New Pittsburgh Tenants' Union (2015, apartments, renters)

[DaisyDaisy]

Interesting article about a new tenants union; has about 100 members in Pittsburgh thus far. And another article.

Supports SCR's comments about apartment rental rates.

"Part of what's driving record asking prices for apartments — In Pittsburgh as in many other places in the United States — is basic economics: high demand and low supply.

There haven’t been this many renters in the marketplace since the 1960’s, Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies found in a 2015 study. And while construction of multi-family units throughout the U.S. is on a tear, the cost of those apartments remains out of reach for low- and moderate-income families. Fully half of renters nationwide make less than $34,000, and just 10 percent of new units are accessible to them."

[Lost_In_Translation]

High end renters are almost always the consideration for new builds. Low end renters rely on the secondary market utilizing existing structures that are invested in. Very few builders are going to buy premium spaces and market to no premium renters. If you want new buildings and cheap rent, you usually have venture to the suburbs. Otherwise there are plenty of old apartments and converted houses that are relatively cheap.

[ferraris]

This sounds more like it is about the condition of rental units rather than the price or rent. I don't have a problem with it. It's hard to know what to do when a landlord is screwing you in one way or another.

[bluecarebear]

This Union doesn't have anything to do with lowering prices and that isn't going to happen anytime soon. Even NYC is losing rent controlled apartments. Many cities, even small ones, across the US are experiencing outlandish rental prices.