‘THE HELL HOLE’ bg Fighting for safe rental news An independent student press serving housing in Bowling Green | Page 2 the campus and surrounding community, ESTABLISHED 1920 Bowling Green State University Wednesday, April 14, 2021 Volume 100, Issue 29 Study tips Volleyball J&J vaccine for finals in NCAA clinic closed Page 5 Page 9 Page 12 BG NEWS April 14, 2021 | PAGE 2 ‘THE HELL HOLE’ Fighting for safe rental housing in Bowling Green Shaelee Haaf | Editor-in-Chief they were informed of the possibility of one. “If we would have had more time and Andrew Bailey | Copy Chief But Myers said the fact that he had to do it went with a Newlove (Realty) representative, “Living there quite three times was “unfortunate.” Jared Myers and his roommates referred to probably would not have rented there,” he When called to comment on the matter, their house on North Summit Street as “The said. possibly will be the the person from Eyecon who answered Hell Hole” because of the multitude of fire They only noticed some of the issues worst place I’ve lived the phone declined to provide their name and health hazards and habitability issues. with the home but nothing that prevented and said any complaints raised “have been They also called it “The Hole” for short, them from jumping at the opportunity and in my entire life.” addressed or are in the process of being because there was a large, open cistern hole signing a lease from August 2019 to August addressed.” in their backyard. 2020. Much of the damage on the walls was — Jared Myers — Andy Newlove, a broker for Newlove “Living there quite possibly will be the covered with decorations and tapestries for Bowling Green resident Realty, said he couldn’t provide much worst place I’ve lived in my entire life,” aesthetic purposes and they didn’t see most information because the company did not Myers said. of the issues, Myers said. Myers said many of the larger issues, like a own the house, they only managed it. He Myers and his three roommates wanted He said the previous tenants blocked the clogged gutter and roof leak leading to water also explained that with all rental properties a place to live together their junior years, downstairs bathroom with a couch, because damage on the kitchen walls and floor that Newlove manages but does not own, there but they were a bit late to the house hunt, so using it was “pointless.” Myers said the caused it to sink inward, loose nails on the is a set dollar amount to fix certain issues. they walked down North Summit Street and downstairs bathroom was in poor condition porch and a bathroom door detached from However, if an issue exceeds that limit, the decided to knock on the door of a house and and so small that anyone sitting on the toilet its hinges — which Myers said was attached company must get approval from the owner ask for an impromptu tour. would hit their knees on the sink. and working when they toured the house — before making any repairs. were noticed after they moved in. “I think one thing that I wish BG would They made requests to fix the issues, do,’’ Myers said, “even if it’s every other year, many of which presented fire and health Great Selection n Close to Campus n Great Prices they need to inspect these places. You can hazards — like exposed wires, a lack of drive by — I deliver food — it’s incredible sufficient carbon monoxide and smoke to see the damage you can see from the detectors and evidence of rodent nesting — outside … it’s super scary.” on multiple occasions; however, Myers said Myers’ story is why he supports the attentiveness and consistency from the JOHN NEWLOVE inspections of rental properties. Bowling property’s management company, Newlove Green City Council’s Community Realty Inc., and the company that owned Improvement Committee doesn’t know how REAL ESTATE , INC. the property, Eyecon Enterprises Ltd., was many other renters face these kind of issues lacking. and is pushing legislation to better protect Myers’ first email to BGSU’s Student Legal renters like Myers. FOR RENT Services was on Sept. 23, 2019, about a CHECK US OUT The possibility of other stories like month after they moved in. Myers’ is why the CIC is calling for rental ONLINE “They did all the fixes in big batches at registration, licensing and inspections. a time, but they were just super slow on We have Efficiencies/Studios. repairs; it was painful,” Myers said. “They Bowling Green rental 1 & 2 Bedroom Apartments. would definitely pick and choose what they decided to fix, probably the ones that would housing and inspections Flexible Leases. legally get them in trouble.” When it comes to rental housing, Bowling 319 E. WOOSTER ST. BOWLING GREEN Furnished/Unfurnished. He said Newlove’s reasoning for the Green differs in some significant ways from slowness of repairs was because they had to other college towns in Ohio. 419-352-6553 await approval from Eyecon. A study conducted by the East Side “But the person we paid our rent to live Residential Neighborhood Group compared in Bowling Green … so how hard is it to rental inspections of 59 cities in Ohio and APARTMENT contact this person?” Myers said. “But they Adrian, Michigan. Executive board member AVAILABLE dodged my phone calls, they knew my Rose Hess said the group chose, “Ohio cities Located at phone number for sure … I would call and that had a fair number of rentals and cities I wouldn’t get a pickup, but my roommate that were similar to our town.” 810 Fifth Street would call and they’d pick up.” The group gathered information from 2 bedroom, 1 bath This led to Myers working with the four publishers that write and publish Close to Shuttle BGSU Student Legal Services on three Ohio city ordinances: American Legal separate occasions to inform Newlove of an Publishing, Conway Greene, Municode and impending escrow — which entailed paying Walter Drane. The study found that Bowling the courthouse their rent money until the Green is the “only medium-sized, college SUCCESSFULLY319 E. Wooster SERVING Street BGSU | Across STUDENTS from Taco SINCE Bell 1978 cited issues were fixed, at which point the town” that does not have mandatory rental Monday to Friday - 8:30 to 5:30 | Saturday - 9:00 to 3:00 rental company could collect the rent. inspections. They did not have to follow through on 419.354.2260 | www.johnnewloverealestate.com the escrow, as Newlove fixed the issues after BG NEWS April 14, 2021 | PAGE 3 Over 60% of housing units in the city think we have anything wrong with the are rental properties. The others are apartments in the city of Bowling Green.” owner-occupied. To put the numbers into Maurer also mentioned that if a landlord perspective, there are an estimated 11,374 doesn’t fix an issue, any renter has the right residential housing units in Bowling Green, to deposit their rent in escrow to the court. according to the 2019 American Community Additionally, he said BGSU students have Survey published by the U.S. Census access to Student Legal Services on campus. Bureau. That means 7,165 rental units go Students pay a $9 optional fee to use without inspections every year. BGSU Student Legal Services, which “strives CIC Chair and 2nd Ward City Councilman to assist students in responding to legal John Zanfardino said “without a system in problems that may adversely affect their place, there’s no way of knowing the extent well-being or otherwise interfere with of the issues that need to be addressed.” He academic endeavors,” according to the explained “universal” inspections would BGSU website. Should a student waive that give a baseline of how many properties have fee, they would not be eligible to utilize specific issues. Student Legal Services. Aside from the lack of regular inspections, PHOTO PROVIDED BY JARED MYERS Steve Green, owner of Mecca there is another reason the amount of Management, also raised concerns about potential issues in rental properties remains PHOTOS PROVIDED BY JARED MYERS rents potentially rising. He said he fears unknown. Many students are renting for the Opposite sides of same wall, caused by water damage by clogged gutter and roof leak. for students and citizens who rent because first time, and “students don’t even know “many times the people who rent are the they’re living in unsafe housing,” Hess said. stick,” he said. “A stick’s not going to help the dates that apply?” she asked. people who can least afford the increases.” Zanfardino also speculated that some anyone, so what carrots can the city and Hess, executive board member of East “I think right now is one of the worst tenants may not raise concerns in fear of BGSU offer?” Side, disagreed with the proposed concept times ever, on the heels of COVID to be retaliation from their landlords. Dennis explained the “carrot” in this of self-inspections. While some landlords Over the past several years, the main situation is that “good owners” will be given say they complete their own inspections, “For 40, 50 years, we’ve focus of the CIC shifted to implement the opportunity to differentiate themselves Hess said the self-inspection process is official licensing, registration and rental from “problem landlords” in the city. currently “implicit” but passing legislation got along without them inspections in Bowling Green. The CIC, “I think you have owners that get into will make it “explicit,” so all involved parties (inspections),” Maurer formed roughly three decades ago, currently it, they get over their head, but they’re not are made aware.