While several prominent local property managers are not opposed to the Student Senate’s idea to create a tenant union, some are in agreement that it is not necessary.

“I wouldn’t say there’s never a need for one,” Jim Wood, owner of Wood Rentals, said Monday. “I don’t know how drastic the need is.”

The Student Senate housing committee is currently working on a tenant union project that will be designed as a support network for off-campus students that may help them deal with landlord issues and find housing.

“If (students) feel like they need to have one, that’s okay,” Wood added.

Similarly to Wood, Yvette Paddock, property manager for Unique Home Properties, said Wednesday that the union would benefit students, but she doesn’t see a direct need for the group.

“I don’t know that it’s necessary,” she said. “But if students feel that it’s a positive thing, I’m sure that it would work for the students.

“It can’t be hurtful to me as well as the business.”

However, Teresa Nichols, property manager for Olde Towne Apartments, added that many students are unaware of poor quality housing in the area and the tenant union might be of aid for that issue.

“I do realize that there is a lot of housing in Charleston where I wouldn’t want to live,” she said. “I don’t think it’s a bad idea by any means. I mean, where do they get help?”

The senate currently provides services for students regarding landlords and

off-campus students; however, the tenant union would combine the services already provided including maintaining the little-used landlord registration system in the Student Government Office.

The union would work with Student Legal Services as well to solve student problems with landlords, a service Wood said is already provided by legal services, Wood said.

Wood said he refers every student who is moving off campus to Student Legal Services to learn what to look out for and other various aspects that accompany living off campus.

Joan Bell, owner of Bell Red Door Apartments, said Wednesday that she doesn’t feel a need for a union because their office has a representative available for student questions, problems or “whatever their needs are.”

“It doesn’t make any difference to me. We don’t really have that many problems,” she said. “If a tenant wants a union, that’s fine with me.”

And Gale Poteete, owner of Poteete Property Rentals, said Monday a tenant union would be of importance for students in order to educate them about living off campus.

“Anything to educate students about the seriousness of renting the place I think is very important,” she said.

But, Poteete said the purpose of the union would have to be clear and not against landlords, “if they trash the landlords, then I don’t like that.”

“I think it could be beneficial to both parties as long as it’s done right,” she said.

On the other side of the spectrum, Bell said the need is more prominent on the landlord side.

“I think there needs to be a landlord union,” in order to decide what rates to charge to students, she said.