Microblog Memes

There's cosmetic repairs and then there's "making the place fit for Guinean habitation" repairs.

Now granted I'm a bit older and not renting now (and not a landlord, though I did share in my first place when I was a younger), but in that time a lot of better available places were people who'd bought a home, had kids, then had said kids grow up and move out. Given the free space but still wanting to keep with the family home they'd invested half their lives in, they'd rent out a basement suite or whatever (generally for a reasonable rate, at least compared to other places or the shit-show we see today). Some didn't need the money, others found that rising property values also came with a rise in taxes and repair costs. Most were still not assholes though so if the stove or heating broke down they'd actually get a repair guy in fairly quickly or replace said appliance (often with a used but functional one).

Those are what you'd call the "mom and pop" landlords and they were a lot more prevalent. By the same token though, they weren't making a lot - hell some were less interested in rents than not having an empty-feeling house - and all it took was one bad tenant to make it not worthwhile. It doesn't take much either. Water damage and/or mould abatement, a kitchen fire, pet/drugs/smoking damage etc can all add up pretty quickly especially if they're hiring somebody professional to do repair work which was certainly more than just cosmetic.

I don't see a lot of those types now - I'd certainly not want to be one - but most I know cite that it would take them years to recoup the cost of damage from that one bad case and they just weren't willing to deal with that plus the life-disruption anymore. So now all there pretty much is would be corporate landlords or the type that own several "rental properties" and consider painting the walls (and hinges, and light-switches, and plugs) or throwing down the cheapest carpet possible the extent of their actual "investment" in the property.