Landlords, agencies differ with benefits

By BETH BAUMGARDNER
Collegian Staff Writer

Although many downtown apartments are managed by a handful of large agencies, some are rented by independent owners. Depending on their preferences, students can find benefits renting from both.

Whether it would be more beneficial for a student to sign a lease with an independent landlord or a larger firm depends on what the student is looking for, said Jean Welling, staff assistant for the Office of Greek and Community Life.

Welling stressed neither an apartment realty firm nor an independent landlord is more advantageous.

But John Hanna, property manager and owner of Continental Real Estate Management Inc., 256 E. Beaver Ave., said there are many conveniences of living in an apartment covered by a realty firm.

Continental Real Estate provides a 24-hour maintenance crew to handle any emergencies and has many locations available throughout town, Hanna said.

In addition, realty firms compete with each other when determining rent, he said.

"Our rents are in line with the market. We don't undercharge or overcharge, which can be a plus or minus for potential tenants," Hanna said, adding the leases offered in most realty firms are standard.

Elizabeth Goreham, State College Borough Council member, said because she is an independent landlord, she can provide special amenities, such as negotiable lease periods and rent agreements.

"As a tiny landlord, I'm not a player in the landlord business," she said. "After you have a thousand units, you disconnect from tenants."

Like other independent landlords she knows, Goreham said her duplex is not her main source of income, which allows tenant-landlord relationships not based on profit to develop.

"Everyone has different motivations to be a landlord," she said.

Dan Long (junior-wildlife and fisheries science), who is involved in a legal dispute with his former landlord, said some independent landlords take advantage of students because of the landlord's lack of organized standards and competition.

"I'd say definitely go through a realtor -- not an independent (landlord)," Long said, adding he now has an apartment in The Graduate, 138 S. Atherton St., which is managed by GN Associates, 119 S. Burrowes St.

GN Associates responds quickly to any maintenance problems and has even helped solve a roommate conflict, Long said.

While Jessica Hummel (senior-labor and industrial relations) agrees maintenance problems were handled better when she lived in a large apartment building, she said she prefers the house she lives in now.

The house has more room for her and her roommates than the apartment they shared, Hummel said, adding the extra space helps them to get along.

"We're all a bunch of individuals. It's kind of nice to have our own room," she said. "We have our own living space now."