I'm sorry, I know this is a lot to read, but I promise it will be worth it.
Dear current and future UT Austin students,
WARNING: DO NOT SIGN A LEASE AT UNIVERSITY HOUSE!!! This past fall, my friends and I signed at University House (UH). We signed early, we filled out the paperwork, we paid the deposit. We did everything right...so please explain to me why we were mutually terminated?
One month after adjusting to dorm life (September), upperclassmen began to tell us that if we wanted a good place to stay next year, we would have start looking now. So, being scared freshmen, my suitemates and I set out to find a place to live next school year. We stumbled upon University House. It was perfect. In terms of Austin, it was a great price, had amazing facilities, the staff was friendly, and it was close to campus! I didn't think it could get any better--and it didn't. It got worse. Unimaginably worse.
Over Christmas Break, almost three months after we had signed our leases, I got a phone call from a number in the Austin area code. Surprise! It was one of the managers at University House. (I don't want to slander any names, so I will refer to this specific manager as Manager 1). Manager 1 informed me that I would be receiving a mutual termination email from University House. I probably should have asked more questions or given the phone to my dad, but I didn't think about it. What could go wrong if I had already signed my lease?
University House over-leased. They let kids sign for more apartments than they had available. Recently, they have claimed that this situation only happened to 40 people, but I, myself, know 10 people in the exact same situation and each day I hear of more. Immediately, my first question was: why would you over-lease? To that, they responded that it is required by the corporate office.
Next, I asked: if over-leasing is required, why weren't we informed that we would be on a waitlist or that all units were filled? They claimed that it wasn't important for us to be told. However, I think that, if three months after I sign a contract it is terminated, then I should have been aware of the possibility. In fact, when my roommates and I asked about the availability and the likelihood that we would be placed together they said there were 20 bed spaces left and 12 rooms. Yet, we were still terminated.
You do not want to live in a place you can't trust, and you certainly cannot trust University House. As I said before, UH told us that they were required to over-lease. However, after the Daily Texan broke the story (https://www.dailytexanonline.com/2018/01/23/univer...), they came out and claimed that it was a one-time software error. According to another UT Student and Manager 1, this happened last year. Much like myself, more students were enraged and we are doing what we can to be compensated or at least make sure this doesn't happen again. Please read https://austinuniversityhouse.com/ for more details.
To continue, most students would not take the time to sit down and read a lease. But, I did. I am pre-law and I just felt as though I should know what I was getting myself into. Therefore, when I received my mutual termination email, myself and my friends scoured the lease looking for this term "mutual termination." I can assure you it was not mutual. I did not agree to this.
When we didn't find anything, we headed up to UH to inquire about how this had occurred. Unfortunately, it was a Saturday and no managers work on the weekend (and apparently they no longer respond to email either), so a sales consultant attempted to help us. Consultant 1 said that the contract states that any termination will be called a mutual one. Therefore, I read the lease again--it is not in there.
However, since we were not able to speak to a manager, we will be going back soon. Not to yell or scream, but to get our deposits back. Although we feel we are entitled to more compensation, we do not want to lose the opportunity to get our money back, because UH definitely cannot give me back the time they wasted.
In addition, there are many other situations that have not been brought to light. My current roommate also signed the lease with me, and then, for reasons of her own, decided she no longer wanted to live there. She immediately went to cancel her lease; however, (without even asking her the date that she signed) Manager 2 said that she would luck out and not have to pay $400 cancellation fee because they over-leased. They knew. They lie. They will continue to lie.
Secondly, I speculate that terminations are much like divorce papers. In order to have a divorce, you need to be informed of and physically handed the paper. This is why they called us in advance, verified our identities, and then emailed us the termination. However, one of my friends was overseas and could not pick up the call, yet his contract was terminated, but they said he did not fill out everything needed. Many others who also were unable to pick up the call received similar emails, but they all claim they filled out everything. Therefore, I speculate this was a legal means of covering any problems.
Later, over the break, I received another call from Manager 2 saying that if I had not already signed a lease somewhere else (I had) then a room was now available. But of course, the price was significantly higher. How did a unit randomly open up if they had to cancel so many leases? Likewise, another girl recently posted on Facebook saying that, although her lease was not canceled, UH contacted her saying that to live there her contract would be amended to pay more per month.
On the bright side, she informed me UT Legal Services is free and included in student tuition. They are happy to hear your story and help you in any way possible. Therefore, we will also be going there if this situation continues to spiral downward.
Ultimately, I need thank some people before ending my warning. First, Skyloft- while the prices are much higher, the staff was amazing! They offered us their model room, gave us a 2% discount, and walked us through the entire process. Second, my parents--they are already spending thousands and thousands of dollars for me to attend UT, yet even with all of this they have continued to be nothing but supportive in my academic endeavors and anything I want to do regarding UH. Finally, I extend the biggest thank-you to none other that University House--you guys taught me that it is time to grow up. The world is going to be full of corruption and everyone is looking out for their own best interest. However, students, I am looking out for all of you. Please, if you look to sign at University House next year, be careful.
Sincerely,
Your fellow (devastated) student
P.S. More information to come
