Reason I’m asking is because I have an aunt that owns like maybe 3 - 5 (not sure the exact amount) small townhouses around the city (well, when I say “city” think of like the areas around a city where theres no tall buildings, but only small 2-3 stories single family homes in the neighborhood) and have these houses up for rent, and honestly, my aunt and her husband doesn’t seem like a terrible people. They still work a normal job, and have to pay taxes like everyone else have to. They still have their own debts to pay. I’m not sure exactly how, but my parents say they did a combination of saving up money and taking loans from banks to be able to buy these properties, fix them, then put them up for rent. They don’t overcharge, and usually charge slightly below the market to retain tenants, and fix things (or hire people to fix things) when their tenants request them.

I mean, they are just trying to survive in this capitalistic world. They wanna save up for retirement, and fund their kids to college, and leave something for their kids, so they have less of stress in life. I don’t see them as bad people. I mean, its not like they own multiple apartment buildings, or doing excessive wealth hoarding.

Do leftists mean people like my aunt too? Or are they an exception to the “landlords are bad” sentinment?

  • dream_weasel
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    2 days ago

    Have you considered, on the other side of that coin, if you don’t have that money to be a parasite for doing little to no work at some point in your life, you’re a parasite because you have nothing to contribute that anybody wants?

    Nobody needs to go without a place to live or be hungry and we can ALL fight to make sure that’s the case, but don’t be an entitled fucker in the crab bucket because you kinda suck at decision making.

    EVERYONE deserves a place to live, something to eat, medical care, clothes to wear, etc etc, but let’s not be delusional: some people are taking shit they in no way shape or form contributed to receiving. So maybe don’t be we don’t toss around words like “parasite” when you need a handout, yeah?

    • cley_faye@lemmy.world
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      2 days ago

      Public service can handle large scale renting situations, ensure that the lodgings are kept up to standard, and limit the ever increasing price of rent by not being profit-driven. Individual landlords that are out there making a profit on something that only gain value and usually requires minimal upkeep (that some don’t even do) are parasites, plain and simple.

      But the concept of public services acting for the well being of others is not well understood in some countries, I guess.