Students renters in Sacramento are being held liable for leases that were signed months prior to the COVID-19 outbreak for the 2020-2021 lease term. However, now that universities throughout California have moved to online learning only, student renters are stuck. Despite the ongoing pandemic, landlords are holding all students liable to leases that are not even in effect yet with virtually no way of terminating the lease. 

Many of these complexes require or incentivize renters to renew their leases months in advance, with no option to cancel the lease in the event of unforeseen events. Worse, the pricing schemes that apartments use to pressure students and their families into signing early leases are steep and, in some cases, in violation of AB 1482’s anti rent-gouging provisions. For example, students at one complex were given the option to renew their leases in December at a rate $5 higher per month than the 2019-2020 rate of $834. Had those students waited until the end of their lease to renew, they would have faced an increase of $200-$250 per month. This amounts to a 20-25% rent increase, far higher the 8.5% allowed under AB 1482. Now, the only option many students have is to buy out the full cost of their upcoming lease, which amounts to over $10,000 in many cases.

There are plenty of students who have tested positive for COVID-19 within all these properties who continue to use shared facilities and amenities, with the full knowledge of the property management.  Additionally, over half of the apartment rooms are shared. We have no control over who we are paired with, who will be entering and leaving our shared spaces, and if they have been in contact with someone who has COVID-19. The reality is that it is extremely difficult to practice appropriate physical distancing in many of these cases and students are safer and better off returning to their family homes to shelter in place during this pandemic.

A large majority of students and their families have lost their jobs due to the shutdown and cannot afford an unnecessary expense of a vacant apartment. We were originally told by these properties that there would be a fix to benefit both parties (renters and landlords); yet at the last minute they turned us all down. We waited weeks for their responses concerning how COVID-19 would impact us as residents, but it was never received. For weeks they did not pick up their office phones and shut the doors to the front office to avoid contact with residents. Every response from their end became delayed to waste the time of student renters so that we would be forced to keep our leases. 

During this difficult time, we need someone on our side. Large corporations and management for these properties are not putting the safety of their residents first. Nor are they being understanding of the difficult and confusing situations students are now facing. Sign on in support of student tenants and their families. Together, we can win a way out of these extortionate leases! And if you are a Sac State student and want to get more involved, contact us at sactenantsunion@gmail.com.