4 ms·

It’s good, but the best possible outcome is still only moving bad landlords from being sociopathic, petty business people* to being people who impassionately m

It’s good, but the best possible outcome is still only moving bad landlords from being sociopathic, petty business people* to being people who impassionately make logical business decisions. Personally, I think that obtaining a secure and safe place to live, and having certainty over living conditions deserves more than that. From a renters perspective it’s not a business transaction. The stakes are incredible from an emotional and quality of life perspective. * I’ve seen enough landlord forums to conclude that there is an astonishingly high concentration of shitty people.

vasco 2y ago
Because normal people will own maybe 1 place and take normal decisions. I know many people that own a rental place, but I don't know anyone that frequents "landlord groups". If you're a member of a group like that you're already a sub-population that probably wants to "landlord harder".
- hn_user82179 2y ago
  I frequent landlord groups (online) and I’ve never been a landlord. I own a SFH but could see myself temporarily moving out of state in a few years, and reading various online discussions had been super helpful for giving me an idea of all the things I should think about if I ever rent out my home. I’m sure there are a lot of people in similar boats, people who have no clue what being a landlord is like
  - vasco 2y ago
    From your comment it looks like your usage is mostly read-only so you'd have no effect on the "vibe" of said groups, which is what I replied to. A group is defined by its posters more than its lurkers.
Voultapher 2y ago
IMO it should be illegal to rent private homes for profit. It creates such a toxic cycle. In some places better wages in cities is completely absorbed by rent extraction. And as an area sees economic prosperity, landlords collude to extract it. It also inflates the prices of homes, where a family wanting to live in it has to compete with those that want to rent it out, maybe even turn it into an HMO, yuck. As a society we should despise landlords and make them feel like the scum they are.
- s1artibartfast 2y ago
  if you cant rent homes for profit, everybody who cant afford to build or buy homes will be homeless.
  - Voultapher 2y ago
    Indeed, there are no imaginable alternatives. The people who can't afford to build roads can't drive.. Suggestion, only the government is allowed to rent out homes to individuals. Many cities already have government owned homes that are rented out at 1/3rd the market price to people in need, like single parents and co. I see no reason why this couldn't work at scale.
    - anal_reactor 2y ago
      > Many cities already have government owned homes that are rented out at 1/3rd the market price to people in need, like single parents and co. I see no reason why this couldn't work at scale. Kekd. It doesn't work for the simple reason that if you don't have enough homes, no matter how you shuffle people around and divide costs, someone is going to get the short end of the stick in some way. There are many places with elaborate systems of rent control and social housing, usually the effect is waiting lines and discrimination. Yes, having to pay a lot for rent sucks, but you know what sucks even more? Applying for social housing and then being told that you should've started thinking of such things at the age of 4, now it's too late. That's how the Netherlands functions, despite having the highest ratio of government housing in Europe.
      - em-bee 2y ago
        it does work in vienna. almost 60% live in housing owned or subsidized by the city. there are waiting times, but not as bad as you think. for one you have to be already living in vienna for a few years to qualify (which is unavoidable, otherwise any EU citizen would qualify automatically). the option to pay a lot for rent still exists, but the average family can't afford that.

vasco 2y ago

Because normal people will own maybe 1 place and take normal decisions. I know many people that own a rental place, but I don't know anyone that frequents "landlord groups". If you're a member of a group like that you're already a sub-population that probably wants to "landlord harder".

hn_user82179 2y ago
I frequent landlord groups (online) and I’ve never been a landlord. I own a SFH but could see myself temporarily moving out of state in a few years, and reading various online discussions had been super helpful for giving me an idea of all the things I should think about if I ever rent out my home. I’m sure there are a lot of people in similar boats, people who have no clue what being a landlord is like
- vasco 2y ago
  From your comment it looks like your usage is mostly read-only so you'd have no effect on the "vibe" of said groups, which is what I replied to. A group is defined by its posters more than its lurkers.

Voultapher 2y ago

IMO it should be illegal to rent private homes for profit. It creates such a toxic cycle. In some places better wages in cities is completely absorbed by rent extraction. And as an area sees economic prosperity, landlords collude to extract it. It also inflates the prices of homes, where a family wanting to live in it has to compete with those that want to rent it out, maybe even turn it into an HMO, yuck. As a society we should despise landlords and make them feel like the scum they are.

s1artibartfast 2y ago
if you cant rent homes for profit, everybody who cant afford to build or buy homes will be homeless.
- Voultapher 2y ago
  Indeed, there are no imaginable alternatives. The people who can't afford to build roads can't drive.. Suggestion, only the government is allowed to rent out homes to individuals. Many cities already have government owned homes that are rented out at 1/3rd the market price to people in need, like single parents and co. I see no reason why this couldn't work at scale.
  - anal_reactor 2y ago
    > Many cities already have government owned homes that are rented out at 1/3rd the market price to people in need, like single parents and co. I see no reason why this couldn't work at scale. Kekd. It doesn't work for the simple reason that if you don't have enough homes, no matter how you shuffle people around and divide costs, someone is going to get the short end of the stick in some way. There are many places with elaborate systems of rent control and social housing, usually the effect is waiting lines and discrimination. Yes, having to pay a lot for rent sucks, but you know what sucks even more? Applying for social housing and then being told that you should've started thinking of such things at the age of 4, now it's too late. That's how the Netherlands functions, despite having the highest ratio of government housing in Europe.
    - em-bee 2y ago
      it does work in vienna. almost 60% live in housing owned or subsidized by the city. there are waiting times, but not as bad as you think. for one you have to be already living in vienna for a few years to qualify (which is unavoidable, otherwise any EU citizen would qualify automatically). the option to pay a lot for rent still exists, but the average family can't afford that.