Students renting from OXRE may pay a $30 charge if they fail to lock windows while they are on break. (SAMANTHA LUDINGTON | The Miami Student)
Many landlords inspect their tenants' homes while they are gone for break. Oxford Real Estate (OXRE), however, has decided to charge tenants if certain tasks are not performed.
According to Debra Nixon, an OXRE broker, tenants are supposed to leave their thermostat at 60 degrees, empty their garbage and lock their windows during breaks. If any of these tasks need to be performed by the OXRE inspector, a $30 charge is billed to the house or apartment.
"We don't charge $30 for each task," Nixon said. "It is one overall charge if multiple tasks need to be done."
Many tenants were confused about the terms of this policy, Nixon said. Some were charged for having unlocked windows.
"We had a few inquiries about the window charges because tenants were unaware that having unlocked windows would lead to the inspection charge," Nixon said. "Due to the confusion, we voided eight invoices that were only based off of unlocked windows."
According to Nixon, OXRE does these inspections for health and safety reasons to make sure everything is secure.
"Our main goal is to clear up the confusion before next year," Nixon said.
Miami University senior Colin Ostasiewski feels lucky to have a landlord who is not as strict as OXRE.
"My lease is not constricting at all," Ostasiewski said. "We can pretty much do whatever we want as long as we pay our rent and don't trash the place."
Although Ostasiewski is pleased with his laid back landlord, he also does not get inspections.
Enjoy what you're reading?
Signup for our newsletter
"I guess it would be nice to know that everything is OK while I am away on break," Ostasiewski said.
Sophomore David Lipinsky agrees the $30 charge seems a bit excessive for trash not being taken out.
Lipinsky is excited to leave the residence halls and is relieved to learn that his landlord next year will not charge him.
"I feel like I'm mature enough to take care of my own space," Lipinsky said. "It is nice to know that they are concerned, but I don't know if it is necessary. I understand that they want to make sure that their property is safe, but I think they could be a little more trusting."
Nixon has heard some concerns from tenants about these charges, but said it is to ensure that everything remains safe when students leave.
According to Nixon, these inspections have nothing to do with insurance rates.
"We are really just trying to take preventative measures in order to avoid much bigger issues such as someone's pipes freezing, for example," Nixon said. "If the heat gets turned off when tenants go home for break, pipes can freeze, which is more expensive and more difficult to deal with."
Read More
How one professor and her classes are preserving Oxford’s Black history
By Sean Scott | March 20, 2024Jazma Sutton, an assistant professor of history, teaches The Black Midwest (HST 350Q) and Black Women in America (HST 450D) classes. In both courses, she has students working with the Smith Library of Regional History and Miami’s archives to document and preserve Black history in Oxford.
Miami faculty members recount Freedom Summer in new documentary
By Luke Macy | February 25, 2022After seven years of work, “Training for Freedom,” a documentary highlighting Oxford’s involvement in the Freedom Summer of 1964, premiered on PBS Western Reserve on Valentine’s Day.
“Documenting the COVID-19 Pandemic”: History in the making
By Alice Momany | August 29, 2021In March 2020, Miami University’s archives launched “Documenting the COVID-19 Pandemic,” a collection focused on life during the COVID-19 pandemic.