The data in the following report are intended to provide useful information about how previous tenants in the University District perceived the level of service they received from their rental company. Survey participants were asked to complete ten online questions relevant to their experience with their respective rental company the previous year. Renters from more than 100 different University District companies responded, 1,366 responses were used in compiling the results for the 23 rental companies included in this report.

The organization of the data is similar to how it was presented in the previous editions to provide an easy presentation and understandable comparison between rental companies. The results for each of the ten questions are presented one at a time, with the companies listed in alphabetical order. The accompanying scores are then presented in graphical format.

We hope that this guide will continue to be a useful tool in helping you decide from whom to rent. However, it is important to gather as much information as possible before making your rental decision. A great resource for such information is the Off Campus Community Services Office, located in the Union. For additional help in finding housing, moving in, living off campus, and moving out, go to http://www.offcampus.osu.edu/housing.asp. We wish you good luck in your renting process.

An email was sent to 5,664 Ohio State students living in the 43201 zip code. The email addresses were obtained from the University Registrar’s Office of the Ohio State University. The sample of students represented all those who lived in the University District this year or in previous years.

The email directed students to an online survey that was active from November 22, 2004 to December 9, 2004. A total of 1,366 students filled out the survey. The results were sorted by questions and rental company, and the results of each question were tabulated. The score of each of the ten questions were obtained by assigning a value to each response, and then calculating the mean of those values. N/A, not sure, and refused responses were not considered in calculating the sores. Scoring for individual questions is as follows: For maintenance concerns 5 points were given for “a couple days,” 3 points for “1-2 weeks,” and 1 point for “2-4 weeks.” For cleanliness, initial repairs, safety confidence, and parking, points were given in descending order of 5, 4, 3, 2, and 1. For the question comparing rates of other properties in the same area, points were given in ascending order of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. For questions concerning security deposits and renting again, the percentage of students indicating ‘yes’ are reported. The overall scores for the rental companies were determined by averaging the individual scores of each question (For the overall score, yes/no questions were included by giving yes responses = 5 and no = 1). The number of responses obtained for each of the published companies ranges from 10 to 154. Those realtors receiving less than 10 survey responses were not included in the analysis. Realtor companies with 55 to 154 survey responses were considered large sized companies. Realtor companies with 22-54 survey responses were considered medium sized companies. Realtor companies with less than 22 survey responses were considered small sized companies. It is important to note that a score received by a company that is higher than a score received by some other company is not necessarily statistically or significantly higher.

In publishing this information, neither the Undergraduate Student Government nor the Ohio State University are endorsing or supporting any company or business over any other; this survey simply provides a direct report of tenant opinions. Because the data contained in this section reflects opinions, different interpretations are possible. The above mentioned organizations assume no responsibility for reader, tenant, or prospective tenant interpretation or reaction to the data. Nothing contained in this data analysis is intended to give legal advice. If you have any questions regarding the law or its application to a given situation, we suggest you consult the OSU Student Housing Legal Clinic or another attorney service.