this post was submitted on 23 Dec 2023
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[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Is this post saying that if the landlord CAN afford the house without you paying rent, then it's justified, and in that case they ARE providing you housing?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Thanks for reminding me to pay rent today :/

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago (2 children)

But Isn't that how all business works?

Customers pay for things and that payment pays to keep the business going.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (1 children)

The business in this case being what? What good or service is being provided? Landlords didn't create the land, nor did they build the residence, nor did they improve its value by building a community around it. They are benefiting off of the work of others simply because they "own" it. The most common arguments I hear in support of landlords are:

  1. Landlords take care of maintenance. Maintenance costs don't increase 20% a year. If rent was simply maintenance costs it would be a fraction of what it currently is
  2. Landlords allow people who cannot afford a home a place to stay. Why do you think they can't afford a home? It's like saying without scalpers people wouldn't be able to see concerts because the tickets are instantly purchased by bots.
[–] [email protected] 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Landlords take on risk. For example, when I rented an apartment, I came home one day to a plumbing disaster. I called emergency maintenance and left. The landlord fixed it and paid for my hotel in the meantime. As a home owner now, that would be entirely on me to figure out. I'm pretty handy, but I have no disrespect for someone who doesn't want to be responsible for that.

More importantly, selling a house costs about 10% of the value of the house, and the first few years of a mortgage you're mostly paying interest. If you move every 3 years, it's actually cheaper to rent than to buy. It's just that your money is going to a landlord instead of to banks and realtors.

So while I see your argument that landlords don't "deserve" the money they make, practically they're an important part of the housing market, and I respect people who make an informed decision to rent.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

And people who have no choice but to rent, and get fucked over repeatedly because of it?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 9 months ago (1 children)

What do you mean no choice? There's always a choice.

Realistically many people don't have a choice to buy, because they don't have the credit score, reliable income, or down payment, but I don't see why that blame falls on landlords and not on the banks or the government?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Because plenty of folks would have a solid down payment, or better credit score, if rent wasn't so damn high. Likewise affordable rent would make it easier for folks to move to places where they could get the type of stable job necessary for a mortgage, etc. It's not the only reason folks don't have the economic resources at hand, but it's usually the biggest expense in ones budget, no?

Greedy landlords are the problem, imho, and unfortunately every landlord except exactly one I've rented from (out of about ten in total) have been greedy assholes.

As for a fix: housing is a right, imho. I'm not an economist so anything I offer will be full of holes, but some way of securing that people have stable, safe, comfortable housing is essential. Making sure people can't exploit the need for shelter is a big component of whatever fix we need.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Something Something housing should be a right not a business

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (2 children)

I don't know what you millenial z's or something keep complaining about - just buy a detached single family house with a backyard in the city for 125k and pay up your 1% interest rate mortgage within 10 years while your wife keeps it clean and drinks herself to death while resenting you daily, like any civilized 30 year old with a job for life and guaranteed payout pension does!

Is the /s really necessary?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Man. Every time I see it again spelled out, how smooth these disingenuous decrepit assholes had it when they were my age, I start wishing for a claymore and a stump.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

Is the /s really necessary?

Depending on the age range, someone might think you are being serious. I'd just leave it.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Paying a bank hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest is also robbery. what did the bank do? Were rich and did paperwork. Wow so irreplaceable and valuable. Think of all the poor people they swindled to get there! Amazing 😍

[–] [email protected] 1 points 9 months ago

The bank isnt even that rich... They are allowed to just dream up the money from nothing and lend it to you.

And if you miss a payment, they get to reposses a real asset.

This is the biggest scam in history. The bank lends you imaginary money, and then reposesses a real asset