Would YOU charge tenants for this!? Landlord charging tenants to use the elevator . . .

Question

Interesting article:

What do you think? Is this a new way to generate income for your rental properties or just a sleazy way to generate profits? 
	
	Thoughts?

Jason Miller · Answer

I think its a terrible policy, but sleazy, scumbag?  really?  Do any of you have any idea what it costs to maintain an elevator?  Its not cheap, they break down frequently and breakdown the more they get used.

How many on here charge for pets, or make the tenants pay water and heating.  This is not much of stretch for that.  Perhaps you raise the rent to cover those expenses? How is that different?  Had he charged each unit $35 more per month to cover that cost, no one would have noticed.

Free market will help correct this landlord with his poorly thought out policy.  That doesn't change the fact that this landlord is doing what every landlord does, attempting to cover his expenses and make a profit.

John Sinclair · Answer

This is a short sighted move by an inexperienced or desperate landlord. It may help their short term profit but in the long run it will have far greater implications. If you have a bad reputation and people don't want to rent from you, having an elevator fee in a largely empty building isn't going to matter!

There are smarter ways to generate or recapture funds that will not create a PR fiasco.

Account Closed · Answer

Totally sleazy...

John Thedford · Answer

Pathetic. This is a man that doesn't appreciate his tenants. They should all move out and give him one big vacancy.

Aaron Montague · Answer

Scumbaggy.  Probably within the landlord's rights, but lousy none the less.  If the elevator was really costing that much, the rents should have been higher in the first place.