The Daily published an article on Nov. 24 titled “Dwelling concerns,” which discussed different ideas for educating students and helping them enforce landlord-tenant code in their area.

While there are resources on campus that students can utilize regarding tenant-landlord agreements — UW Off-campus Housing Affairs (OCHA) offers a Husky Housing Handbook that informs students on tenant rights and obligations — the role the university takes in teaching students their rights as tenants is a backseat role, at best.

The handbook was distributed during an info session during Dawg Daze, and students can also seek out the handbook themselves by visiting the OCHA office in HUB G10, but such a session isn’t mandatory, and many students do not participate in Dawg Daze.

The Daily staff would like to ask the university to take a stronger role in ensuring that off-campus student housing is up to standard and that students know their tenant rights. Many students are renting and signing leases for the first time and simply don’t know any better when it comes to housing violations. Also, because of the size of the university and the limited university housing available, many students are forced to live off campus. If the university cannot accommodate these students, then it should do more to prepare them. The same way the university prepares students academically, it should prepare students practically as well. One option would be for the university to endorse housing that meets a set of approved standards for student living.

While enforcing landlord-tenant code not only keeps residents safe — those at the OCHA talk of helping tenants enforce their rights against rat infestations — there are other reasons for proper tenant code enforcement.

By making sure appliances work properly, students can save money on their utility bills.

According to the Washington State Legislature’s Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, a landlord is obligated to provide fully working appliances if they are part of the rental agreement. By implementing Landlord-Tenant Act section 59.18.060, “landlord duties,” which states that landlords must “maintain all electrical, plumbing, heating, and other facilities and appliances supplied by him in reasonably good working order,” students can have sub-standard appliances replaced.

A different section of 59.18.060 requires landlords to “maintain the dwelling unit in reasonably weathertight condition.”

This can also save tenants some cash. Considering the age of some houses here in North Seattle, there’s a chance that a home may not be up to optimal weathertight conditions. Making sure that rental properties are properly insulated and weather-proofed can save on heating, and, subsequently, electricity bills.

This information is not actively distributed by the university. The OCHA said they will be tabling more frequently next quarter, but that is not enough.

For a university that espouses a clean environment and teaching students to be financially responsible, it does not seem in line with their mission that they take a passive role in educating students of their rights regarding off-campus living.

There is only so much the university can do to affect housing standards off campus, but we believe they can still do a lot more.

This is the opinion of The Daily’s editorial board: Editor-in-Chief Casey Smith, Production Director Colleen Kirsten, Opinion Editor Allen Wagner, Lifestyles Editor Rachel Solomon and News Editor Eric Staples. The Daily’s editorial-board meetings are open to all students. We encourage you to come and discuss campus issues with us next quarter.