Moving in 2 weeks-- zero luck finding an apartment that allows a three year old child and a small dog!

[bigfatdude]

It's so amusing seeing people screaming about rents being too high in one post, and screaming for laws that would make them much higher in another. Is it Stockholm syndrome, masochism or just plain old stupidity?

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by bigfatdude

It's so amusing seeing people screaming about rents being too high in one post, and screaming for laws that would make them much higher in another. Is it Stockholm syndrome, masochism or just plain old stupidity?

Stupidity if feeling uncharitable. Ignorant and uncurious to be charitable.

Cause and effect is not a strong suit of this board.

[jayrandom]

Originally Posted by bigfatdude

It's so amusing seeing people screaming about rents being too high in one post, and screaming for laws that would make them much higher in another. Is it Stockholm syndrome, masochism or just plain old stupidity?

Originally Posted by bjimmy24

Stupidity if feeling uncharitable. Ignorant and uncurious to be charitable.

Cause and effect is not a strong suit of this board.

If there were strict enforcement of the FHA:

1) It would make rents higher for people without kids.
2) It would make rents lower for people with kids.

I'm not sure that it would raise rents too much overall. I'm not sure how regulations would affect supply, but I don't think there would be a significant enough drop in supply to make a big change in the market-clearing price. Is there a reason to believe otherwise?

[bigfatdude]

Originally Posted by jayrandom

If there were strict enforcement of the FHA:

1) It would make rents higher for people without kids.
2) It would make rents lower for people with kids.

I'm not sure that it would raise rents too much overall. I'm not sure how regulations would affect supply, but I don't think there would be a significant enough drop in supply to make a big change in the market-clearing price. Is there a reason to believe otherwise?

Are you really naive enough to think all those cheap apartments you can still find in places where you don't need to wear a bulletproof vest whenever you venture outside if you look hard enough would still be around if all owners were forced to delead? Like I said previously, if you own a property in high-rent area and you're forced to drop $20k just because nanny state says so, another $10k or so to make it a $2500/month 2 bed or $3500/month 3 bed "luxury" apartment is just a drop in the bucket. In the end this accomplishes nothing - only affluent renters who already have plenty of choices would benefit, everyone else gets screwed. And there's plenty of affluent renters to keep the rents high.

[jayrandom]

Originally Posted by bigfatdude

Are you really naive enough to think all those cheap apartments you can still find in places where you don't need to wear a bulletproof vest whenever you venture outside if you look hard enough would still be around if all owners were forced to delead? Like I said previously, if you own a property in high-rent area and you're forced to drop $20k just because nanny state says so, another $10k or so to make it a $2500/month 2 bed or $3500/month 3 bed "luxury" apartment is just a drop in the bucket. In the end this accomplishes nothing - only affluent renters who already have plenty of choices would benefit, everyone else gets screwed. And there's plenty of affluent renters to keep the rents high.

Like I said, rents for people without kids will go up. Rents for people with kids should go down. Right now they're forced into a special, smaller segment. I don't see how anything you say affects the total supply or the total demand. Maybe if landlords start turning six small apartments into three big ones. Rents have already skyrocketed, so demand is already growing faster than supply, even with the current lax enforcement of the FHA.

I do agree that the lead law in Massachusetts needs reworking. It's clear that it's not the only reason people discriminate against families, but it's a big one. I don't think the country is ready to get rid of the Fair Housing Act, though.

[Whatsnext75]

Even my aunt didnt want to rent to people under 6 and she's a very kind person who really doesn't have issues with anyone...but she didn't want to deal with those fees.

It seems like MA has come a long way as far as kids and lead levels...not sure if it's because of this or people are more careful or what...but it doesnt seem to be a huge issue as far as kids actually having high lead levels...so maybe these laws and people freaking out about lead paint need to chill a bit. Anything over 2 is considered 'bad these days for kids but when i was growing up I think the level of concern was anything over 25!