Crazy Landlord tactic! Would you do this?

Question

It's sad that our "justice" system is failing Landlords, but is this going too far?

New York Post : NYC landlord posts giant signs calling out non-paying tenants.https://nypost.com/2022/03/19/...

Nathan Gesner · Answer

No rent increase for nine years, and they balk over a 5% increase? I bet the Landlord's costs have gone up closer to 50% in the past nine years.

This is the problem with our court system. The tenants are legally obligated to pay $1,900 a month but they just stopped without justification and the Landlord is stuck with very little recourse. I understand the sign may be in bad taste and may reflect poorly on them in court, but are they supposed to quietly allow the tenant to drive them into the poorhouse?

Malcomb Stapel · Answer

@Nathan G. thank you for the article. It's scary to read the justification for peoples actions. "They didn't accept my $1800, so I just stopped paying them." Crazy how some minds work.

Of course there are three sides to every story; yours, theirs, and the truth! So who knows what's really going on there. Personally, the signs seem petty, but they are getting attention to their case. What were your thoughts?

Mike Dymski · Answer

Going too far...

1 - not paying $20k of your obligations

2 - posting a sign for non payment

It's sad that #2 matters relative to  #3.  In the old days, the resident would have been cast out of society.  In today's age, the resident rides Uber.

Pat Goodyear · Answer

@Chad Westfall sadly in NYS the moratorium isnt over. Even tho it expired Jan 15, 2022, if the tenant fills out an application for ERAP...which has no funds, the eviction case stops. The realty is landlords are losing there homes, savings, and their properties are getting destroyed.

Chad Westfall · Answer

So, here is the thing. In this environment, laws are favoring the tenant. While a 5% raise is not unreasonable, especially after nine years; was it the smartest thing? They are now $20k in loss rent trying to make an additional $100 per month.

This eviction moratorium is well known. I think raising rents in this environment is risky. Then when the tenant offers to pay the old rent but not the increased rent, you have to ask yourself, how much is it worth. Risk is something people have to manage.

On the flip side of things, shaming is something I do to my kids to get them to do the right thing. When they won't, I'm the parent that will embarrass them. I go out of my way to show lots of affection in front of their friends. That is a better motivator than punishing them.

So, if the court are failing landlords, this is a legal tactic. They didn't identify the tenant name, so I don't think it falls under slander. Even after the eviction moratorium is over, how long will it take to clear the backlog?

I have been seeing landlords paying deadbeat tenants to leave. While that seems ridiculous, a $1,000 now can save you tens of thousands later. We have to be problem solvers.

Jim K. · Answer

I would do it in a heartbeat. Add guys wearing sandwich board with the deadbeats' faces on them front and back roaming the street, shouting their names out with battery-powered bullhorns.If it worked, that is, but it's doesn't seem to be doing the trick.

Crazy Landlord tactic! Would you do this?

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