Landlords and representatives from several student housing and apartment complexes lined the atrium of the Memorial Union for the second Renter’s Fair of the year at the University of Maine. An announcement was put out a few months prior to invite landlords with open places to be a part of the fair.
Representatives from The Grove, Orchard Trails, Dryden Terrace, Washburn Apartments, The Avenue and Cross Properties were in attendance, looking to fill empty spaces in their respective complexes.
The Grove and Orchard Trails were each seeking to fill three and four bedroom apartments. Dryden Terrace, on College Avenue, holds mostly families and the elderly, but do accommodate a number of UMaine students. Washburn typically has two bedroom apartments, and its new neighbors, The Avenue, have from one to five bedroom apartments available in their newly built complex.
Most landlords urge their residents to get renters insurance when they sign their leases for cases such as the recent burglaries.
“Also, getting to know your neighbors — making that connection, a lot of students make the mistake of not doing that,” Moriah Geer, a representative from UMaine Student Employment, said.
She suggests that students make sure they are smart about who they bring home and who their roommates are bringing home.
When asked about the burglaries that affected the Orono area over winter break, most of the landlords and other representatives said the same thing—to keep everything locked.
“A dark and empty [house], it’s inviting for people who are into that kind of work,” Chad Bradbury, a representative from KC Management, said. “Students need to lock their doors [and] windows.”
“Everybody can be a victim of burglary,” Geer added.
The burglaries were an uncommon occurrence, according to Orono Police Chief Josh Ewing. Landlords at the Renter’s Fair are taking the opportunity to encourage their residents to be cautious and smart about their locks.
