Build Relationships

It is important to remember, willing or not, that students are ambassadors of LSU to the community. When making the choice to live off campus, students join a community that extends beyond LSU. As a result, there are certain benefits to be gained, but also additional responsibilities. Neighbors and their children form an opinion of LSU students based on the actions they observe. The residential communities surrounding Baton Rouge continually strive to maintain a quality of life that recognizes and respects all residents, including students. Success in achieving this objective requires commitment from everyone. There are steps you can take to create a supportive atmosphere of mutual respect. The values of good citizenship will serve you well for the rest of your life.

Get Acquainted

Foster good relations within your neighborhood by meeting others who live there, especially those who reside immediately adjacent to your house. Introduce yourself and give neighbors your full name, the name of others who live in the house, several phone numbers, and even an e-mail address. Problems that arise later will be easier to resolve if you start by getting acquainted.

Obey neighborhood standards and policies called deed restrictions or homeowner covenants built into either the rental contracts or home purchasing guidelines that restrict certain practices to maintain property values in the area. Some restrictions may focus on landscaping, fencing, parking, and property maintenance.

Find out about the neighborhood maintenance processes. Know when the garbage collection is conducted. Promptly remove the empty trash bin from the street. Grooming the house and yard is a duty for all homeowners. Learn how neighbors dispose of cut grass and tree clippings and other disposables.
 

Be Considerate

Everyone has the right to live peacefully and quietly. The neighbors may leave early in the morning for work. They may have children who need to catch an early school bus. They have the right to call the police if their rights to a peaceful existence are infringed.

If you expect to have frequent guests, inform them about neighborhood parking and noise restrictions ahead of time. When planning parties, let the neighbors know in advance, and remind them how to contact you if it gets too noisy. The neighbors will appreciate the courtesy and may be a bit more lenient about noise levels if they are given some advance notice. Keep in mind that just because you let them know about the party doesn’t mean that you can be unreasonable in the expectation of their goodwill. And, being courteous enough to notify the neighbors before one party does not mean that they will put up with it every weekend.
 

Get Involved

Developing and maintaining a sense of well-being is an integral part of the community that takes some work. Getting involved with your neighbors can make a big difference in how you feel about the community. Consider joining the local neighborhood association. Then, work to make your neighborhood an even better place to live. Some neighborhoods have Neighborhood Watch or Citizens on Patrol corps to help keep a watchful eye on their subdivision. Finally, consider volunteering to work at local community fairs and other public events. These kinds of participation help students develop social and leadership skills and look great on a resume. For more information regarding a neighborhood association in your area, contact the Federation of Greater Baton Rouge Civic Associations at 225/926-1459.

Multi-unit rental properties should be considered neighborhoods, too. To develop a stronger sense of unity and investment among tenants, residents who live in rental properties should encourage the property owner/manager to organize a tenants’ association. This is a great way to keep all residents informed of important events on the property. The association can organize social events, hold monthly meetings, and develop a newsletter or e-mail listserve.