2008 Woodie Awards
Housing law may put students on the street
Patrick Temple-West ’07
Issue date: 1/31/07 Section: News
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Watch out, students living in off-campus houses: you may have an uninvited visitor knocking at your door.
Before the spring semester, Saint Joseph's University sent out a letter to the parents of all sophomores, juniors and seniors warning them about the possible inspections conducted by the city of Philadelphia to enforce the Educational Housing District Law (EHDL).
One provision in the law limits the number of people living in a residential house who are not related "by blood, marriage or adoption" to no more than three. If the city finds more than three unrelated people living in a residential house, it has the authority to evict them or require that all but three residents leave the house.
The letter, dated Dec. 28, 2006 and signed by Dr. Linda Lelii, Vice President of Student Life, says that the city has a list of properties that will be inspected. "Of specific concern," the letter reads, "is the restriction of that no more than three unrelated tenants can live in a property that is classified as a single-family home." In the case of evictions for violations, the letter says that approximately 200 students can be housed in the Presidential City Apartments.
The list of houses suspected of holding students was compiled by residents in the Wynnefield neighborhood, said Denys Davis, Off-Campus Coordinator and Community Liaison. The University also has a list of off-campus houses. All students living off campus must supply the university with an address of where they live during the school year. It is not yet clear whether the university gave its list of registered off-campus houses to the city.
The residents can contact the city's Department of License and Inspection (DLI), which is responsible for enforcing EHDL, to complain about noise, garbage or any offense coming from a house they suspect holds students. DLI will put pressure on landlords to make the tenants comply with EHDL, said a representative from DLI. The department can enter a suspected house to search for possible "fire code violations" and it can also verify the relationship status of the residents. At this point, students can be evicted if they are found in violation of the law.
Before the spring semester, Saint Joseph's University sent out a letter to the parents of all sophomores, juniors and seniors warning them about the possible inspections conducted by the city of Philadelphia to enforce the Educational Housing District Law (EHDL).
One provision in the law limits the number of people living in a residential house who are not related "by blood, marriage or adoption" to no more than three. If the city finds more than three unrelated people living in a residential house, it has the authority to evict them or require that all but three residents leave the house.
The letter, dated Dec. 28, 2006 and signed by Dr. Linda Lelii, Vice President of Student Life, says that the city has a list of properties that will be inspected. "Of specific concern," the letter reads, "is the restriction of that no more than three unrelated tenants can live in a property that is classified as a single-family home." In the case of evictions for violations, the letter says that approximately 200 students can be housed in the Presidential City Apartments.
The list of houses suspected of holding students was compiled by residents in the Wynnefield neighborhood, said Denys Davis, Off-Campus Coordinator and Community Liaison. The University also has a list of off-campus houses. All students living off campus must supply the university with an address of where they live during the school year. It is not yet clear whether the university gave its list of registered off-campus houses to the city.
The residents can contact the city's Department of License and Inspection (DLI), which is responsible for enforcing EHDL, to complain about noise, garbage or any offense coming from a house they suspect holds students. DLI will put pressure on landlords to make the tenants comply with EHDL, said a representative from DLI. The department can enter a suspected house to search for possible "fire code violations" and it can also verify the relationship status of the residents. At this point, students can be evicted if they are found in violation of the law.
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