I don’t want to wax poetic about this but lanlord/private property rights are at an all time low.
Here is what one of the more liberal contributors to a landlord forum stated:
“A couple of days ago, I attended a local “income property expo” for landlords. One of the speakers was a local attorney who handles only landlord-tenant cases (representing landlords-a large firm) who told about attending a white-house conference on this subject.
A white-house conference?
It seems that the white-house is developing a federal program to attack the “eviction crisis” in America. The attorney, bright, knowledgeable, makes his living by helping landlords, had some interesting things to say about the subject.
Landlords, as a group, are not realizing the problem. Other than some large, national housing firms, smaller landlords do not contribute money, take an active role in the politics of the problem, and, outside of California and some other areas where the landlord’s problem has already become a reality, don’t even recognize the problem and the future of the problem.
“The usual responses to discussions about this problem consist of diatribes against Socialism (never mind that the contributor doesn’t seem to even understand on even the high school level, what Socialism really is), complaints about C-level residents, about rules and homemade lease clauses, private property rights, and just plain complaints about interference with landlord’s right to greed.
My attorney lecturer points out in a very insightful way, that landlords are part of the problem, rather than part of the solution. They insist that their interests are in their right to make money without limitation, rather than seeing the problem as national one of providing shelter for all Americans and that their interest, including financial, lies in joining that cause.
He suggests a national movement, financed by landlords, and guided by landlords’ interests, to develop models for good landlording, including tenant relationships, proper maintenance, and avoidance of eviction as first remedy to problems, and including PAC type funding.
Who here contributes $100,000 yearly to the cause of preventing eviction control? Thats 27% of gross rentals, based on 10 properties @ $3,000 per month. I can afford it, and would, if I thought that there was enough enthusiasm for others to contribute, too.
Those who choose to ignore the problem will wait until it is too late, because they think that they are immune. Bur it is the wave of the future, and will ultimately prevail, and only those who participate in the winning side of the war will have any opportunity to shape the aftermath of the war.”
Hmmmm I object to the term “greed.”
This liberal does realize that most landlords, like most people, are motivated by a profit motive? Therefore, it is best to let the market work for them without such interference as rent control, forcing hotels to take on homeless people, and so on.
And does this liberal also realize that most cases of homelessness are related to drug abuse and/or mental illness, rather than some people simply being down on their luck?
I’m fine with sheltering as many Americans* as possible, even if some subsidy is needed in certain cases. But for that to be successful, the people in need themselves have to meet certain metrics — get off drugs, get help for mental problems, find a job of some sort, make restitution or serve time for crimes committed, etc. — so that they simply don’t become a drag on the providers.
*U.S. Citizens, green card holders and LEGAL residents.
“avoidance of eviction as first remedy to problems”
I don’t know where you operate, but where I’m at eviction is just about the only remedy still legally available to landlords.
Socialism - the jackass who wrote this hasn’t got a clue about economics, property ownership, property values, etc. while no longer in the landlord business, I can personally testify to the exaggerated idea that tenants have of their position. Had a place that belonged to my mother who died. Rented it out at a fairly low rent primarily to keep squatters out. Got the zoning changed and sold it to a developer. The tenants were incensed that I didn’t offer it to them for rent to own. I told them at their rent rate it would take them 150 years to pay for the place at their cheap rent rate and that would be if I didn’t charge interest. That shut them up. They found another place, the developer let them out of the lease, and then demolished the house. So now it’s a vacant lot awaiting proper economic times for development. And the tenants got a lesson in what a good deal they were getting. I was getting tired of them anyway. The handle on the toilet broke and they called a plumber who charged me $250 to fix an $10 part.