Leave a little happiness to the landlords please

Owners of rental properties are under great pressure nowadays.
We ask them many different things.

They are asked to deliver impeccable quality.
We ask them not to increase the rent however.
If they are increasing the rent, they are asked to use a method that is outdated and does not allow for the recovery of expenses in an acceptable period of time.
They are asked to carry out work but without giving them the required return, even if it is only to pay the interest on a loan to do their work.

In general, the expectations required from rental property owners are very high. However, in many cases, landlords do not have the legislative or financial tools to allow them to make everyone happy.

Common sense would dictate that a rental housing owner who is doing work should be able to recover his down payment and this would allow profitability by taking into account the interest rates (s)he has to pay. This is not the case at present. Depreciation rates too often exceed the duration of the work being done and do not take into account the interest rate.

When we explain to a landlord the current method of setting the rent, he often looks at us with an eye that is both surprised and discouraged, even dismayed.

Moreover, they are asked to maintain the rental housing in an almost impeccable quality while they are forbidden to ask the tenant for a security deposit.

It is not surprising in such conditions that owners are often discouraged and prefer to choose other investment vehicles than residential rental real estate in Québec.

It is high time that our elected representatives become aware of the reality that erases the adjustments that are obviously required.

We have to stop believing that landlords are capable of doing magic. We must also stop thinking that the ability to pay should be a factor in the decision-making process when new housing is needed and that existing buildings must be well maintained.

We fear that, unless this is done quickly, the situation will deteriorate.

We are aware that many tenants have difficulty meeting all financial obligations in an inflationary environment. We must realize that as a society we have made the fortunate choice to support our most disadvantaged. However, it is necessary to be consistent in this choice and realize that limiting the growth of the price of rent is not the solution.
Reviewing the aid provided to the poorest for housing, clothing and food is the right solution.