OLA in the Toronto Star: Is it better to rent with utilities

[LandlordD]

Lots of landlords tell tenants the price is (a) inclusive or (b) lower rent + you pay utilities. Hardly negotiation as Greg seems to see it! It's not, you use one burner on the stove and the oven only on Tuesdays and you get a $7.67 reduction.

[Skitter]

I dont negotiate my rents..............they are slightly below market to begin with.

I have had a few prospective tenants ask if i would lower the rent, but i tell them no and they understand why.

I have also had a couple of tenants offer me MORE rent if i will give teh apt to them and not someone else. But I tell them "no" as well.

the price is fixed and once i have agreed to lease it to one tenant, i dont go back and ask for more money if i get offered a higher rent.

But i wont even consider buying a rental property that doesnt at least have the hydro seperately metered so it can be put in the tenant's name.

[Skitter]

Its rather ironic that the star admits rent increases arent even keeping up with heating costs: (they write)

"If you’re planning on staying in your apartment for several years, it could be more advantageous to have the heat included because annual rent increases will likely be less than the increase in energy costs."

"If you’re planning on staying in your apartment for several years, it could be more advantageous to have the heat included because annual rent increases will likely be less than the increase in energy costs."


-but nonetheless the star prints stories from that are constantly bashing landlords, telling us to "eat the costs" and implying that landlords are making huge profits: Micheal Prue wants us to put tenants up in hotels every time the tenant brings bedbugs into the apt, Cheri Dinovo thinks landlord licensing will be magically self-funding.

-yet the star DOES seem to know that rents arent keeping up with expenses, why dont they print THAT more often.

Perhaps the fact that rents dont keep up with operating expenses is the reason no one is building affordable housing anymore................now THAT would be useful story.

[Ken S]

Perhaps the fact that rents dont keep up with operating expenses is the reason no one is building affordable housing anymore................now THAT would be useful story.

Nevermind affordable housing. Why isn't hardly anyone building rental apt units anymore "affordable" or "profitable".....