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Comment by blitz_skull | Hacker News Reader

Not sure it’s an “occupation” for most. I make less than 5% of my monthly living expenses off my rental property and treat my tenants with the care I’d treat my own family.

I’m not sure a few bad actors taking advantage of people warrants statements like, “Housing should not be an investment ever.”

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A few bad actors? You are the exception to the norm. Beyond that people are working to pay your mortgage increasing your net worth. You may not have much income, but you are getting wealthier.

Do you complain that the people working to buy whatever it is you do to make ends meet are increasing your net worth?

You say I’m getting wealthier like that’s inherently a bad thing?

But beyond that, I still don’t think banning owning a rental (however that would be enforced anyway) is the solution there. It’s not a realistic suggestion.

It's not inherently a bad thing to get wealthier, but buying a necessity so you can rent it back to people isn't a great way to do it.

But I bought a necessity, ended up moving, and didn’t want to sell in the market conditions I was in. So I rented my house out.

You see how the intent is different? I personally know dozens, maybe hundreds of landlords from various geographical regions in my state, and most of their stories are the same.

But even barring that, I don’t understand where the thinking comes from that those with wealth can’t use it to secure more wealth. I’m not advocating for infinite gains here, but I’ve noticed a non-trivial portion of Hacker News seems to believe that gain is inherently immoral. Like wanting a better life or more for your family is inherently an evil thing. Some folks have more, some folks have less. Those with more should strive to help those with less; but I reject the notion that simply having more than someone else is bad.

All the shady landlords I experienced in my life (that stole my deposit, I had to sue…and still refused) were from the bay area.

I’m glad I own now but it’s really hard to sympathize when so many have been crooks.

nice defense, but you realize that edit many landlords are not like that at all.. the court system here in Alameda County California has a backlog of a decade+ for extremely abusive landlords

And some tenants are sucky too. Courts are backed up for evictions due to non payment of rent too.

"two wrongs don't make a right"

"A recent report detailing the dismal housing conditions faced by 150,000 people in unincorporated Alameda County estimated that up to one-third of renters could be living in buildings that should legally be deemed uninhabitable. But according to Alameda County’s Healthy Homes Department, the county has millions of dollars from the federal government to address exactly these concerns ..."

Your anecdote doesn't do anything whatsoever to justify your claim that most landlords are not like that at all.

You are an exception I am afraid

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