Francis Donahue, 38, thought it was ridiculous when the landlord from Paradigm Properties asked him to pay a move-in fee and a clean-up fee. He only paid it because he really wanted the apartment he was about to live in.
“When I moved in, the condition was filthy,” Donahue said. “(On) the first day they broke their agreement with me, so I knew it was illegal.”
Donahue isn’t alone in his experiences with renting in Gainesville. At an open dialogue held by the Alachua County Labor Coalition on Tuesday evening, 64 renters in the community expressed the problems they were facing as tenants.
At the meeting held inside the Emmanuel Mennonite Church at 1236 NW 18 Ave., attendees proposed solutions to renting concerns such as a lack of energy efficiency, quality standards and affordable housing.
Speakers included City Commissioner for District 4 Adrian Hayes-Santos and Kali Blount, co-chair of the Alachua County Housing Authority.
The crowd quickly started clapping when the issue of segregation of housing was introduced.
Blount, 61, believes that while racial segregation of housing is illegal, strong economic segregation of housing still exists.
“It is important to obtain mixed income housing, but it must happen across the board. There’s been some willingness in this community to put market rate housing over in the east, that’s good up until a point unless its reciprocal,” Blount said.
Renters also spoke up on landlords not being forthcoming about the rights and responsibilities that come with renting, such as specifics about security deposits and the renter’s right to privacy.
Santos said more transparency is needed when a renter is making housing decisions.
Before a future tenant signs a lease, it’s important they are told about their rights as a renter. This ensures they understand their responsibilities and know what to do as a tenant in a given situation, Santos said.
“I think having these discussions is what makes Gainesville great,” Santos said. “People in our community care. This shows that we have a community that is progressive and advocating for what they believe in.”
Follow Ke'on Christian on Twitter @iamsecond_____ and contact him at keonchristian23@gmail.com.
Follow Madison Rubert on Twitter @madisonrubert and contact her at madisonrubert@ufl.edu.
