A landlord’s perspective

Regarding the column on tenants union demands (“Spokane tenants deserve protection,” Terri Anderson and Sharon Crandall, Feb. 20), having been in the rental home business for 55 years, things have changed dramatically.

The rent was 60 dollars a month for a two bed, one barn rancher; today the same home rents for 895 dollars. This includes the rising property taxes that every time a property tax levy is passed, increased umbrella house insurance costs, complying to all updated housing codes. Some of these costs are passed on to the renters; many times also the landlord absorbs them, due to the relationship with the tenants. The need for a business license is just another cost that will be passed to the renter.

Over the years we have had wonderful renters, one is still in the same home for over 14 years, with minimal rent increases. We have also had renters who moved in multiple family members without permission, brought in animals against the rules of the lease, and we’ve repaired enormous damage that the “deposit” barely covered, replaced and upgraded many furnaces, windows, siding, appliances, sump pumps, sprinkler systems. The lesson we have learned is to treat the people that rent from you is the way you wish to be treated, if they break the terms of the lease, recourse does involve eviction, a tool we have used only twice in the past.

There are unscrupulous landlords, but there are also renters that the 20-day eviction notice is absolutely needed in regards to public nuisance and drug and crime issues taking place on the rental property. Think very carefully of more government regulation; the costs will be borne mainly by the renters.

Steve Hintyesz

Spokane