Georgetown University Student Association Established in 1989
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
7/24/2013
GUSA Announces New Tenant Association to Protect Student Rights Off Campus
The Georgetown University Student Association (GUSA) announced Wednesday that it has completed the development of the Georgetown Student Tenant Association (GSTA) in time for the upcoming school year. Working in conjunction with Student Advocacy Office (SAO), GSTA is an unprecedented effort to protect the rights of Georgetown students who live off campus or plan to do so in the future.
Countless examples of student difficulties with landlords — ranging from leaky roofs and broken locks to disputes over security deposits — demonstrate the urgent need for new resources to protect tenants. The highly competitive housing markets in West Georgetown and Burleith have also led to problematic leases for many students. Poor housing quality often reduces overall quality of life for off-campus students. GSTA will empower students to negotiate with landlords for better living conditions and serve as a mechanism for students to report and correct abuses.
A registered 501c(3) corporation, GSTA is a partnership between GUSA, D.C.’s Office of the Tenant Advocate and Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs and Georgetown University’s Office of Neighborhood Life.
The new organization is composed of trained undergraduate student advocates who can assist students by reviewing potential leases for problematic clauses, referring students to legal counsel and filing complaints with appropriate D.C. agencies. All Georgetown students are nominal members of the association and are entitled to seek out its services. Advocates are also available to discuss concerns with housing in general — including new parking regulations — and to help students gather information on potential landlords. Advocates are able to refer students to counsel to help challenge landlord abuses and can also request housing inspections on behalf of students to ensure properties are safe, among other duties.
GSTA, in conjunction with its partners, is also undertaking direct action to locate landlords who are illegally renting to students or failing to meet quality standards and bring these landlords into compliance with District law. The Tenant Association, through D.C.’s Office of the Tenant Advocate, will also offer seminars to educate students on their rights as tenants.
Tenant Association advocates will hold visiting hours in the GUSA office. Appointments can be scheduled either by contacting advocates directly or through the GUSA website. The Tenant Association section of the website can be used to find information on potential landlords, read about GSTA’s services and personnel, view founding documents, schedule appointments and ask general questions.
