Area landlords busy as semester ends

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May 19, 2012

Area landlords busy as semester ends

By Mark Boshnack Staff Writer The Daily Star Sat May 19, 2012, 03:30 AM EDT

Although graduation will take place for SUNY Oneonta students Saturday, things are not slowing down for the landlords who rent to them.

The next two weeks are very difficult, said Peter Clark Student Rentals office manager Karey Foster. The firm owns 39 buildings and manages 12 others. Staff will be inspecting apartments for those who are leaving and getting things ready for those arriving for summer classes. This can involve finding storage for those who are coming back in the fall but don't want to take everything home.

"We had a very good year," said owner Peter Clark. "We are very pleased with the kids we have. For the amount of business we do, we have very few headaches."

Employees will work all summer long getting ready for students in the fall, because there are so many units to look after, he said. All but two of the 138 apartments are already rented.

Over the last few years, as the State University College at Oneonta has become more selective, the quality of the students has improved, he said, adding that there are very few from Hartwick who rent there. That college holds its graduation May 26.

Eric Johnston, a graduating SUNY Oneonta senior, was packing his belongings in a moving van Friday. For the last three years he has lived in a student rental at 22 East Street. His landlord, Jeff Dudley, did not return a call for comment.

But Johnston, a criminal justice major from Buffalo, said he has been living in the same apartment for three years. He said he found a good landlord and will miss Oneonta.

"I've met a lot of good friends and had some good times," he said.

Oneonta council member Russ Southard has three student rental properties in the city, with 12 apartments. With students moving out, and a new season starting June 1, "this is a busy time of year," he said.

With a local partner, "we will work a lot of nights cleaning and painting," he said.

People are not supposed to leave their furniture, but inevitably there is a necessary trip to the transfer station, he said. They have been renting to students for about six years.

"They are good, engaging kids," for the most part, he said. "We are already full for next year."

Nathan Batalion, manages or owns between 15-20 properties through his Quality Rentals business. He has started inspecting those units. "Some are neat, and some are like World War III, but most are somewhere in between," he said.

"It will be quite a push" getting about a dozen ready for June 1 rentals, he said, adding that the business has gotten harder because of the economy.

"We do a juggling act," opening up some rentals to families this year to help fill the rental gaps because students aren't willing to pay what they used to, he said.