You're going to need some exceptions. What happens when someone dies and leaves their house to their kids? What if someone's home is temporarily unlivable (say due to a fire or flood which requires extensive renovation) -- do they have to live on the streets?
And that's not even addressing the obvious question of what happens to tenants if there are no landlords.
I think my suggestion would unlock a lot of supply, without expanding our cities or adding to urban sprawl.
Keep in mind, about half of all adults are married, so each couple can own two properties. One to live in, one to rent.
I imagine we could figure out some way to handle inheritance, perhaps we could give somebody 12 months to decide which house the want to keep, and which to sell.
Rental single-family homes should largely be illegal. Short-term housing should be largely limited to apartment buildings and more space-economic structures. Littering the landscape with empty houses only helps bank accounts.
Still, I'm more than cognizant that there must be huge exceptions carved out for any of these ideas.
the owner could rent out their own house and rent someone elses.
it does make sense if you want to save a nice retirement home for yourself or a place where you want to raise your children while you work and live somewhere else.
I think the idea is that nobody would prefer to rent if given a choice, and that everybody could afford to own if not for the presence of landlords in the market.
cperciva|1 month ago
You're going to need some exceptions. What happens when someone dies and leaves their house to their kids? What if someone's home is temporarily unlivable (say due to a fire or flood which requires extensive renovation) -- do they have to live on the streets?
And that's not even addressing the obvious question of what happens to tenants if there are no landlords.
The problem is supply, not distribution.
jay_kyburz|1 month ago
Keep in mind, about half of all adults are married, so each couple can own two properties. One to live in, one to rent.
I imagine we could figure out some way to handle inheritance, perhaps we could give somebody 12 months to decide which house the want to keep, and which to sell.
roywiggins|1 month ago
JoshTriplett|1 month ago
jay_kyburz|1 month ago
The children could have one each too, perhaps only once they reach 18.
I think there would be plenty of rental stock still.
jimbob45|1 month ago
Still, I'm more than cognizant that there must be huge exceptions carved out for any of these ideas.
em-bee|1 month ago
it does make sense if you want to save a nice retirement home for yourself or a place where you want to raise your children while you work and live somewhere else.
tbrownaw|1 month ago