The Texas General Land Office recently announced that it will be seizing private property along the Gulf Coast. Tropical storms in 2020 moved the tide lines along the coast, and according to the Texas open beach statutes, the state owns land from the average low tide line to the vegetation line. The result is that…
In a previous post, we examined a Maryland law that prohibits landlords from asking prospective tenants about certain types of criminal convictions. Now, both Savannah, Georgia, and New Jersey are considering similar laws. Supporters claim that those with a criminal history face difficulties finding work and housing and this constitutes discrimination. Damn straight it is…
A growing trend in housing is building more missing middle housing. In most cities, new housing consists of single-family homes, mid-rise or high-rise apartments, and large apartment complexes. In between these “extremes” is the missing middle—duplexes, fourplexes, small apartment buildings, and cottages. Prior to the 1920s, this assortment of housing options was available in most…
Housing advocates frequently claim that the rent is too damn high. (From 2005 to 2015, there was even a political party in New York that focused on this single issue.) While it can be easy to empathize with that sentiment, housing advocates share much of the blame. Under the guise of “tenants’ rights” advocates propose…
“Housing justice” activists often claim that landlords rake in the “big bucks.” Such claims usually drop the context, citing a few impressive statistics and ignoring other relevant information. As an example, a recent article on City Watch details the amount of rent collected in several California cities: In 2019, Zillow recently reported, Los Angeles renters paid…
A recent article by the National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) correctly noted that those who subscribe to the idea of “not in my backyard” (NIMBYs) often use zoning to stop or impede the construction of affordable housing. Unfortunately, the article accepts the basic premise of the NIMBYs. The author doesn’t question the moral validity…
One of the latest trends in the “tenants’ rights” movement is to provide free legal representation for tenants facing eviction. Washington state has passed such a law and other states are considering doing so. As with nearly everything associated with “housing justice,” these laws will ultimately create a host of new problems. As one example,…
When government moves beyond its proper purpose of protecting individual rights, the law often becomes a morass of confusion and contradiction. A law recently passed in Montgomery County, Maryland illustrates this point. The Housing Justice Act was unanimously approved by the county council in an effort to reduce homelessness in the county. The law prohibits…
Politicians are often exhorted to follow the “will of the people”—to take those actions that are supported by a majority of citizens. This is a very dangerous idea because it can justify virtually any kind of injustice. To illustrate this, consider a recent article in the Summit Daily in Colorado. The article states that “most…
Like many cities in America, St. Paul, Minnesota, is suffering from a severe shortage of affordable housing. And, as happens in many cities across the nation, some neighborhood groups in St. Paul are opposing a project that would provide homes for 144 low-income families. Opponents to the project would prefer a vacant lot rather than…
Housing advocates are increasingly talking about the imbalance of power between landlords and tenants. To provide a better “balance” of power, these advocates are calling for laws that restrict landlords and give more power to tenants. These advocates fail to distinguish between economic power and political power. Ayn Rand explained the difference between economic power…
Housing advocates are promoting two bills before the Texas legislature (HB1470 and SB265) in the name of freedom of choice. But these bills are not about freedom of choice. The two bills would make it illegal for landlords to refuse to accept housing choice vouchers or other forms of financial aid for housing. This, we…