Living Off Campus
Being a Good Neighbor
The neighborhoods surrounding UB's north and south campuses are quite diverse. On any given street, a home next door to students could be occupied by a young family with small children, or by older folks who have retired. These neighbors enjoy the warmth and vitality of living among college students. It is important for students to be respectful of these neighbors. Here are some tips for fostering positive relationships with your neighbors.
- If you are having a large group of friends over for a party, the first thing you should do is register your party. Then let the neighbors living next door, across the street, and behind you know about this in advance. Provide the neighbors with a phone number to call you in the event someone gets too loud. It is much better if an upset neighbor calls you about the problem, rather than the police.
- If people are smoking outside your apartment late at night, make sure they realize how much their voices carry, particularly during the warm weather months when everyone’s windows are open. And have a place for cigarette butts so they don’t end up on the lawn.
- If you have a party make sure that none of your beer cups blow onto neighboring lawns, and recycle the empty bottles. No one wants to see a mess at your house in the morning.
- Keep your music at a reasonable level. If your music can be heard on the sidewalk in front of your house, then it is too loud.
- If you are going away for a break and your house will be empty for a period of time, tell your neighbors. Ask that they keep watch on your house and to call the police should they see anyone there.
- Join your block club or neighborhood watch group. For more information on how to get involved, call Off-Campus Student Services at 829-3541.
Transportation
The distance between the two campuses is about 3 miles and UB buses and shuttles connect both campuses continuously throughout the day and night. http://www.ub-parking.buffalo.edu/
Public Transportation:
- Metro (Bus & Rail): Many students live near Metro Rail (subway) stations and take it to South Campus University Station, then take the inter-campus bus to North Campus. http://www.nfta.com. (716) 855-7211
UB Campus Transportation
- UB Stampede (Inter-campus bus) and campus shuttles run on both campuses. UB also offers a Mall/Market shuttle weekly to get students to/from area shopping. http://www.ub-parking.buffalo.edu
- Many students who live in University Heights walk or bicycle to South Campus – and take the UB Stampede (campus bus) to North Campus. The South Campus is also the most northern stop on the Subway and many NFTA Bus routes.
- ARTF Safety Shuttle - The van runs on UB South Campus only, and picks up passengers at three different locations: Goodyear Hall, Main Loop, and Health Sciences Library. The van operates in 20-minute intervals and will drive men and women to any destination within a 1.5 mile radius of South Campus with special exceptions for Campus Manor, Kensington Village and Collegiate Village. Off Campus pick-ups may be arranged by contacting SBI Health Education before 2:00 pm weekdays at 829-2584.
Parking Regulations
Buffalo: Most residential streets in the City of Buffalo have alternate parking. This allows residents to park on one side of the street three days a week and on the other side four days a week. This provides the City with access for snow removal and street cleaning. It is illegal to park on bus routes or emergency routes from 2:00 a.m. until 8:00 a.m. from November 1 until April 15.
Amherst: Standing or parking is prohibited on all streets and highways within the Town of Amherst between the hours of 1:00 AM to 7:00 AM, from November 1 until April 1.
Establish a relationship with your landlord
- Your relationship is about business, not friendship. Check into your landlord's reputation before you sign a lease.
- Inspect the property before signing a lease.
- Get everything in writing, including assurance of when a problem will be fixed and keep copies of all correspondence.
- Who should make repairs if something breaks? In general, tenants are responsible for giving the landlord notice of any needed repairs or maintenance. This is especially important when the problem will cause additional damage unless it is promptly fixed. A tenant should also contact his or her landlord upon the notice of insects or rodents in his or her apartment.
Landlords are usually responsible for: 1) Keeping common areas, such as hallways and laundry facilities, clean and safe; 2) Maintaining electrical and plumbing systems within the unit; 3) Repairing any peeling lead-based paint; 4) Maintaining the unit and all supplied equipment, such as refrigerators, stoves, etc.
The most common problem for tenants is working with the landlord to make necessary repairs on the premises. If several people live together, identify a spokesperson for the group. When there are problems, have the spokesperson immediately contact the landlord and follow-up in writing. Do not be afraid to keep calling if the problem is not resolved. Off-Campus Student Relations with help you if you have made requests that your landlord has ignored. Call 829-3541 or contact City of Buffalo Code Enforcement by dialing 716-851-4890.
- Landlords and staff can't enter your apartment at will. In general, remember that while you're paying rent, the apartment is your private home first and the landlord's property second.
- It is illegal for a landlord to rent a bedroom in a basement or an attic that is not equipped with a fire escape. If you are sleeping in one of these places, ask your landlord to have a fire escape installed. Ladders, including the type dropped from a window, are not acceptable fire escapes from a third floor attic.
- For more information on tenants' rights go to http://www.oag.state.ny.us/bureaus/real_estate_finance/pdfs/tenants_rights_guide.pdf
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Security Deposits
A security deposit is money that protects landlords against damage beyond normal wear and tear, provides a remedy for unpaid rent, and funds clean up of the rental, if necessary. When moving in, the best way to protect the security deposit is to take pictures of EVERYTHING—including the inside of appliances, ceilings, walls, floors, hallways, etc. If a video recorder is available, it is also a good idea to videotape the condition of the apartment when moving in. Another suggestion is to complete a detailed list of all damages present in the unit when moving in. An apartment condition checklist is available at http://offcampusliving.buffalo.edu/forms/RentersChecklist.pdf.
It is important to be very detailed—things such as nail holes in the walls, burns in the carpet, and cracks in the windows could all lead to a deduction from the security deposit if it can’t be proven that they were there when you originally moved in. You can either send this checklist to the landlord after you move in (send it return receipt to prove it was received), or complete the checklist with the landlord present. Either way, be sure you keep a dated copy. After you move out, designate a member of the house to keep this information. Often a tenant won’t be aware that the security deposit has been withheld until after everyone has left town.
Roommates Aren't Perfect
Before you sign a lease together, compare expectations. How will you split chores and bills? How much privacy do you want? A little communication up front will help you get along later. Remember that when you sign a lease together, you could be responsible for the whole bill if roommates fail to pay their share. Information regarding roommate contracts can be found at http://www.student-affairs.buffalo.edu/offcampus/move.php.
View the Roommate Contract: Word (25KB)
Block Club Leaders
The following streets have organized block clubs. If you would like to join your block club, contact the leader listed below. If your street does not yet have a block club, but you are interested in one, contact David Benders, president of the University Heights Collaborative.
| University Heights Collaborative Board | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Name | Last Name | |
| Michaela | Schmidbauer | president@ourheights.com |
| Upper Montrose Block Club | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Name | Last Name | |
| Mike | Rumfola | mrumfola@rocketmail.com |
| Martha | Meegan | montroseblockclub@gmail.com |
| Lynne | Mannella | lmannella2@yahoo.com |
| Merrimac Block Club | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Name | Last Name | |
| Bob | Sprague | RobInBflo@aol.com |
| Jesse | Schmidbauer | jesseschmidbauer@gmail.com |
| Nicholson Ave. Block Club | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Name | Last Name | |
| Jo | Schweitzer | schweitz@buffalo.edu |
| Judy | Torrico | JudyTorrico@aol.com |
| Rose | Dolski | rdolski@roadrunner.com |
| West Winspear Block Club | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Name | Last Name | |
| Tracy | Jackson | dr.traci@verizon.net |
| James E. | Rozanski | jrozanski@yahoo.com |
| Northrup Pl. Block Club | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Name | Last Name | |
| David | Benders | bfoDavid@Buffalo.edu |
| Linda | Kunz | nfdlouis@gmail.com |
| Lisbon/Highgate/ E. Winspear (affiliated with Northrup Pl.) | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Name | Last Name | |
| Lena | Vertino | lenavertino@verizon.net |