Letter: State must also consider Covid impact on landlords 

Posted 2/7/21

To the editor:

In the January 21 Sakonnet Times, the Little Compton Democratic Town Committee expressed the opinion that the State must protect renters from eviction during this Covid …

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Letter: State must also consider Covid impact on landlords 

Posted

To the editor:

In the January 21 Sakonnet Times, the Little Compton Democratic Town Committee expressed the opinion that the State must protect renters from eviction during this Covid crises. 

As with all laudable propositions there are liable to be unintended consequences which need to be addressed. Landlords, especially those who may be renting a single family or small duplex, also have bills and obligations. They most likely have a mortgage, taxes and insurance to pay as well as upkeep of the rental property. 

They will have to pay these whether or not they have a paying tenant to reimburse them which was the agreement when they signed the rental agreement.

So if we intend to protect the tenant, it follows that the owner must also receive some protections. A start would be to waive taxes, mortgage payments, and added on interest for a landlord who can adequately demonstrate that he or she has a tenant in residence

who cannot be evicted. This should be part of the conversation as a matter of fairness.

Jay P. Edwards

Member, Tiverton Town Council

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