Are you a renter in Bloomington seeking guidance on the rental process?
“R101: Renting in Bloomington,” a one-day course co-sponsored by Bloomington Housing and Neighborhood Development, will go over subjects like money management, safety, leasing and more. The class will be from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday in the Indiana Memorial Union Dogwood Room.
Angela Van Rooy, HAND neighborhood services program manager, said Wednesday that 58 people had registered and the room has an occupancy of 75. She encouraged attendees to register ahead of time but said they will accommodate as many who show up as possible. Van Rooy said the presentation and a recording of the class will be available online after.
The class will be taught by staff from HAND, IU Student Legal Services, IU MoneySmarts and the Monroe County Apartment Association and is free to all Bloomington renters. Van Rooy said about two-thirds of Bloomington residents rent.
“We really want folks to understand all that goes into it and to know what resources are available in the community if they should need help,” Van Rooy said.
It will also cover discrimination in housing, trash and outdoor maintenance responsibilities and tenant and landlord rights. There will also be time for questions, according to the class syllabus.
In-person attendees who complete an exit survey can get discounts if they sign leases from four property management companies: Abodes, Inc., PMI Meridian Management, Gray Residential and Elkins Apartments. Some of the offers include waived application fees, free internet service for six months to a year and a discounted security deposit.
But beyond the class, Van Rooy said HAND has resources renters should keep in mind.
Its rental inspection program requires all residential rental properties, except those owned by IU, be registered with and inspected by the city. HAND also does complaint inspections if renters have a problem their landlord won’t address. Renters must have reached out to their landlord about the issue before contacting HAND about the complaint, Van Rooy said.
In the past week, she said a number of residents reported their heat being out during the extreme cold.
Van Rooy said HAND also offers a rental deposit assistance program with a $500 limit, which residents can learn more about by calling the department at 812-349-3420.
“If people are in need, if they’re behind on their rent — or ideally before they get far behind on their rent — when they’re feeling a financial crunch and needing some assistance, I would encourage people to reach out to us so we can help and point them in the right direction,” Van Rooy said.
Student Legal Services offers free lease reviews before signing to IU students. Students can make appointments on its website.
Van Rooy said Renting in Bloomington used to be an annual class. Depending on the turnout, she said HAND could make it a yearly event again to showcase the services out there for renters.
