New Law School program aims to help student tenants

For college students, housing is just one priority among many, which makes it easy to take the first apartment or dorm room that’s offered with little planning.

This decision, while convenient, can lead to trouble later on, including rental contract disputes and disagreements with landlords or roommates. Even if renting is a smooth ride for some time, such troubles can still crop up.

A new program is available through the University of Wisconsin Law School to help student tenants out in such situations. The Student Tenant Education & Mediation (STEM) provides student-tenant education and problem-resolution assistance, including free mediation services for housing issues.

It aims to provide student-tenants with rental education and information before signing a lease; help current student tenants resolve housing issues; provide housing- mediation services at no cost to student tenants and property owners; and facilitate understanding of student-housing issues and develop practices that benefit the student tenants, property owners and community.

Through its efforts, STEM helps not just students, but property owners as well, says Mitch, a UW Law School clinical instructor and STEM’s faculty organizer.

“We try to prevent trouble before it happens by helping student renters plan well and make good decisions,” he says. “And if problems do come up, we try to solve them by encouraging communication and providing facilitative, voluntary mediation. This approach helps all parties appreciate each other’s concerns and explore creative options for resolving disputes early.”

STEM has already seen some successes. Last fall, the organization had a table at the student housing fair and distributed hundreds of pieces of practical educational material, such as a list of questions students should consider — but often forget — when renting.

In February, the first housing-mediation training program took place at the Law School. Attending were 29 UW law students and campus area property managers who will serve as volunteer mediators.

Students shopping for new apartments can visit http://www.stemmadison.com for information to consider.

Those who are currently renting and have a housing problem with a roommate, a neighboring tenant or landlord can call the STEM office at 608-228-0090 for communication assistance and an opportunity to resolve the situation through free, voluntary mediation.