TURN’s goal is to ensure that all Philadelphians have “equal access to safe, decent, accessible, and affordable housing” by providing advocacy, education, and support services for tenants. They have a staff of professionals who run daily classes on a full spectrum of tenant issues, and also offer one-on-one informational sessions. I visited the TURN office on the third floor of the Philadelphia Building (1315 Walnut St.) last September after the management of my building refused to repair my Internet service,  which, according to my lease, was included in my monthly rent payment.

I went to the office expecting to sit through a general instructional session, but because I was the only client there that day, I was able to have a personal session with the instructor. He allowed me to explain the situation, looked over my lease and provided me with helpful literature. He advised me about what kind of records to keep with the situation, which level of the management corporation I should direct my grievances toward (surprisingly, it wasn’t the local landlord), and how to apply for reimbursement through a small claims court if the management was unresponsive to my queries.

The representative spent almost an hour with me, and all the help was entirely free of charge. There is no reason to allow a landlord to take advantage of your busy schedule and your right to live safely in and decently. TURN is an excellent resource for students. The organization’s experts will advise you on your rights and how to make sure they are honored.

To reach TURN, call 215-940-3900 or visit them online at www.turnaction.net.

 Wrap Up

A wise man (or possibly Lee Iacocca) once said, “You don’t get what you deserve; you get what you can negotiate.” Nowhere is this adage truer than in the fractious world of lessor/lessee relations. While renters of all ages and backgrounds have to deal with lackluster landlords, the college crowd is particularly susceptible to unscrupulous treatment by property owners. A group plagued by nonexistent income and terrible credit, students often bring unjust treatment upon themselves; however, this doesn’t change the fact that there are plenty of honest, hardworking kids out there that are simply being screwed over. Thankfully, if you live in Philadelphia and your landlord sucks, there’s now an establishment specifically designed for you. Just turn to TURN- that is, the Tenant Unit Representative Network, located at 1315 Walnut Street in Center City.

A non-profit organization that specializes in protecting the interests of renters, TURN possesses the resources that many college students don’t. They specialize in tenant rights, individual tenant counseling, housing discrimination and tenant union organization. One simply needs to call TURN and explain the situation; a representative will analyze your information and help develop a strategy to alleviate unnecessary stresses. TURN can also provide legal assistance to renters who aren’t getting anywhere with their landlords.

Complaints can range from the typical (your front door is falling off at the hinges) to the annoying (you’re freezing/baking to death) to the downright illegal (you’re denied housing based on race or gender). Regardless of your problem’s severity, TURN’s expertise ensures that lessees obtain the best possible approach to resolution.

For larger legal claims best settled in court, the organization can provide lawyers to represent you. Since most students can’t distinguish a zoning code from an ice cream cone, TURN can also assess the legality of your landlord’s actions based on their understanding of housing law. Again, TURN’s cases fall across the spectrum of magnitude. For example, it’s illegal for the light-up numbers in an elevator to be broken; it’s also illegal for a landlord to take your security deposit without providing a valid reason (if he/she doesn’t within 30 days, the tenant is awarded the full deposit by law).

With jobs, classes, bills and subsequent financial woes weighing down the average undergrad, landlord hassles just compound the stress until we fracture. If your landlord is taking advantage of you in any way, don’t hesitate to contact the office. To reach TURN, call (215) 940-3900 or visit them online at www.turnaction.net.