Faculty, staff and students considering nearby off campus housing might consider University owned houses.
The Physical Plant staff, who administer The University's 27 rental houses around campus, have a priority rental program, said Jeannie Smith, Physical Plant director of business operations.
"Priority goes to incoming faculty and staff," Smith said. "This is a courtesy to people relocating to Memphis."
Returning faculty and staff are next on the list, followed by U of M students.
"We normally don't have many students apply for these rental properties because the monthly rents are high," Smith said. "Only recently have I rented to students."
Three available rental houses listed on the Physical Plant Web site have monthly rents that range from $1,397 to $1,575.
Smith said most of the properties go for more than $1,000 per month.The University rents properties to staff, faculty, students and others with "priority given to University affiliated individuals and to those with duties requiring housing near the campus," according to the Web site.
Students living in one of the rental properties on Deloach have generated some complaints from neighbors who cite noise and partying as problems.
"There was incessant entertaining all summer long," said one Deloach resident who spoke anonymously. "There's nothing evil about what's going on over there. They just like to have a good time."
Tuesday at noon, five cars were parked in a rental house's driveway at 242 Deloach.
"There are just too many people over there," the anonymous neighbor said. "This was a situation that was finessed on the neighborhood without anyone's approval."
John Canter, a resident at 242 Deloach, said he moved into the house with his three roommates because it was close to campus and the price was about the same as comparably sized houses or apartments.
Canter's roommate Anthony Troxel, a senior marketing management major, said they lucked out on finding the house.
"One of our roommates was driving by and saw the for lease sign," Troxel said. "We ended up signing it that day."
The U of M's house at 242 Deloach currently rents for around $1300, Troxel said.
Canter, a sophomore graphic design major, said he and his roommates have had some complaints from neighbors on Deloach.
Canter is a member of Lambda Chi Alpha, a fraternity in the process of regaining its charter.
"We're trying to keep the noise down and keep people from being over here late," Canter said.
Troxel, Lambda Chi Alpha president, said the fraternity just leased two houses on Watauga.
Canter said he expects the traffic through the house to slow down considerably now that the fraternity has a place to hold meetings and functions.
"We had a couple of noise complaints at the beginning of the semester on Deloach," said Derek Meyers, deputy director of Police Services. "I can't recall having seen any incidents recently."
Jeannie Smith said that renters are expected to "peaceably occupy the houses and maintain their condition."
As far as having The University for a landlord, Canter said that it's kind of strange writing rent checks to The U of M, but they do take care of all the landscaping and maintenance.
Despite those perks, however, there is a possible downside.
"The University can hold your grades if you don't pay rent," Canter said, referring to whoever puts their name on the lease.
The University, more specifically the Tennessee Board of Regents, owns almost all of the houses on Deloach between Central and Poplar. According to the Shelby County Assessor of Property Web site, the Board of Regents State University Community College System of Tennessee owns 18 homes on Deloach. The total appraised value of these 18 lots and buildings in 2004 was $4,188,100.
