Rentals too high

High rent in the Okanagan is getting ridiculous, there is no need for it. People are constantly complaining about how there are tent cities popping up everywhere, and how we need more low income housing. The problem is not that there isn’t enough low income housing, the problem lies with in the landlords, charging too much! There is no need for gouging. Those landlords should be disgusted with themselves. We have become a society of greed. 

I own a 1,980 square foot townhouse in Rutland, I rent it out to four students. It’s 10 years old, 4 bedrooms, 3 and half bathrooms, fully furnished , utilities included... for get this, $2,000! I am able to pay my mortgage, pay my bills and make money in the meantime. Not a lot of money, but I get to keep my dignity. In turn, I get returning students who treat my place with respect, follow the rules of strata, and everyone is happy. I can go to bed at night knowing these kids can enjoy their schooling without pinching every cent they bring in from working or from their student loans.

Yet we have people raising their rents to $1,200 for a one or two bedroom basement suite, or renting out one bedroom dust bowls (the nicer term) for $800, meanwhile people are ending up on the streets, most of them hard working with children. Yet the privileged person sits on the sidelines and whines about how there are tents popping up around the city and calling them "hobo camps".

Drugs, crime and homelessness has shot through the roof.
 
Yes, we need low income housing, but we also need to take a gut check, and change our thinking. We are becoming Vancouver, pretty soon, nobody is going to be able to afford to live here.

I call on all landlords to lower your rent. Do the right thing. Stop this madness before it gets so out of hand that we cant turn it around.

Alicia Ferri