Landlords challenge constitutionality of eviction ban

[TexasTowelie]

TWO LANDLORDS from Randolph and Worcester are challenging the constitutionality of the ongoing eviction moratorium, arguing the state is allowing their tenants to basically take property without paying for it.

The two landlords are Marie Baptiste, a nurse from Randolph who says her tenants owe her about $20,000 in back rent, and Mitch Matorin, who owns a three-family house in Worcester where one of his tenants has stopped paying rent.

Richard Vetstein, who is representing the landlords, told Suffolk Superior Court Judge Paul Wilson on Thursday that the eviction moratorium is violating court access rights and constitutional property law. He is seeking an injunction to open housing courts to evictions.

“You’re literally forcing landlords across the state to provide public housing to tenants because of this moratorium,” he said. “This is literally state reps trying to be housing court judges, and it’s gone too far.”

Read more: https://commonwealthmagazine.org/housing/landlords-challenge-constitutionality-of-eviction-ban-2/

[Pachamama]

1. Would love to see what kind of financial assistance these various landlords have meanwhile been...

....receiving along with the banks...

[Merlot]

3. If they're small landlords probably not much

If they're big corporate landlords, probably a lot.

[3Hotdogs]

2. I ain't got no dog in this fight. We own ou single family house. Mortgage is paid and I am retired.

Not rich, but there's usually a few hundred left over at the end of most months.

So....

We are well aware of the plight of the tenant... My California cousin will probably be on the street by September. I send her $100 a month, whatever good that does her. My California sister in law is already living on the edge of some beach. She lost her rental unit after the P.G. and E. fire. The one that was in all the papers. My wife sends her $ from time to time. I don't like her so I don't send her anything.

Now what about the landlord? Is the town gonna let him skate for the property tax? For how long? Will the mortgage company say, "Just pay us when your tenant gets back on their feet?"

Then what about the town that isn't getting its full revenue? Do employees get furloughed because the treasury is empty? Or what municipal services get cut? In some states, town tax pays for schools....

Mortgage holders? 2007 was when funds and banks held worthless "tranches" of mortgages that couldn't be paid.

I don't know the answer and I don't have an opinion about how the court case should decide.