Editor’s Note: This is the final story of a three-part series looking at student off-campus housing in Eau Claire.

For the residents of 308 Chippewa St., the events of the night of July 10 were just like any other – hanging out, playing cards, going to bed.

Even when they smelled smoke, they thought maybe the oven was still on.

And then, sophomore Tyler Derby said, smoke began to billow up from the basement.

“We were just sitting around, enjoying an evening,” he said. “In a matter of seconds, the kitchen was just engulfed (in smoke).”

The fire, which was caused by a simple electrical problem in the basement, left much of the house damaged from smoke and forced its residents to find another place to stay for about a month.

While Derby’s situation may be an extreme case, tenants and landlords agree preparation and effective communication are critical to handling instances of damage, from unexpected disaster to general maintenance.

“I think the most important thing is to keep the lines of communication with tenants open,” said Ray Warner, of Warner Rentals.

In Derby and his roommates’ case, Landlord Bob Guse agreed to be flexible with rent while the house was vacant for a month and also after one of the four roommates backed out.

His flexibility, he said, has to do with his general outlook and that he rents out three houses.

“I try to work with (tenants),” Guse said. “Part of it is because I do have a smaller operation.”

Both Warner and Guse advised students to buy renter’s insurance, which is available through most insurance providers. Even though most renters will never have to file a claim, they said insurance can guard tenants against huge monetary losses in cases of fire, flood, extreme vandalism or robbery.

While the danger of large-scale problems always looms, Guse and Warner agreed everyday maintenance and minor damage are much more common issues.

They said that broken windows, for example, usually aren’t major concerns, as long as tenants are honest and agree to take responsibility.

Guse said he tries to be understanding when his tenants express their concerns and notify him of any problems.

“If they have water leaks or something that they notice, I ask that they let me know,” he said. “They’re renting the house, I expect them to take care of it, but I also expect them to live in it.”

Warner, who said he owns a “moderate” amount of student housing, echoed Guse’s sentiments, saying he prefers his tenants to notify him of any maintenance issues, partly because that can prevent damage in the long run.

“Not letting landlords know there is a problem is itself a problem,” he said. “The cost could end up being a lot more than if we were called right away . if there are drippy faucets or the toilet keeps running, costs can add up.”

Warner said a good tenant-landlord relationship has to develop early. He tries to inspire responsibility in his tenants by providing “helpful hints” and teaching them about everyday maintenance tasks associated with having a house.

“I hope it all starts from the first day they see the house,” he said. “Before they move in, I give them a helpful hints sheet and educate them. A lot of kids don’t know what a circuit breaker panel looks like or how to shut a toilet off if it keeps running.”

In light of their experiences, the residents of 308 Chippewa St. advised other students to be cautious.

“Don’t think it can’t happen,” sophomore Andrew Pederson said. “That was the last thing I thought about.”