This post points up a major problem with the rental business. Landlords see
themselves at war with their own clients - their renters. If any business
were this miserable for its owner(s), they would abandon it for something
else.
But it's not. It's a huge, wealth-making business, often at the expense of
decent living conditions for their clients, and most landlords would just as
soon limit their clientele to nice, well-heeled white folks. But they buy
into areas they themselves declare risky, then whine about the risks and
ignore the conditions of their buildings using their terrible renters as
excuses for withholding repairs and maintenance that would make the living
conditions � and their relationships with renters - better.
All the while they rake in the money.
Andy Driscoll
Saint Paul
--------
I (cannot) submit the whole system of my opinions to the creed of any party
of men (and women) whatever in religion, in philosophy, in politics, or in
anything else where I was capable of thinking for myself. Such an addiction
is the last degradation of a free and moral agent.
--- Thomas Jefferson (updated)
> From: Gary Bowman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Date: Sun, 8 Dec 2002 21:19:03 -0800 (PST)
> To: Minneapolis Issues <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: Re: [Mpls] Real and Imagined Risks
>
> I would remind Mr. Mork, and the list, rental property owners take risks
> beyond what's suggested below.
>
> Yes, landlords do cushion themselves with first and last months rent (or one
> months rent and a deposit). However, a less than honorable tenant can
> quickly do far more damage to a property than this "cushion"- especially if
> they decide "it's not my property, so why should I care?". I'm not implying
> all, or even most, renters would do intentional damage. But, guessing a
> month's rent to be about $500-600 and a deposit of perhaps equal, it would
> take not paying a month's rent and some carpet damage to level this
> "cushion".
>
> For small property owners, such as an owner-occupied duplex or fourplex,
> such a hit is a HUGE risk to take. And, if this small property owner doesn't
> have other resources to repair damage done, it is going to be difficult to
> keep your property value up, or even be able to continue to rent your
> property.
>
> Let's remember, rental property owners serve a needed function in
> Minneapolis. They provide a place for people not ready, willing, or able to
> buy a place. Let's remember this before we start the subtle name-calling on
> rental property owners.
>
> Gary Bowman Audubon Park
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