Letter: Landlord ordinance will result in increased rents

The opinions expressed by letter or opinion writers are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AlachuaChronicle.com.

In reference to the proposed new landlord ordinance:

I currently supply affordable housing to mostly older city neighbors who live on fixed incomes My tenants are long-time tenants who are very happy with the degree of service I provide, with no complaints.

After reviewing all the extra fees and regulations proposed in the new ordinance I will have to increase each tenant’s rent by $100 each month. This is the unintended consequence of your proposed legislation upon my tenants.

I am a very private person and do not want people coming into my home; I know my tenants and most other people feel the same. I know that you believe your actions are well-intentioned, but all it will do is violate citizens’ privacy rights by having some government agent disrupt their private lives with inspections. I feel that if you want to collect a landlord fee, most landlords would be ok with that.  A guide to make units more efficient is ok. Mandatory inspection and extra paperwork and aggravations for landlord will result in extra remuneration from tenants to landlord… I can guarantee that!

Please reconsider such a draconian plan to govern property tax-paying landlords so they can still supply affordable housing to city neighbors.

It’s not easy being a landlord with taxes and insurance and tenants who cannot pay.  Please reconsider your well-intended and too-strict policy until the economy is better and until we are well over this COVID pandemic.

This is not the time for me to be raising rents when so many of our neighbors are suffering financially.

If you do pass the ordinance as written, I will have much satisfaction blaming the rent increases on the actions of the city commission.
If tenants cannot afford their new rents and get kicked out, it will be all of your faults! I know you will create a lot of unintended suffering. Please govern yourself accordingly.

Richard Selwach, Landlord, Gainesville