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Guest column: Fort Collins needs to raise occupancy limits
Adam Hickman
Issue date: 12/10/07 Section: Opinion
A simple solution that could help landlords and students along with other people of Fort Collins is to have a residency limit, but a higher limit than three.
This would help students with cheaper rent, which results in more money to pay for school and/or less time in the workplace and more time to study for their education.
I recently viewed a house that was listed as a three-bedroom house, which suited the needs of my prospective roommates perfectly. Soon after entering the house we found out that it actually had five bedrooms.
The landlord listed it as a three bedroom to ward off bigger groups of people looking to rent for more than three people. She also listed it as such because the extra two rooms totally go to waste due to this law.
We did like the 2500 square foot house and it was definitely in our budget of under $1000/month, but we don't have enough furniture, beds, and other necessities to fill up a house of that size.
Maybe if there were four or five students that could live in that house the excess space could be put to good use.
This affects more than just students. Renters, knowing students are in need of housing all year long, are forced into lowering their monthly rent price because it's impossible for three full-time students to make payments of $1200 or more regardless of how many bedrooms the house has.
Higher occupancy limits -- for example five-unrelated people as opposed to three -- will benefit communities, students, landlords and real estate agents by putting more money in renter's pockets along with students, as well as bringing the stress level we have all grown to love down.
Three-unrelated, however, just isn't doing it.
Adam Hickman is a freshman open option student. Letters and feedback can be sent to letters@collegian.com.
This would help students with cheaper rent, which results in more money to pay for school and/or less time in the workplace and more time to study for their education.
I recently viewed a house that was listed as a three-bedroom house, which suited the needs of my prospective roommates perfectly. Soon after entering the house we found out that it actually had five bedrooms.
The landlord listed it as a three bedroom to ward off bigger groups of people looking to rent for more than three people. She also listed it as such because the extra two rooms totally go to waste due to this law.
We did like the 2500 square foot house and it was definitely in our budget of under $1000/month, but we don't have enough furniture, beds, and other necessities to fill up a house of that size.
Maybe if there were four or five students that could live in that house the excess space could be put to good use.
This affects more than just students. Renters, knowing students are in need of housing all year long, are forced into lowering their monthly rent price because it's impossible for three full-time students to make payments of $1200 or more regardless of how many bedrooms the house has.
Higher occupancy limits -- for example five-unrelated people as opposed to three -- will benefit communities, students, landlords and real estate agents by putting more money in renter's pockets along with students, as well as bringing the stress level we have all grown to love down.
Three-unrelated, however, just isn't doing it.
Adam Hickman is a freshman open option student. Letters and feedback can be sent to letters@collegian.com.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 6
jimmy
posted 12/10/07 @ 8:31 AM MST
I agree, the law is ridiculous. My good friend lives with his biological cousin and that isn't even considered related. One thing though fort collins has a 13% vacancy rate, maybe you just need to look a little harder. (Continued…)
Adam
posted 12/14/07 @ 3:19 PM MST
We found a place regardless. Theres a lot of vacancies around here. It was just such a hassle with the law in the way.
Bdygard
Craig Hawley
posted 12/27/07 @ 6:02 PM MST
I agree is stinks being a poor college student. Was one lived in the dorm , after the Army. You try being 21 and the oldest guy in the freshman dorm. (Continued…)
Craig Hawley
posted 1/02/08 @ 5:06 PM MST
Hey congrats on getting a place Adam. Nothing like having your own pad. Enjoy man.
Adam
posted 1/04/08 @ 7:09 PM MST
Thanks a lot... it's pretty nice to have my own place!
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