Landlords, money and politics
Harley Heskett
Originally published 04:00 p.m., October 29, 2007
Updated 04:00 p.m., October 29, 2007
The city of Emporia as a whole needs to hope that following the money does not lead to the status quo in the debate over rental standards. The commissioners need to do what is good for all of Emporia not just a few.
I have lived in Emporia for 20 years now, but I remember my first experiences here. I had to rent for my first few months until my children finished school and they with my wife could relocate here. My experience of finding a rental was very poor. I was astounded at the sorrowful condition of the rentals I was shown. I would have set up a tent rather than stay in some of them. Filth and disrepair were almost universal except for the most expensive and new rentals.
If I had relations or friends ask me about moving to Emporia and they were going to have to rent, what I would tell them would not paint a very good picture. I would not want them to have to stay in the majority of the rentals I looked at. I don’t want somebody I do not know to have to live there either. It is very obvious that the present system of inspection and standards need drastic improvement. It will help everyone involved, maybe the landlords the most.
fsaffer (anonymous) says...
As a consultant to municipalities across the country, I have noticed a shared characteristic. The quality of a City's residential rental stock is directly related to the quality of the main street business buildings. That is, when the leadership of a muncipality tolerates residential slum-lords it will also tolerate commercial slum-lords. As I drove down Commerical Street during my last visit to Emporia, it was evident that Emporia has a thriving residential slum-lord contingent that probably also controls City hall. However, it should be noted that this blight on Emporia's growth potential is no different than what existed some fifty years ago when I was growing-up in a falling down rental house "south of the tracks."
October 30, 2007 at 11:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I agree, fsaffer, not much has changed in many, many years. It is a pure shame! Also, I understand that a few of those downtown buildings themselves are owned by slumlords who don't do a thing about upkeep or repair. I know of one who just shakes his head but is always there to collect the rent.
No matter who owns the property, no matter the location, those owners need to be ticketed. If the new city commission had half the courage they talked about before election, they'd see to it that property owners who disregard the law are ticketed. And soon!
October 30, 2007 at 3:55 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TruthRising (anonymous) says...
The love of money is the root of all evil.
November 1, 2007 at 1:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
lyon (anonymous) says...
The city is just trying to make more money by charging landlord this fee. Don't make everyone pay for the slumlords problems. If it goes through, I'm going to have to raise rent to cover the cost.
The paper always talks about the renters rights, but what about the landlords rights?? We get ditched on rent and property damaged.
Any comments???
November 5, 2007 at 10:08 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
I don't agree as much about the fee they think they want to impose, but I do agree that they need to start imposing tickets on ordinances that are on the books now. They have been in remiss about that. I agree with you on the problem with tenants ditching the rent or wrecking property.
November 5, 2007 at 4:22 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
slipandslide (anonymous) says...
lyon, im not defending bad renters, i know there are some who will almost destroy a place and leave it for the hard working land lord to deal with, but alot of landlords dont return damage deposits even when someone is reasonable about keeping up a rental, give thirty days notice ect. when someone keeps all rental deposits, dont that start making up for the damages of a few. i dont think the number of bad renters is extremly high just like i dont think the number of bad lords is high, but you know emporia, if they have a chance to make a few bucks they will, it s the price we pay for living here
November 5, 2007 at 4:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )