Rent strike: Demonizing landlords is unhelpful

It’s appearing in the news lately: Unemployed renters who propose to pay no rent until the COVID-19 epidemic has passed.

“Why should a wealthy landlord take advantage of and profit by my suffering?” is the common unspoken thread, used to weave this fabric of discontent.

But the demonization of landlords does nothing to help and is myopic.

Before you join the protest, please ask yourself: “Who is my landlord?”

From my experience managing single-family residential homes, we note three predominant types of landlords:

1. Accidental landlords: More than 80%. They became landlords due to military or job transfer, health issues or family emergencies.

2. Retired, on Social Security: About 15%. They rely on their little bit of rental income to supplement their meager income.

3. Real estate investors: Less than 5%.

So ask yourself: “Who is my neighbor, and how should I treat them?”

Renters, I ask you: Is not your landlord your neighbor? And landlords: Is not your renter your neighbor?

Please carefully consider the facts before joining the protest march. Consider your neighbor; he just may be your landlord.

This story was originally published May 16, 2020 at 8:11 AM with the headline "Rent strike: Demonizing landlords is unhelpful."