Apartment Life

Welcome to Apartment Life, an online discussion of the Washington area rental market, featuring Post columnist Sara Gebhardt.

In her monthly exchanges with the audience, Gebhardt discusses rental issues and lifestyle matters.

The transcript follows.

Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

________________________________________________

Sara Gebhardt: Good afternoon all apartment-dwellers and anyone else who has stopped by. Let's get to the questions!

_______________________

Arlington, Va.: Who do you suggest as a mover that will pack boxes and move us across town without spending a fortune?

Thanks!

Sara Gebhardt: I suggest you and your family and friends to pack boxes and move across town. It will cost you some pizza and beer, or whatever other token of appreciation you can give. Of course, most people hate moving and would rather someone else do it, but I cannot comment on specific moving companies. Ask around and get referrals from people you trust, and then do some comparison of the companies to figure it out. Good luck.

_______________________

Austin, Texas: I moved into my current apartment last summer. I just realized this week that I don't have a key to the pool area, as I'm supposed to - I never received it when I moved in, and never even noticed until now because I hadn't had occasion to use it. Obviously I should have realized it when I moved in, but my question is, since I didn't, when I call my landlord to ask for a key, should I expect that she will charge me for it (since I have no record of not having received it in the first place)?

Sara Gebhardt: I would recommend just calling your landlord, telling your story and seeing what happens. Just as you have no record of not receiving the key, your landlord probably has no record of giving you the key. No need to worry about a fee yet, since your landlord might just hand over another key.

_______________________

Moving Out After 6 years: Hi Sara, I am moving out of my studio rental after 6 full years. The heavy white drapes are dingy, the carpet has gotten pretty hammered in high traffic areas (dingy, some stains/pulls), the screen on the screen door of the balcony has several rips (so I took it off the hinges), the kitchen folding door came off the hinge, and the dishwasher is broken. In my 6 years, the lanlord has never repaired anything, nor have I asked her to. It was an "unspoken rule" that I didn't complain and she didn't raise the rent. I plan to clean up after I move out, but beyond that, should I get my month's rent deposit back, or do I kiss it goodbye because of the flaws, none of which were my fault? I want to also point out, the apt. is very dated, all appliances are decades old.....thanks!

Sara Gebhardt: The rule of thumb in handing back security deposits is usually that you should get it back as long as the only damage to your apartment qualifies as "normal wear and tear." Now, stains and pulls in a carpet are probably not considered normal wear and tear. If you didn't break the dishwasher and it just broke down because of its age, that is normal wear and tear. The distinction is that if you just existed and lived in your apartment and things got worn or broke because of age, you didn't do anything wrong. In this case, though, since you never asked for it to be repaired, the landlord may assert otherwise. Write a letter stating how everything came to be in its current shape, and ask for your deposit back. You could also ask to go along on the move-out inspection to make your case for at least part of your security deposit back in person.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: Sara- Thanks for hosting this chat...I look forward to it every month! I finally have a question to submit. I just bought a condo in Cleveland Park and am wondering how best to go about finding a contractor? It needs a bit of painting and perhaps some kitchen carpentry. Do you know of any message boards where I might be able to find some referrals? Or perhaps your readers have an idea? Thanks!

Sara Gebhardt: This discussion isn't specifically geared towards condo owners, though similar lifestyle issues occur in both apartments and condos. Apartment people do not hire their own contractors. But, normally, the best way to find moving companies or painters or anybody else who competes heavily for your business is to ask around and get recommendations from people you trust.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.:

Hi Sara...Question on Fire Alarms: The alarm in my studio apartment goes off every time I use the broiler in my apartment...steak, bacon, that sort of thing. I'm a good cook so it's gotta be the alarm, b/c I don't see any smoke. It's not battery operated and I've asked for it to be turned off or replaced and the building management has refused. Is this something I can/should do myself? What do you recommend?

Sara Gebhardt: I'm sure it's not you. I never knew one measured a good cook by the infrequency of the smoke alarm going off. If that's the case, I may be able to forego culinary school. Anyway, why has building management refused to replace what seems to be a defective alarm? I do not know how to disable such an alarm, and I don't recommend it unless you are well-versed in fire safety. Ask your management company for the name of the alarm installers, or at least find out what kind of alarm it is and then call the company. This is the job of the management company, but I'd recommend doing this leg work in the spirit of your own safety. Fires are serious, and everybody should make sure they have a working smoke alarm.

_______________________

Re: Carpet normal wear and tear: Don't carpets have an expected lifespan--which most apartment communities set at about 6 years--so any damage to the carpet could be deemed "normal wear and tear". Heck, if the carpet is at least six years old, it may have needed to be replaced anyway. Surely, that is not the renters fault?

Sara Gebhardt: Yes, it may be considered normal wear and tear, however, the definition of "normal" is broad and landlords interpret it differently. There's no set number of years, and usually if a renter stains a carpet, it is considered abnormal in the eyes of landlords.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.:

Hi Sara! My house was recently cited by the District for 'rat harborage.' Do you think there are really rats or just lots of garbage?

Sara Gebhardt: Is this an existential question? Are there really rats? Yes. I have seen them, both in my line of work and in my personal endeavors. Do I think there are rats in your house? I am not sure. Have you seen droppings or heard scurrying little feet when the lights go off? You should ask whoever made the citation to tell you why he/she made the citation. Lots of garbage breeds rats, and even if the garbage is outside, the rats get cold (or maybe even curious) sometimes and find a way into buildings.

_______________________

Washington, D.C. (Capitol Hill):

Ms. Gebhardt, Would you pontificate, briefly, on the pros and cons of co-ed roommates. Thanks much!

Sara Gebhardt: Hmmm. You're asking me to pontificate. Love it, though it'll be hard to be brief on this subject. Pros and cons of co-ed roommates are exactly what you think they are. If you have definite opinions about gender differences, such as boys are messy and girls talk on the phone too much, you probably aren't ready to live as men and women in the same place. Living in a co-ed situation is good for some and bad for others. There's the potential for falling in love with roommates, which could be good if you never break-up. Or the potential for getting really mad when the only guy in the bunch never does the dishes and promotes the stereotypes you learned as a child. Good roommates pay the rent, respect each other and keep the place clean, no matter if they're men or women.

But I'm sure people out there have other opinions, so bring them on.

_______________________

Bethesda, Md.: Re: Smoke from the broiler. Comes from not cleaning out the grease in the oven. Used to happen to me all the time (my famous three-alarm chicken) until I started using the self-cleaning feature on my range.

Sara Gebhardt: I'm sure our world famous cook will appreciate this advice.

_______________________

Stains and pulls in carpet: If the carpet is the standard beige cheap apartment carpet, then yes, stains and pulls are normal wear and tear. I have been a renter for 15+ years. Every community I have lived in had a 3 year life expectancy on that horrible, horrible stuff.

I am talking minimal stains, not giant red kool-aid spots.

However, I rented an apartment for 4 years with two other roommates. Two nights before we were set to move my roommate dropped her cigarette and set the carpet on fire. By the time she reacted there was a foot wide burn in the middle of the carpet. Fearing my reaction, she put a stack of boxes on top of the burn. I discovered it as the movers were carrying out a load. We got our full deposit back.

I asked the landlord and she said regardless of the burn they would have had to replace the carpet.

Sara Gebhardt: The kind of stain on the carpet is in fact important. But you've been lucky with good landlords, for sure.

_______________________

P.G. County, Md.:
Hey Sara! I'll be moving soon. Am looking at a few neighborhoods...Hyattsville, Shaw (near the new convention center) and a complex near the Brookland area of Northeast. Do you know anything about any of these areas? What's your take on apartment living there? What kinds of factors should I consider in these places?

Sara Gebhardt: You should consider the usual factors when you look at these areas. Since you're local, you're able to spend time spending time in each neighborhood and seeing which one fits your criteria best. Consider convenience to work, neighborhood amenities, apartment communities available and whatever else is important to you. The key is asking around to find out if the neighborhoods and apartment buildings suit you.

_______________________

Columbia, Md.:

Sara, Good afternoon. There have been a couple car vandelisms in my apartment complex's parking lot. The lanlord is not posting any flyers about what's going on and many residents are in the dark. Is the lanlord responsible to inform the tenants?

Sara Gebhardt: Yes, the landlord should inform the tenants of what is going on in the apartment complex. Have you asked your landlord to post fliers? In the meantime, spread the word yourself so that your neighbors are aware of what's going on. Many neighborhoods have message boards over the Internet, and you could consider starting one up just to share information with your fellow residents.

_______________________

RE: Coed Roommies: Maybe I'm just biased (I fell in love with mine) but I actually think living with some guys is better than living with all girls. In college I lived with girls--and always had to deal with the petty cat fights (with the exception of my last year, when I lived with a lesbian--who was also great to live with!;). After college I moved in with a friend of mine since before college and one of his friends--after the "third wheel" left, my friend and I got together, and it's been great since. Of course, this isn't every story, but I did enjoy the lack of cat fights when there were 2 boys and 1 girl in the apartment. If you're mature enough to do it, I think it's a great thing. As long as everyone gets along, of course.

Sara Gebhardt: An opinion on co-ed living.

_______________________

Re: Packing and Movers: There is no such thing as a company who will cheaply pack your stuff and move it (at least not in the D.C. area). Hiring a company to just move your stuff will cost you a minimum of $500 for an in-town move and adding packing to that will probably increase that by a factor of 3. Most moving companies charge anywhere from $75-$175 an hour, and I have yet to move myself in under 4 hours total.

Sara Gebhardt: And an opinion about moving companies.

_______________________

Looking from afar:
Sara, Thanks soooo much for answering this question! I have about 6 months before I need to move to D.C. from Houston. What should I be doing now. It's really hard to pin point a place this far out. Thanks!

Sara Gebhardt: My last column was about finding an apartment from far away. You need to start investigating neighborhoods and spreading the word among people you know that you are moving to D.C. Once you do, you will likely find someone who knows someone who lives here, and then you can begin getting advice from someone you can trust. (I sense a theme with this trust-thing.) You have six months, so all the research you can do over the Internet on neighborhoods and apartment buildings will also be helpful, just so you know the general ranges of rent and areas that may be up your alley. Buena suerte!

_______________________

Maybe Woodley/Cleveland Park, D.C.:
Sara, This is serious: I have an opportunity to sublet a place near the zoo, since a friend's roommate is moving out in a few months. I know this is going to sound strange, but I've heard that at night you can hear the animals. I think that would freak me out if it's true. How can I find out if this is the case without exposing my weirdness to my potential roommate? Any ideas.

Sara Gebhardt: I'm glad I've finally gotten a serious question! Ask your potential roommate about the sounds that happen at night by the zoo. Are there even animals left there to make noise? Joking, of course. I have heard these same rumors, from people who lived on the back end of the zoo, but I cannot confirm them. At one point, I lived very close to the zoo and from my apartment never heard a peep out of the gorillas or any other animal that at the time I considered neighbors.

_______________________

Anonymous: Over-active fire alarms are a fact of life. Your alarm is almost definitely not malfunctioning, it is just a good alarm. Just plan ahead and open some windows, turn on a fan and have a broom or newspaper handy to fan up towards the alarm until its gone off.

Sara Gebhardt: Another opinion on fire alarms.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.: I rent a house that is very nice and completely redone. The owner lives abroad now and has asked a property management company to take care of the house. So, we rent from the property management company in theory. However, the owner is very good friends with our next door neighbor. There lies the problem. She is an old lady, doesn't work, is a "mother hen" type. She calls the management company when something is wrong (ex. the garage door not working, instead of us calling) or she perceives as wrong, is passive aggressive, for example, she planted flowers in our yard and when I thanked her for doing so, she said, "Well I figured I should do something since you haven't done much." We live in a rental!;!;!; We aren't supposed to plant flowers and garden!; How can I tell her to back off? We take immaculate care of the house and it kind of makes us want to move out because she is constantly watching our every move. It is really freaky. Any advice? Thanks, I know this is a long question.

Sara Gebhardt: You can tell her nicely that you are renters and therefore do not expect to maintain the house yourself. You may mention it to the owner, and reaffirm that you deal with house issues with the property management company. But this is really a situation of doing your best to get along with your nosy neighbor. And getting along with neighbors you may not like is a fact of life, so just shrug off whatever she says and don't let it get to you too much. If you find her planting flowers in your yard, you can take that up with the owner as well.

_______________________

Washington, D.C.:

Sara, I live in a second-floor apartment above the lobby/front doors of our building. In the summer, when people smoke outside the doors of the lobby, my whole apartment smells like cigarette smoke (even with windows closed). Do you think that it's reasonable to ask our landlord to move the ash can farther from the door and to ask people not to smoke right outside our windows?

Sara Gebhardt: Yes, I think it is reasonable to ask for your landlord to designate another smoking area. It never hurts to ask. If the answer is no and you can prove that your apartment smells like smoke, you could also ask to transfer apartments so that you aren't hit by the wafting second-hand smoke.

_______________________

Co-Ed Boston: I have had the same two male roommates for 2 years now and love it!; As a female, I've learned a lot about men. For example, I will never again get mad at a boyfriend who says he simply forgot to call because I have seen it happen firsthand to both my roomies - who are great guys. It helps that we hired a monthly maid to maintain an agreed upon minimum standard of cleanliness. But there are never stupid arguments out of cattiness, no one ever borrows my clothes without asking, and they are both great at asking, "what's the big deal" when I get upset about something trivial. That said, we have had some issues with their girlfriends being initially not too nice to me but once they see I'm harmless and usually on their side, it clears right up!;

Sara Gebhardt: Co-ed roommie opinions.

_______________________

Co-ed roommates: It also depends on your comfort level with the opposite sex...I had always had female roommates and thought nothing of coming home from work, pulling off my clothes, and walking around the house sans bra (with a shirt on of course). Even when I lived with two gay women. But when I had a male roommate, I just felt very uncomfortable doing that -- even though I know, at 26, that he had probably seen boobs before. That was the year I bought a fluffy bathrobe and wore it to and from the bathroom every time I showered. I could never get used to feeling comfortable with men around like I do with women. Now gay men...

Sara Gebhardt: Another coed roommie opinion.

_______________________

Sara Gebhardt: Well, that's it for today's discussion. I'll be back next month on May 20th at 2 p.m. Happy apartment living and subletting and everything else in the meantime.

_______________________