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Posted by a renter on April 08, 2000 at 20:33:07:

In Reply to: Does rent control really help tenants? posted by Michael on April 08, 2000 at 18:29:38:

: An opposite viewpoint to consider (from a would-be renter in NYC).

: http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-274es.html

Interesting.

The reality is that in a city like New York where no one gives a rat's behind about anyone else all hell would break loose if suddenly all rent policies were abolished. Right now there are not enough decent apartments that are priced for regular working people. A person making $10. an hour, nearly TWICE the minimum wage cannot afford to rent an apartment here unless they are luckky enough to find a stabilized unit in a building where the landlord is only raising the vacant apartment per the current rules.

Neighborhoods would be turned upside down as lanlords would raise their rates whenever they felt like it to whatever amount they want. God forbid if you live in a neighborhood that becomes the flavor of the week. Look at Brooklyn Heights as an example. Ask Denis Hamill about Brooklyn Heights.

What if controls were all gone and you found an apartment in a decent area? What if the landlord was a nice guy in the beginning and rents you a place for $900 a month? The person scrapes together enough to pay a month's rent and a month's security and moves in.

Then they live hand to mouth but always pay their rent on time. They're no trouble, hardworking, clean. Do you think they'll sleep well at night knowing that they're at the mercy of that landlord, that at any moment he could knock on their door and say, "I have to raise your rent to $1,500 starting next month." The tenant gasps and says, "We can't pay that much, we only make about $500 a month more than the rent is currently." Landlord says, "Well, sorry to hear that. See ya. I'll just rent this crackerbox to Buffy and Fifi for triple what you paid, you know why? Because I CAN!"

Now these people who have all their belongings in their apartment have to, within 30 days, not only find another place to live at whatever rent that LL chooses to charge, but they also have to physically move. It's hard enough to stay afloat as it is. What if they don't have the funds to move? Toss their stuff in the street?

Follow Ups:

• Re: Does rent control really help tenants? brenda 04/10/00 (1)
  • Re: Does rent control really help tenants? Nick 04/20/00 (0)

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Comments:
: : An opposite viewpoint to consider (from a would-be renter in NYC).

: : http://www.cato.org/pubs/pas/pa-274es.html

: Interesting.

: The reality is that in a city like New York where no one gives a rat's behind about anyone else all hell would break loose if suddenly all rent policies were abolished.  Right now there are not enough decent apartments that are priced for regular working people.  A person making $10. an hour, nearly TWICE the minimum wage cannot afford to rent an apartment here unless they are luckky enough to find a stabilized unit in a building where the landlord is only raising the vacant apartment per the current rules.

: Neighborhoods would be turned upside down as lanlords would raise their rates whenever they felt like it to whatever amount they want.  God forbid if you live in a neighborhood that becomes the flavor of the week.  Look at Brooklyn Heights as an example.  Ask Denis Hamill about Brooklyn Heights.

: What if controls were all gone and you found an apartment in a decent area?  What if the landlord was a nice guy in the beginning and rents you a place for $900 a month?  The person scrapes together enough to pay a month's rent and a month's security and moves in.

: Then they live hand to mouth but always pay their rent on time.  They're no trouble, hardworking, clean.  Do you think they'll sleep well at night knowing that they're at the mercy of that landlord, that at any moment he could knock on their door and say, "I have to raise your rent to $1,500 starting next month."  The tenant gasps and says, "We can't pay that much, we only make about $500 a month more than the rent is currently."  Landlord says, "Well, sorry to hear that.  See ya.  I'll just rent this crackerbox to Buffy and Fifi for triple what you paid, you know why?  Because I CAN!" 

: Now these people who have all their belongings in their apartment have to, within 30 days, not only find another place to live at whatever rent that LL chooses to charge, but they also have to physically move.  It's hard enough to stay afloat as it is.  What if they don't have the funds to move?  Toss their stuff in the street?



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