Horror Stories:It?s no secret that students living downtown have been exposed to broken bathrooms, faulty utilities and unsanitary basements.According to Seven Days, students pay from $550 to $750 a month for a single bedroom, yet many landlords decide to pocket the high cost of rent rather than improving the properties.In addition, the vacancy rate of Burlington continues to be lower than two percent, according to the 2011 Allen & Brooks Residential Report.?The increase in enrollment from UVM since the late 1970s has put tremendous pressure on housing in Burlington,? Brian Pine, assistant director for housing and neighborhood revitalization in Burlington?s Community and Economic Development Office said.The production of new housing has just not been able to keep pace, he said.Thus, many students that live downtown face steep rent prices and landlords will only provide the bare minimum when it comes to code enforcement, Pine said.Senior Claire Crismas said she experienced a particularly bad landlord when she was leasing a Hill Gardens apartment, in which rain would enter the complex in the summers.?There was a layer of water over the carpet that was so fetid you couldn?t breathe,? Crismas said. ?It squished when you stepped and you could see patches of mold on the carpet.?The landlord eventually fixed it?two months later, she said, but never replaced the carpet. ?Supply and Demand:?When there is a lot of demand for apartments downtown and a limited quantity, the landlords have little pressure to improve the buildings,? professor of Community Development and Applied Economics Joshua Farley said.Conventionally, when the price of rent goes up the supply will go up, Farley said.?But for apartments that is difficult, you can build larger and larger buildings but you will never see an increase in the availability of land, since the amount of land is fixed,? he said. ?Hence, landlords can charge higher prices, even though they provide no additional work or benefits.?However, Farley said there could be a solution.?One thing that the city could do that would be fair is to shift the taxes from buildings to land in a way for it be revenue neutral,? he said. The current tax on buildings penalizes improvements on the property since it would increase the taxes the landlord pays, Farley said.But if land is taxed instead, the condition of the property wouldn?t matter, since the land would be taxed regardless, he said.?The tax on a piece of vacant land would be the same as the tax on a lot that holds 20 rental units,? he said. ?The lot with the 20 rental units would have the income to pay for the land tax. In my view, the value of land is created by society and by nature.??How to protect yourself, according to Linda Ayer, Code Enforcement Administrator1) Document the apartment before signing the lease: Take pictures of the apartment before you move in. If the landlord wants to retain the security deposit, you have photos as proof against the damages claimed.2) Ask to see the certificate of compliance: Certificates of compliance are issued to ensure the property was inspected and is in compliance.3) Have a healthy line of communication with your landlord: Work with your landlord. If something needs repair, give them a reasonable timeline to get it fixed.