Though most students hardly expect pristine conditions when moving into off-campus housing, water leaks, missing cabinet doors and broken light switches were more than Katie Spector anticipated when she and her housemates moved into their Grosvenor Street home.
The house, rented to Spector by Rinaldi Rentals, lacks a carbon monoxide detector. There’s a water leak. Kitchen cabinet doors are missing, light switches initially didn’t work and carpeting is damaged.
The list goes on: The Athens Department of Development Enforcement and Facilities lists 28 health code violations there this year.
So why in the world did she and her housemates sign the lease?
“We noticed it was a little dirty,” Spector, 22, said of her first walk-through before signing the lease. “(The agent) said, ‘This will be cleaned up, no problem.’ ”
The wood floors in some areas of the house were splintered, but Spector said that was covered with a rug or carpet during her walk-through. She said she called her landlord, John Rinaldi, owner of Rinaldi Rentals, in July when she moved in, but didn’t hear back until mid-August.
One of Spector's housemates called a city inspector, who found the 28 health code violations, according to an Aug. 12 report. She said she and her roommates also contacted the Center for Student Legal Services, which advised them to put any further communication with Rinaldi in writing.
By state law, landlords are expected to fix any imperfections with the leased residence within 30 days after written notice. If problems are not addressed, tenants are eligible for an escrow, which allows tenants to deposit rent checks to the municipal court instead of their landlords. The landlord must fix anything with housing before receiving the money, according to Ohio for Legal Services, a nonprofit law firm.
Students occasionally stop paying their rent when they encounter housing disputes, which isn’t an appropriate response, said Melissa Greenlee, staff attorney at the Center for Student Legal Services, who advised Spector.
“You do not have a legal right to just stop paying rent because there are problems with the condition of your property,” Greenlee said, without going into specifics about Spector’s case.
Spector said Rinaldi contacted the tenants a week before Ohio University’s Fall Semester, and the two parties, agreeing that conditions were unacceptable, made a deal: Spector and one of her housemates would be given a discounted $200 on their September rent. Spector’s housemate who first arrived at the house and cleaned it will not pay rent for September.
Rinaldi sent maintenance to the house last week, Spector said.
A few lights were fixed and a mildewed wall painted over, she said, but “that’s not fixing the problem.”
The Post was able to reach Rinaldi on Tuesday, but he declined to comment.
Spector still feels as though relations are tense with her landlord, but thinks things are mostly on the right track with a few exceptions.
Other OU students have had similar bad experiences.
Jaime Lynn, a senior studying criminology, said that during her lease on Palmer Street from June 2012 to May 2013 with Bobcat Rentals, she often battled with her landlord.
“We got in a huge argument because my toilet broke and they pointed fingers saying it was my fault and I broke it,” Lynn said. “No, the toilet was old. … After many Palmer Fests I’m sure that toilet went through a lot.
“They took out $175 out of my security deposit and sent me an extremely rude letter saying it was my fault and ‘don’t bother fighting it.’ ”
hy135010@ohiou.edu
@HannahMYang
This story has been edited to reflect the following correction:
An article that appeared on the front page of Wednesday’s edition of The Post incorrectly stated that a city health inspector’s report identified mold in Ohio University senior Katie Spector's basement in her home on Grosvenor Street. It also incorrectly identified who asked the city to inspect the property; a housemate of Spector's initiated the inspection.
Violations at 52 Grosvenor:
1. Living room north wall has chipped and damaged areas. Repair wall to good condition. ACC 29.13.05.
2. Bar room ceiling light fixture does not work. Replace or repair light fixture to proper working condition. ACC 29.27.06(B).
3. Bar room ceiling has stained and damaged areas. Repair ceiling to good condition. ACC 29.13.05.
4. Fire extinguisher has not been inspected within the last year. Have extinguisher inspected by a state-licensed serviceperson, and record of such servicing to be made available. ACC 29.33.01.
5. Kitchen refrigerator lower door has no handle. Repair refrigerator to good condition. ACC 29.25.03(C).
6. Kitchen cabinet above stove has missing door. Repair cabinet to good condition. ACC 29.13.05.
7. First-floor bathroom left vanity light fixture is loose. Repair light fixture to secure condition. ACC 29.27.06(B).
8. First-floor bathroom toilet lid is broken. Replace or repair toilet to good condition. ACC 29.21.02.
9. First-floor bathroom shower head leaks. Replace or repair to stop leak. ACC 29.21.02.
10. Basement smoke detector has been removed. Reinstall or replace with approved detector. ACC 29.33.02.
11. Basement ceiling light fixture nearest outside door has broken bulb in base. Repair light fixture to proper working condition. ACC 29.27.06(B).
12. Basement small room has accumulated damaged carpeting. Remove and properly dispose of carpeting. ACC 29.12.01(B).
13. Basement north corner (opposite of staircase bottom) has water leak. Repair to have basement reasonably free from dampness. ACC 29.13.06.
14. Second-floor staircase wall has damaged areas. Repair wall to good condition. ACC 29.13.05.
15. Second-floor hallway smoke detector has been removed. Reinstall or replace with approved detector. ACC 29.33.02.
16. Rental unit has no carbon monoxide detector. Install approved detector in or within 15 feet of all bedrooms. ACC 29.33.07(C).
17. Second-floor hallway ceiling light fixture does not work. Replace or repair light fixture to proper working condition. ACC 29.27.06(B).
18. Northeast (right) bedroom floor has damaged, unfinished area. Repair floor to good condition. ACC 29.13.05.
19. Northeast bedroom south wall has damaged area. Repair wall area to good condition. ACC 29.13.05.
20. Northeast bedroom closet light fixture is loose. Repair light fixture to good, secure condition. ACC 29.27.06(B).
21. Northeast bedroom light switch has no fader knob. Replace or repair light switch to proper working condition. ACC 29.27.06(B).
22. Second-floor bedroom next to bathroom has electric outlet with no cover. Install outlet cover. ACC 29.27.06(B).
23. Second-floor bathroom ceiling and upper walls have mildewed. Clean upper walls and ceiling to sanitary condition. ACC 29.13.05.
24. Trash and damaged carpeting have accumulated along side of house. Remove and properly dispose of trash and carpeting. ACC 29.12.01(A).
25. Front porch light fixture does not work. Repair light fixture to proper working condition. ACC 29.27.06(B).
26. Front porch middle guardrail is loose. Replace or repair rail to good, secure condition. ACC 29.13.08(B).
27. Front porch is overgrown by vines. Cut back vines off of porch. ACC 29.12.01(A).
28. Front outdoor steps to Grosvenor Street are overgrown with foliage. Cut back foliage to allow easy access to steps. ACC 29.12.01(A).
— Source: Athens Department of Development Enforcement and Facilities
