdays.

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.