Protections for renters? Etc.
March 21, 2023 6:36 AM Subscribe
In light of two recent posts on the blue, I am curious about current or potential structural solutions for protections for renters, such as from cost increases and evictions (mainly those without cause).
I am also interested in ideas about increasing the stock of housing in general and lower-cost housing in particular.
What I am not interested in, for this question, is anything about more government funding. I am looking for solutions that are less obvious.
I am most concerned with the USA. But if you have ideas from elsewhere, let’s hear those, too.
Also, before anyone tells me to RTFA -- I can't read the cartoon, because the movement is too distracting. I have read some recent articles about Desmond's new book, and plan to read that when it comes out. I read "Evicted" some time ago.
I am also interested in ideas about increasing the stock of housing in general and lower-cost housing in particular.
What I am not interested in, for this question, is anything about more government funding. I am looking for solutions that are less obvious.
I am most concerned with the USA. But if you have ideas from elsewhere, let’s hear those, too.
Also, before anyone tells me to RTFA -- I can't read the cartoon, because the movement is too distracting. I have read some recent articles about Desmond's new book, and plan to read that when it comes out. I read "Evicted" some time ago.
The financialization and increasing ownership of rental housing by investment firms seems to be relatively new, however, so any solutions to that will be less tested and more proposed/theoretical.
posted by eviemath at 6:50 AM on March 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
posted by eviemath at 6:50 AM on March 21, 2023 [1 favorite]
THE number one action to take is go find your city/county activist orgs and get involved. The most common phrases used are Tenant Union (example, Los Angeles) or renter's rights (ex New Orleans - and yeah, you may have to use FB to find your local orgs).
Obviously, tenant rights are part of the spectrum of care and concern for the unhoused, and you can't participate in one without the other, but usually the tenant rights side of things is where you'll find policymakers and experts who understand your city/state legal structures and what it takes to change them with regard to renter protection, and then there will be folks across the board working on affordable housing development. If you're lucky, your local government already has one or two people in elected positions who are in some kind of agreement with local activists (or were until they got elected, ugh Los Angeles) and those people need help too.
The people who are on the ground fighting the fight probably do have reading they recommend, but I'll bet the ones they recommend didn't come out this year or decade. The laws that get used to do harm have been in place for decades in most cases, and the work of breaking them down and forcing change is a slow churn.
Nothing happens without sustained and highly visible pressure on electeds and candidates in your local government. There are experts on the ground wherever you are, and you'll learn more from them than a book.
posted by Lyn Never at 6:59 AM on March 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
Obviously, tenant rights are part of the spectrum of care and concern for the unhoused, and you can't participate in one without the other, but usually the tenant rights side of things is where you'll find policymakers and experts who understand your city/state legal structures and what it takes to change them with regard to renter protection, and then there will be folks across the board working on affordable housing development. If you're lucky, your local government already has one or two people in elected positions who are in some kind of agreement with local activists (or were until they got elected, ugh Los Angeles) and those people need help too.
The people who are on the ground fighting the fight probably do have reading they recommend, but I'll bet the ones they recommend didn't come out this year or decade. The laws that get used to do harm have been in place for decades in most cases, and the work of breaking them down and forcing change is a slow churn.
Nothing happens without sustained and highly visible pressure on electeds and candidates in your local government. There are experts on the ground wherever you are, and you'll learn more from them than a book.
posted by Lyn Never at 6:59 AM on March 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
In many areas, like where I live, there isn't enough available housing. Some of it has been turned into AirBnBs, some has been torn down for hotels and other large commercial use. And there are more people here now. New housing is way more likely to be larger suburban houses or luxury condos. They get bought up as investments, some as housing for people with enough income.
As eviemath explains, investment trusts are buying up residential housing, raising rents, converting some to AirBnBs, etc. The answers to that are:
Public Housing - where the housing is owned and managed by a public, not-for-profit entity. There is little support for this right now, but it's the appropriate answer for people who are disabled and seniors who are broke, because when seniors and disabled people are broke, they have little opportunity to change that. It's appropriate for many people who are just broke, but there are additional efforts that can and should be made for them.
Affordable, Sustainable, Owner-Occupied Housing - Legal precedents are sparse for making sure that additional housing isn't just hoovered by as investment property, but it has been done, should be done. It builds nicer communities, helps working class and middle class people build equity, which helps them sustain education, retirement, modest wealth, which they use to keep local economies healthy.
Builders build houses to make them appealing for sale. We need housing that is efficient, sized and built for sustainability and livability, that is owner-occupied. and we need lots of it it in a hurry.
posted by theora55 at 8:55 AM on March 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
As eviemath explains, investment trusts are buying up residential housing, raising rents, converting some to AirBnBs, etc. The answers to that are:
Public Housing - where the housing is owned and managed by a public, not-for-profit entity. There is little support for this right now, but it's the appropriate answer for people who are disabled and seniors who are broke, because when seniors and disabled people are broke, they have little opportunity to change that. It's appropriate for many people who are just broke, but there are additional efforts that can and should be made for them.
Affordable, Sustainable, Owner-Occupied Housing - Legal precedents are sparse for making sure that additional housing isn't just hoovered by as investment property, but it has been done, should be done. It builds nicer communities, helps working class and middle class people build equity, which helps them sustain education, retirement, modest wealth, which they use to keep local economies healthy.
Builders build houses to make them appealing for sale. We need housing that is efficient, sized and built for sustainability and livability, that is owner-occupied. and we need lots of it it in a hurry.
posted by theora55 at 8:55 AM on March 21, 2023 [2 favorites]
Best answer: There is currently a bill in the MN House of Representatives that would ban corporations from purchasing single-family homes. (Link is to a Reddit discussion which includes more background and direct links). I would like to see every state pass a similar measure.
posted by Silvery Fish at 9:51 AM on March 21, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by Silvery Fish at 9:51 AM on March 21, 2023 [4 favorites]
Nolo (formerly Nolo Press) has thousands of do-it-yourself products, including legal forms, online documents, books and ebooks, and software. The books cover 30 areas of law. Their products are in plain English, created and updated by attorneys and legal editors. I've twice used their Landlord-Tenant state specific book to stop a landlord from trying to extract money from me in a way that he said was legal, but the Nolo book said wasn't. Both times he backed down.
More info about Nolo and Nolo products
posted by Homer42 at 5:52 AM on March 22, 2023
More info about Nolo and Nolo products
posted by Homer42 at 5:52 AM on March 22, 2023
Response by poster: Thanks everyone for the info. I am looking to learn more!
posted by NotLost at 6:42 PM on March 22, 2023
posted by NotLost at 6:42 PM on March 22, 2023
Response by poster: I just realized I missed one of the links I mean to put in my question.
posted by NotLost at 9:00 PM on March 23, 2023
posted by NotLost at 9:00 PM on March 23, 2023
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posted by eviemath at 6:49 AM on March 21, 2023 [4 favorites]