Politicians have been pitting landlords and tenants against one another during this crisis without taking any responsibility themselves. Many tenants cannot pay full rent and many landlords are smaller property owners who rely on rent income to make their mortgage, tax, and insurance payments. By irresponsibly advocating for a “cancel rent” movement, politicians are instigating landlords and tenants to fight with one another over CRUMBS while they support legislation to help big corporations. Government cannot ask individuals to house other individuals for free. A rental fund needs to be established for those who need it. Property taxes should be suspended if evictions are halted and governments should mandate suspension of mortgage and insurance payments. Right now, mortgage companies are NOT required to suspend payments and many mortgage companies are requiring, that if payments are suspended, they become due as bulk payments.

For once and for all, our government needs to step up to the responsibility of providing safe and affordable housing for its citizens and not ask other citizens to do this on their behalf.

Not all landlords are huge greedy corporations and not all tenants are vulnerable and poor. If a tenant owes rent, they may be held liable for rent but if a landlord falls behind on mortgage or taxes, THEY CAN LOSE THEIR PROPERTY. Do you see the difference? An outstanding rent bill versus losing hundreds of thousands of dollars saved and put into the land and structure. The situation is complicated and the government needs to take the lead on taking care of the people who need it.

When eviction moratoriums are put into place, politicians are NOT informing the public that rent is still an obligation.  They’re behaving as though rent is optional and that’s what many tenants end up believing.  Be responsible and:

1) Stop with the #cancelrent rhetoric.  Rent is a contracted obligation.  

2) Inform tenants that if they can pay they should pay.  Many people are now receiving unemployment plus an extra $600 a week.  

3) If tenants cannot pay, they should be directed to work out a payment plan with their landlords and be in communication with their landlords.  Establish a mediation task force to help tenants and landlords work things out over the phone if necessary.  Establish a rental assistance fund for those who truly need it.

4) An eviction moratorium means that many landlords may not see any rent money owed to them.  Let’s be realistic: what will happen at the end of the moratorium?  Courts will be backed up for a while and the judges may just cancel any amount owed.  Provide relief by suspending property tax bills, at the very least.

5) Stop being so annoying.  A strong middle class is KEY to a strong nation and economy (Economics 101).  Stop piling bills for to help the poor on the middle class and letting governments and the rich get away with everything.  

Thank you.