Office provides advice on living off campus

Located at 4046 Walnut, the Office of Off-Campus Living serves mostly students, but welcomes the community. Winter break is barely over, but the mad rush to find housing for next year has begun. For those students looking for a residence off campus, help might be just footsteps away. The Office of Off-Campus Living, located at 4046 Walnut Street, offers assistance in all stages of apartment-leasing. "My first commitment is to provide information that will help students be knowledgeable and educated consumers," OCL Director Mihaela Farcas said. Between the bookshelves of information in the office and the wealth of information on the OCL Web site (www.upenn.edu/oclhousing), Farcas' commitment seems to be working. Along with a step-by-step guide to apartment renting, OCL provides apartment listings in the University City and Center City areas. The City of Philadelphia Minimum Housing Standards and the Philadelphia City Code and Home Rule Charter are also made accessible to clients. "It's really important to know what the responsibilities of landlords and tenants are," Farcas said. "The market is very tight right now, and students are so concerned with getting a place in a particular location, that it's not so much a matter of negotiating a contract. And that is why it is important for students to be informed tenants, so they know how to get what they need," she said. Most of the office's visitor's are undergraduate and graduate students, according to last year's annual walk-in report. But faculty, staff, University affiliates, members of the community and students attending local universities also use the office. Over the past few years, OCL has seen a drop in walk-in users. Still, Farcas pointed out that OCL's services have "soared" with the increased use of the OCL Web site and e-mailers seeking advice through that medium. The site has received over 3,000 hits since January 1. Many clients still visit the office for counseling during the year. The most common problems clients seek help with, according to Farcas, are those regarding repairs -- which include heat and infestation problems. Clients also seek assistance with reviewing leases or advice regarding landlord-tenant problems. If it is necessary, Farcas, a certified mediator, will contact the landlord on the student's behalf to work out issues. In rare, serious situations, OCL refers students to the University-subsidized Lawyer Referral Service, a service retained by the University since last fall. The student pays a fee of $50 -- with the remainder subsidized by the University -- for legal assistance with landlord-tenant matters.