With housing selection for the upcoming school year just around the corner, many students will be making the move to off-campus housing, but local real estate giant, B.C. Parker, has left many off-campus residents questioning their maintenance standards.
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ymXzetUna4&noredirect=1&w=560&h=315]
B.C. Parker is one of the largest real estate companies in Alamance County, leasing out over 200 units surrounding Elon's campus. According to U.S. News and World Report, 38% of Elon undergraduates live in off campus housing, and many of them in B.C. owned units.
Elon senior, Ryan McElroy, lives on West Trollinger Ave. and is a B.C. Parker resident. He said the lack of maintenance around his apartment is obvious.
"[There has been] at least four different major things where the functionality of our apartment was compromised because of the fact that repair work wasn't going on," he said.
Fellow Elon seniors, Laura Hollister and Megan Dyer, who also live on West Trollinger Ave. in B.C. Parker housing also feel that B.C. Parker's maintenance standards have been inconsistent. Hollister said the company was hypocritical in its approach to fixing a broken light outside her apartment.
"They're on us about our hammock straps being out. That just seems like that's not fair," she said. "That we don't get lights for four months but my hammock straps can't be out for more than a week."
McElroy, who is in his second year of living in B.C. Parker housing, has had problems with his bathtub leaking into his downstairs neighbors apartment, his kitchen fan light leaking a fluid onto his wall and his sink detaching from the rest of his counter. McElroy said his main criticism of the company is that he feels like they're not making sure their residents are safe.
"If you want people to have safe living conditions, you need to make sure your staying on top of these sort of things."
While not all Elon students have a problem with the maintenance standards of B.C. Parker, Dyer said the price justifies the conditions.
"It just really cheap rent, you get what you pay for."
ELN reached out to B.C. Parker and they responded with the following statement:
"With regard to our company maintenance 'standards', although we do regular property inspections, all lease holders bear some responsibility to report maintenance concerns in a timely manner to our office . At the time the maintenance call is received by our office, we will trouble shoot with the resident, ask them to try several things ( ie. plunge the toilet, flip the breakers, etc). We will then dispatch a work order to the appropriate sub contractor.
On occasion, the resident will be held financially responsible for damages to property UNLESS it is considered to be faulty equipment or normal wear and tear. An example of when a resident would be responsible is, ie.- a beer bottle cap or broken shot glass in the garbage disposal is considered improper use of equipment and the tenant(s) would be charged for the repair. Additionally, as with Elon's Rules of Conduct, our residents are responsible for guests and their actions while on the property.
While we strive to respond to maintenance concerns within 48 hours, some circumstances may arise where this is not possible. For example, weekends, holidays, other emergency situations which require immediate attention, when parts need to be ordered, or when we are waiting on the property owner's approval to proceed. We have to filter through what is an immediate need vs an inconvenience; ie. an overflowing toilet is an immediate need and will take precedence over a dishwasher that is not functioning and is considered to be an inconvenience. Also, we do not have a 24/7 maintenance staff. All work is subcontracted out to vendors. Their schedules will also play a part in the timing of the response. It is a common misconception that B.C. Parker owns the properties when in fact we do not and are Property Managers. Additionally, our contractual obligations with our clients require owner approval over a specific dollar amount.
Although student housing is not our only division, we do understand for many of our students, it is the first experience with a landlord, a binding legal contract and the responsibility to care for a home/apartment. We take this into consideration at all times and are happy to answer any questions a resident may have."
