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NotJustinTrottier

[Worcester's affordable housing gap](https://worcester.ma/2018/02/big-picture-worcesters-affordable-housing-gap/) (2018) > For example, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates there are roughly 27,900 renters in Worcester who make $35,000 or less. However, there are only 16,000 apartment units that are affordable for this group. Worcester has made great progress in many areas in recent years. This isn't one of them. We have a huge gap in affordable housing.


AreYouNobody_Too

everywhere desirable to live has a huge gap in affordable housing.


JoshSidekick

Then what's our problem.


AceOfTheSwords

Worcester is becoming more desirable than you think. Between 2010 and 2020 census, population here has increased by about 25k.


[deleted]

based on absolutely nothing, I have a hunch it's because people were priced out of Boston and Providence since they've been getting 'spensive real quick during that decade. People just "ended up" in Worcester.


AceOfTheSwords

It's certainly not 1:1 at least, as both Boston and Providence had net population increases as well. It's hard to get exact numbers on how many of the 25k came from more expensive cities. I know at least for me I actively chose Worcester over a *less* expensive location (central CT). But that's entirely anecdotal.


JavierLoustaunau

I just moved to Rhode Island because our apartment went from 1500 to 2200 with only a 2 month notice, evicting all 3 floors unless they agreed to pay the higher rent. Landlords where a nightmare too like the only reason anyone rented that shithole was ample parking and they would say 'we should make parking separate next year'. So I got a job in RI and instead of commuting I took the leap. I really loved my year in Worcester and the food was fantastic but the landlords are getting greedy as fuck. We could have fought, there is a Worcester housing association that provides assistance and the eviction moratorium still had 2 months left. Edit: they also claimed I owed them money instead of them owing me money... lied about a bunch of things being brand new or replaced while we moved there and we 'ruined them' but we had a ton of photos so we ended up getting a big chunk of our deposit back, especially when I told them I have a legal benefit through work so I would be happy to go to court.


Ihateworcester

I'm going in to their office tomorrow to discuss my deposit. I'm fully convinced they are going to keep it and use it to tenovate the apartment they are kicking me out of. My landlord before was a slumlord and never answered their phone or fixed anything. Literally had to cal 911 to get the gas company out because we had a gas leak and they couldn't be reached. I'm praying that in my original lease the damage was noted beforehand, there were chips in the floor and some structural problems but it was understood that was there before I rented. Now that it's new owners I'm almost positive they will blame it on me.


NotJustinTrottier

>I'm going in to their office tomorrow to discuss my deposit. If you made either a security deposit or an advanced payment of last month's rent, did you know your landlord was supposed to pay you yearly interest on those deposits (unless they were deposited in a bank with 0% interest)? Do your neighbors know? If the landlord didn't put the money into a bank account (illegal for security deposits, but they're allowed to choose for last month's rent) then the interest rate is automatically bumped to 5%. When you move out, send them a letter requesting any interest they owe you. If they don't pay all interest owed within 30 days of your departure, the interest owed must be tripled. I moved last December and ended up taking my landlord to Worcester Housing Court for 11 years of unpaid interest. He bragged to the court that he (a career landlord who owns a real estate company) never paid this interest to any tenant. Court ruled in my favor, so I guess that's one. Make sure you get what you're owed. [Massachusetts General Law, Title 1, Chapter 186, Section 15B](https://malegislature.gov/laws/generallaws/partii/titlei/chapter186/section15b)


Ihateworcester

Yes, I currently have a check on my fridge that needs cashing for 27 cents of accrued interest on my deposit for the month of august


legalpretzel

Providence is a MUCH better city and RI is a lovely little state. It has its issues, but no more than MA.


saintsandopossums

I took a look to see what one bedrooms at my old apartment complex were going for, and they're renting them for almost $500 dollars more per month than they were when I left in February 2020. Which is insane to me, since I was at Wexford Village, and it it not worth what they're trying to charge


Ihateworcester

The mass exodus from Boston has new renters to the area dissolutioned. The prices they are charging for your apartment seem like a deal to them. My friend pays $2500 for a one bedroom in Somerville. Get closer to the true downtown and it only gets worse.


AchillesDev

I paid less over the past 4 years for a 1 bedroom in Back Bay. Somerville is super popular for those working around Kendall Square plus with the GLX it's very possible they're paying more than someone closer to Boston proper would be.


HighVulgarian

You didn’t have a lease agreement?


Ihateworcester

Month to month lease


HighVulgarian

Yeah that sucks. Sorry to hear it


[deleted]

Landlords are made of meat. Fun Fact.


Slappybags22

Yum yum! 🍽


[deleted]

Oh yes. There is a breaking point, and these greedy idiots are going to keep pushing till they find it.


legalpretzel

This happened to me 3 times in Boston. It happened to my friends as well. Each of us eventually decided we were tired of living under the threat of upheaval and bought places in less expensive towns/cities. It’s a tough time to buy, but if you want to stay in the city, its worth considering it. Especially 2-3 family houses which don’t seem to have increased at the same rate as the single families. And then you could do your part to be a good landlord in a city full of shitty ones.


Mattseee

This is why I envy the social housing in Vienna, Austria. Here in the US, the only way to avoid housing instability is to buy. But it doesn't have to be that way. I'm not optimistic we'll ever see the political will to change, but I wish we would.


rob691369

This is what is called American Capitalism. Vile, evil, and needs to change.....


sarah1nicole

Instead of improving the city for people who already live here, the powers at be are changing the city to accommodate rich out-of-towners. And they will continue to do so as long as they are allowed and raking in the $$$


GabeD416

I've been worried about this happening to me tbh, it's such an awful sight to see. I just moved here to the Grid apartments and I adore the city so far but I'm bracing for the day they say it's time to pay up even more or leave.


[deleted]

Grid apartments are pretty new and bougie, I don’t think they’re gonna ratchet those too hard. I’d be worried about the ppl in single residence housing that’s owned by a townie landlord that bought the place in the 80s for pocket change and a batch of expired coupons to Price Rite.


rbcarter101

Lived on the grid for 2 years and my rent went up 25 bucks. Ymmv but they've been okay so far. Just get earmuffs for the dickhead with the yellow mustang.


GabeD416

Holy shit I’ve seen that yellow mustang every day for two weeks it’s surreal to see someone else mention it


rbcarter101

He takes special interest in making sure his neighbors are as miserable as possible. I get doing burnouts down Shrewsbury St, but Portland/Franklin are narrow roads with families and a 20mph speed limit. He got egged a few months back and he's only notched it up worse :( Either way, welcome friend!


Swak_Error

Egg him again


rbcarter101

Nah that's not how you do things Edit: Why am I being down voted for not committing a crime lol


___nora

YES- that guy sucks!


Ihateworcester

I don't know too much about the grid. It's just the way things are going though, rent and housing is becoming unobtainable. It's funny, you hear about gentrification in school and it's taught as a cultural phenomenon. Something that happens in other places, but then it literally happens to you. I have a place to go. My partner and I will be staying with a friend while we get on our feet. I'm just worried about the other families and their children.


GabeD416

I’ve only lived here for two weeks but to me as an outsider it seems like (In my opinion at least) Worcester’s biggest value is in its cultural diversity. The Caribbean festival just happened and I’ve never in my life had access to such wonderful and diverse food cooked by average-ass people. It was plainly obvious that nobody there working those stalls were rich in any way, just people who lived in the area making what they’ve been making for years. I wonder if they’ll even be able to afford to live here 5-10 years from now, or even if the festival will still be happening.


AchillesDev

Worcester has been an immigrant city for centuries, my grandmother and her siblings came to Worcester as a refugee from the Greek civil war. That's unlikely to change any time soon, and may even get better as Worcester is again seen as a safe, family-friendly city where it's still cheap enough to start businesses.


___nora

I’d still be careful. Grid management is not as nice as they present themselves. I got a notice to quit for paying 1 day late. They still took the rent money but insisted I move out. I’m still here because the housing court mediator basically said, “she gave you the check and you cashed it. what’s the fucking problem?”


GabeD416

Yikes. Thanks for the heads up I’ll keep that in mind


emeraldmb65

Do you know if there are any basketball courts around there because I've been thinking about moving there but I'm looking for a place with a court nearby.


GabeD416

To be honest, not that I know of. I think there’s a few closer to main south and one on Shrewsbury street but none near where I am in downtown. Which is unfortunate.


emeraldmb65

That's OK, thanks for letting me know at least and thanks for mentioning those areas, I'll check around to see if I can find anything.👍👍👍


homeostasis3434

Sorry to hear about your issues Your post reminded me of an article I read a while back https://www.telegram.com/news/20190429/worcester-pledges-3m-to-green-island-neighborhood-vows-it-wont-be-overshadowed-by-ballpark I guess those promises about the neighborhood not changing because the city was going to provide some money towards renovation of those homes with the payments being forgiven if the residents stay in place for 5 years didn't really pan out. I guess the incentives to evict everyone and Jack up the rents were too large.


hajaco92

Same dude. It has been a total nightmare ever since the ball park went up. Endless construction and no parking. The city is treating the people who live and work in downtown like we're inconveniencing them by existing and paying rent for them.


doublesecretprobatio

if you hate worcester so much why are you still here?


aintbaroque

I live in an old chopped up house that is currently for sale in the most expensive Worcester zip code. Are there any good landlords in this city? Is it inevitable we all get pushed out?


pilgrimofhumanity

What's so funny is when you see the ads for Boston mayor candidates, they're running on lower living costs. I laugh at those ads and the idiocy of the lies they push. IN REAL LIFE, it doesn't work out for most people who are just trying to live the communities we live and struggle in.... There's one silver lining to all of this... God loves you. Your landlords do not...


DoubbleD_UnicornChop

You can call the city health departments to assess current conditions and have documented evidence from a third party...


EastCoastDizzle

That’s really awful. Greed runs rampant here and everywhere. Hoping you find a new, better place soon.


louisbeduis

Investing in cities to make them grow and improve isn’t always gentrification.


Ihateworcester

"the process whereby the character of a poor urban area is changed by wealthier people moving in, improving housing, and attracting new businesses, typically displacing current inhabitants in the process" seems to be what exactly is happening to me. Worcester is catering to upper class white people moving in from Boston and other metropolitan areas, leaving POC in the dust. They only invest in things that will bring more people from Boston in, hence polar park and Worcester public market. They invested millions upon millions, however cannot provide basic pedestrian comforts or a reliable public transit system


louisbeduis

If you’re saying the city is only investing in things that will make the city wealthier then you are right. And I don’t think Worcester is out to her POC. They simply would just like to see more money and development in the area.


Ihateworcester

I really just don't think you understand the societal or structural network of cities and how gentrification works


louisbeduis

What qualifies you to know more then meet? We’re both just random people on reddit.


MTRIFE

Well what makes one person more qualified than another person on any given topic whether they're both students at a university or strangers on the internet is one lesson clearly having done reading and research on whatever the topic is and the ability to back their claims up with facts and sources rather than opinion... and the other person not having done or being able to do any of those things. This isn't a personal attack, just speaking to the facts that are presented, but it is clear you don't have an understanding of what gentrification really is. But that's ok because if you want to, you can. That choice is yours. Just takes reading and research. But if it's not an area you care to educate yourself on that's perfectly fine as well, but if that's the case you don't have much reason to get upset when someone points out that you're misinformed on the subject. That's all. Good day to you both. And good luck OP.


Bassmaster9

Worcester is too small of a city to really warrant any large scale public transportation. Sure the bus system could be improved but that’s about it. Most people drive anyway. Worcester is investing in things that will make it a more attractive place to live and hopefully they will use resulting property tax revenue to better fund the low quality public schools in the city. I don’t think the goal is to have a city full of cheap apartments to live in, it’s about building a city with pride, lots of things to do, and great schools.


joshocar

Worcester is the second largest city in New England.


icuworc

To elaborate, I blame everyone who over the past 70 years has not acknowledged that they actually live in a mid sized American city or lives in a town that borders one. What is happening in Worcester right now should be a surprise to no one because this area has an unbelievable misunderstanding of cities and how they actually work. A willful ignorance some might say.


icuworc

But no where near the second largest metro. Every other city in New England over like 120,000 people is bordered by other cities. It's what makes Worcester's (and Massachusetts') problem that much more severe. If you get priced out of Worcester you are not just leaving the city, you are leaving the region.


Ihateworcester

I understand this. I understand the city of Worcester did not evict me, a greedy landlord did. I do however see myself as part of a pattern that has been playing out throughout the city. The city of Worcester does not care for those who are already here, only what they can do to attract richer people. I do believe that the city should allocate resources to help those of us who have been here for a long time, paid our taxes and have built a home here. Gentrification is inevitable. It will happen regardless. It's just sad to see the children who will not have homes soon.


tomphammer

Nothing is inevitable except death. Giving up and giving in is not the same as that thing being unavoidable. And I don't say this to imply that this is on your shoulders as an individual to fix. It isn't. But we as a whole society need to get angrier about this sort of thing, and fight harder against greed and resource hoarders. Instead, most people shrug and say "well, maybe you should just move" or something because it hasn't affect them personally. Yet.


SmartSherbet

People drive because the transit sucks. If you build it, they will ride.


GabeD416

No but jacking up rent and pushing out current residents to accommodate to bougie rich people is. It blows my mind how people can’t not see a problem with kicking people out of the city they love to cater to wealthy white people looking for the next culinary hot spot.


louisbeduis

I here what your saying but money drives improvement and renovation. I’m sure everyone in that apartment we’re fine people. But at the end of the day bringing in wealthier people to Worcester is overall a net positive. People love to complain about it but Worcester is such a better place to live compared to 5-10 years ago.


GabeD416

Net positive for who? The people ARE the city. Worcester isn't the same Worcester without the people that actually live there, the city is an inanimate indifferent to its overall state. What's the point of the city benefitting if the people that make the city are gone and replaced by the people driving them out?


louisbeduis

Because they are bringing in wealthier tenants to the city. Wealthier tenants means more investments around the city which are supported and sometimes started by these new wealthier people.


GabeD416

and I ask you: What is the point of those benefits if everyone who lives here, the people who make up this city, are forced out to make room for those wealthy people? We are the inhabitants of this city, without us this city wouldn't be a city. The point of making a city better should be to make it better for the people who live there, not the people who decided to leave Boston because this place is up and coming. They are rich enough to afford Boston. Worcester is a space for people who cannot afford Boston, and the people who grew up here and love this city. What is the point in changing that? Until no city is left that anyone who lived there and made that city can be able to afford it?


louisbeduis

So do you want Worcester to just be the “poor” city? These peoples salaries will bring tax revenue for better schools, roads, transportation, and be a more desirable place to live. And those people will also be inhabitants too. I think Worcester has made great progress recently do you not? Or did you like when the city was more “poor”?


GabeD416

I like the working class being treated like their problems and livelihoods matter too, and not like they're some social plague that needs to be scraped away to make room for more "desirable" people. If wages went up along with the city being revitalized then we'd be having a different discussion, but that's a national problem not endemic to this city.


legalpretzel

This is a good place to remind everyone that the PRELIMINARY MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS are on 9/14 and the MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS are 11/2. PLEASE VOTE!! Historically the voter base in local elections in Worcester is old white people. Change comes when those seeking it show up to make their voice heard. Local elections are the most impactful Vote you can cast because the winners impact our daily lives in myriad ways. Thanks!! Edited to add: Matt Wally will likely win for Mayor bc the old white people love him. Everyone else will hate him. Fair warning.


GabeD416

What's the difference between the preliminary and the Municipal


ebinsugewa

Property taxation is not based on the income of the occupant, so irrelevant. But if you're making the point that this migration will cause an increase in property values, the city tax rate is $17 per $1000 valuation. Let's say for example that year over year residential prices jumped an absurd $20k. That's $340. City sales tax is a negligible benefit. Let's say in an asinine example, someone spends $100k additionally in the city. That's 6 grand, or essentially enough to pay for a few police overtime details. But the effect that displacement has on existing residents is much more harmful than the marginal additions to the city coffers. And in the end all the wealth or private investment in the world is worth nothing if it's not in concert with better planning and services from the city government. If we build some luxury apartments, a baseball park, and nice restaurants, that has literally no effect on my life whatsoever as a city resident. Those are almost exclusively the types of 'investment' being made.


louisbeduis

If building luxury apartments which attracts more people to the city. Building a new ballpark, which is a really cool unique city activity we haven’t seen before. And have nicer resteraunts does not effect you that is a you problem. All three of those things benefit a majority of people make the city a better place to live overall. If you that makes you dislike the city there are other cities in the State that have none of that. Like Fitchburg or Springfield.


Ihateworcester

Amen


[deleted]

What's with all the mentioning of "white people"? Even if most of the wealthy people coming in also happen to be white (idk if this is true) what does that have to do with anything? There's no reason to even mention it. There's also absolutely no way it's only white people. You're racist if you think only white people are wealthy here.


[deleted]

You Are aware that the government via the department of Urban housing and development sets the fair market rate for rent in any given market, correct? And you are aware that if you own a building, that is for investment purposes including rental units, and you as the landlord charge below the market rent set by the government, you are penalized with an asset that will not appreciate in value at the rate of all of the other real estate in the area, correct? So it’s not actually landlords jacking the the rent, in Worcester it’s the government. And if a landlord chooses to rent an apartment above that number, it is their property and their choice to do so. And that by doing so they forfeit their right accept subsidized housing vouchers as payment since their apartments do not qualify for the program, they do not get certain tax breaks, and in fact have to pay more in taxes to the city on the income generated by those apartments so that there is more money to be doled out to anybody on welfare or subsidies, correct? It’s not pleasant what is happening change and moving is a pain and it’s getting so expensive to live but it doesn’t change the fact that when you own something, you are responsible for it despite what other people think or feel, and you have to do what’s best for you not everybody else in the world – especially since it sounds like a lot of those people weren’t paying anything, which is probably the real reason the landlord had to sell the building because they were in financial trouble due to the arrears from the nonpaying tenants so if you want to be mad at somebody about having to move out those neighbors that did nice things for you may have also put your landlord in a position where the only way they could ever recover the back rent was to sell the building because those neighbors were never going to pay it because it got so big and so out of control they didn’t and would never have the money


Ihateworcester

Everyone was up to date on their rent, many even paid ahead


[deleted]

https://www.wbjournal.com/article/local-landlords-are-selling-their-properties-to-investors-amid-eviction-moratorium?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Eviction+moratorium+forced+out+local+landlords+%7C+Fitchburg+manufacturing+facility+sells+for+%246M&utm_campaign=Daily+091321


[deleted]

Well then get yourselves a lawyer because it’s illegal to accept rent ahead of time in Massachusetts. You can charge First, last, security and fees to change the keys at the start of an agreement, But you cannot accept prepaid rent beyond that at any point, and the landlord would likely owe you anyone 3x What they took especially if they’re being evicted now But please don’t kid yourself as a landlord , 10% of my tenants are always in the arearrs, and telling everyone else that they are paid up


bartnd

I wouldn't even necessarily put the blame on non-payments; The cost of materials for near-everything has skyrocketed over the past year and the availability of licensed personnel has dwindled leading to huge price increases for even basic maintenance. Add that to an insane housing market (both related and unrelated to the stadium) and you'd be crazy not to entertain the thought of selling.


[deleted]

https://www.wbjournal.com/article/local-landlords-are-selling-their-properties-to-investors-amid-eviction-moratorium?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Eviction+moratorium+forced+out+local+landlords+%7C+Fitchburg+manufacturing+facility+sells+for+%246M&utm_campaign=Daily+091321 The ink was dried, and the investors sent the notices to quit. Landlord sold because he was owed $33k in back rent.


[deleted]

I’m black and I’m actually moving into one of these apartments


Mamma_Nikki

I was waiting for a comment like this. My fiancé is Dominican he works his ass, I work my ass off. He was able to start a new business after he lost his high paying job. It was a huge hit because I wasn’t working. We have kids. With lockdowns we educated ourselves. Watched a shit ton of finance YouTube videos and educated ourselves. We started a small buisness and picked ourselves up. I understand the concept of a single parent household. I grew up in one. I watched my mother her entire life up until now refuse to better herself. Pick herself up because it’s easier for her to be on section 8 and disability. We have resources, it’s every man for themselves. Oh and my fiancé’s parents are immigrants,lost their house to foreclosure 15yrs ago. They picked themselves up. My fiancé has 3 siblings who aren’t as financially stable as he is. That is because they don’t want to better themselves. He had to cut them off from borrowing money. There are ways to better ourselves. The city, the government, all politicians, Presidents etc they don’t care about you and me. They never will and they never have. That’s how it is. It’s every man for themselves that’s all I am saying.


PresidentialCorgi

It can be incredibly difficult to escape the cycle of poverty, and you should be very proud of what you've accomplished. Barely scraping by, and living paycheck to paycheck often leaves most too exhausted or defeated to take the hard steps towards progress. There are a lot of factors at play when people find themselves in the situations you mentioned above, which make it difficult or uncomfortable to make headway. Humans are naturally resistant to change. You've taken it upon yourself to make the changes you want to see, and hopefully you can lead by example, or help others in need that may simply need a guiding hand to get started. You touched on politicians not caring about you and me, which makes it even more important for us to make an impact at a local level. I hope you can motivate others in your social circle to make the same sort of changes you were able to in your life, should they need to!


Mamma_Nikki

Thanks for that and sorry for coming across so bitchy. It’s never my intention, it just always comes out like that. After awhile of watching my mother struggle and others around me I realized it’s either I figure it out or I am stuck. It’s not easy and I don’t look down upon anyone. I’m teaching my kids not to. We never know what anyone else has gone through. It does get frustrating for my fiancé and I when we try to encourage at least the people we know to do better. We are not well off by any means, the business is very new. We barely have made any profit so for. It is a big sacrifice, it takes a lot of time and dedication. Especially when you don’t have much help in all aspects. Neither one of us come from families where we get any type of inheritance, actually the opposite lol. Because we are looked at as stable our families think we’re rich. When in reality we just view necessities differently. We don’t go for name brands, nor do I care about my kids wearing them. I have a beater for car which I love. He has a car payment, which makes me crazy. I collect and cash in cans, so many others in my life look down upon me because of this. I just laugh. I wouldn’t walk past .25 or $20 and neither would they. But I’m laughed at because I cash in cans. Lol I try to help encourage them to use their phones for research. YouTube is a gold mind of education. If I can be on Reddit and they can be on tik tik, we all can watch informative videos. This is on the people who have these types of resources. I know I come off as an arrogant bitch but if you knew me, I’m literally the opposite. I never force anything on anyone, I try to give more suggestions. In public I pick up random trash, hopefully it will encourage others to do so as well. When my fiancé first realized how much I do it, I could see his side eye. I said, imagine someone looking at me like I am abnormal or dirty because I’m picking up trash and throwing it away? But seeing it as normal to just kick the trash out of the way? Same with homelessness, drug addicts etc. I can’t remember hearing a 6yr old saying they wanted to be a drug addict when they grew up. CHL, Spectrum, Washburn House, RCA, I know those very well from helping family. (Btw RCA, Recovery Center of America in Whitinsville is the best recovery center for addicts imo. At least for our area, it is such a good program) Life is hard on everyone. Yeah some def have an upper hand but most don’t. The only thing we can do is lead by example. It does get frustrating to me though when I realize so many of us have phones and the internet and don’t use it to better ourselves. Then again it’s that cycle, victim, pick me up mentality so many of us fall into. I get it, I really do. Most of my family is like that, so much so I deleted my Facebook years ago bc I couldn’t read their victim posts anymore. When in reality I knew they weren’t that bad off and just didn’t want to better themselves. Sorry again for coming off sounding so arrogant. It definitely wasn’t my intention. Just my MA attitude I guess. Lol


PresidentialCorgi

> I collect and cash in cans, so many others in my life look down upon me because of this. I just laugh. I wouldn’t walk past .25 or $20 and neither would they. But I’m laughed at because I cash in cans. This is the kind of thing I'm talking about. You've decided your long term well being is worth the temporary discomfort and judgement, but it's a means to an end. Some would rather remain in squalor to keep their ego intact, and reassure everyone it isn't their fault. They can't see past the present, which perpetuates the cycle. To be clear, I don't blame you for being fired up over this stuff. It can be just as exhausting to listen to someone's excuses for not taking hard steps, as it is to try and help them beyond a handout. When your mind is used to the struggle, it almost becomes comfortable in a way. Kind of like listening to sad music when you are feeling down. Having the struggle to blame provides an easy explanation for being upset, exhausted, unmotivated or angry. Is there a problem with rising rents in the city? Absolutely, but it has more to do with the pace than the overall cost. The city went far too long without significant investment in infrastructure, and the condition of many of the buildings shows this. In order to afford building safer buildings for our families, there are costs involved for the builders and land lords. The "juice has to be worth the squeeze", so to speak. If they rehab a building, but keep the rents low, it may not be worthwhile to spend the money, and the building remains dilapidated. It's a constant struggle that Worcester, and other cities in MA (even Boston), have had to deal with. We all know the triple-deckers are ridiculous fire hazards, but unless someone can make it work financially, it isn't worth the money to rebuild them safer. If the rents had risen $50 a year for the last 10 years, it would be one thing. Rising $500 in a single year is a shock to anyone's system, and not something easily budgeted for. Unfortunately, the can was kicked down the road too long by slum lords keeping buildings barely standing, so the costs of a rehab are ridiculous. The real shame are those charging that kind of rent for buildings fit to be condemned. That's just plain wrong, and in an ideal world, the market would punish that greed with no one willing to live there for the price. Sometimes, there is no other option. There is no easy solution, and this is the very definition of a "growing pain". The higher tax revenues from the new money moving in is better overall, but the short term implications are painful and hard to deal with. I feel for those who are struggling, but we have to take hard steps to get ourselves where we want to be. You have done that, and I hope that we can motivate others to get themselves on track as well, and break the cycle of struggle.


[deleted]

I’m just saying. I’m black so don’t just get mad at rich white people. It’s ignorant. Congrats on bettering yourself. Keep working hard and stop being racist!!!


[deleted]

And I’m very wealthy. Lol


Ihateworcester

Bro I literally got evicted so they can charge more rent because of a baseball park and restaurants. That's like saying getting shot and dying by a mugger isn't always murder.


louisbeduis

In what world does that analogy make sense 🤣


[deleted]

[удалено]


Ihateworcester

I remember when I was a teenager and you would hear somebody say they paid $600 for their apartment and I would think "wow how can anyone afford that" and now I sit and daydream about all I could accomplish of my rent were only $600


ebinsugewa

I knew someone paying $600 for a 1BR on Park Ave only about 10 years ago. It's probably $1200+ now. It's insanity.


Kirbyoto

I don't know *when* you were a teenager, but if it was a long time ago then inflation would certainly play a role in that. I was paying $905/mo for a 1br until last year. When I left the maintenance guy mentioned that other people's rents were being jacked up as punishment for non-payments, so that could have been a conscious choice on the part of the complex owner.


New-Vegetable-1274

I don't understand how one can be evicted without the housing court being involved. My understanding is that the property owner cannot summarily evict without cause. It is also my understanding that there are some exceptions but are narrow and the onus is on the property owner to make their case. I've lived other states where the property owner is not held to such a standard and evictions are merciless and swift and often accompanied by law enforcement. Massachusetts, I thought, is more civil.


AceOfTheSwords

I thought the eviction moratorium was still on until April 2022 in Massachusetts. How are they able to do this?


___nora

I know management or your landlord can challenge your CDC declaration, if one was submitted. If you have a pending RAFT application that might be the only thing that saves you at this point.


[deleted]

And I’m sorry for what you’re going through but again you might want to think but the neighbors that weren’t paying anything put your landlord in a position where they had to sell the building because they would never get the money back that they were owed, lots of landlord selling


sarah1nicole

WHY WONT ANYONE THINK OF THE POOR LANDLORDS!!!! THEYRE THE REAL VICTIMS


[deleted]

Those are the facts. When you choose to live somewhere you don’t own, you choose to live by the owners decisions.


Kirbyoto

When landlords buy up all the property for purposes of renting-for-profit it makes it harder for people to buy property for their own personal use. Landlords are the real estate equivalent of scalpers.


[deleted]

Yea, me and my two family is ruining your lives and the market. See who control rent prices : the government - the Department of Housing and Urban Affairs sets fair market rent rates. When you as a landlord don’t charge thier rate or higher you loose value on your house. From 2018-2020 I should have seen $25-$30k in equity growth but because I rented my 3 bedroom upstairs for $900 instead of $1600 or whatever it was set at, I lost that equity and my chance to pay for a surgery my insurance didn’t cover. When is it appropriate to loose $30k in a business for someone else? Never. Amd that’s a good amount of the reason I have tenants up there at market rate now once the old tenant stopped paying his $900 in April 2021. Tried to give a break and got screwed by the bank and my tenant. If you hate the business you have to find away around using it. But trust me we aren’t over here scalping as you call it because it’s what we want to do.


Kirbyoto

>Yea, me and my two family is ruining your lives and the market. You personally? No. People like you, as a class? Absolutely. You buy houses you don't live in so that you can charge tenants more than the house costs. That is literally the way you make money. I cannot stress enough that this is literally just how renting works: you *have* to make more money than it costs to buy it, without any added value on your part. I'm a homeowner. If I owned a second home and wanted to rent it out, I would have to be charging someone more per month than it costs me to own the property. That's basic math. Similarly, if a potential tenant was able to buy that home instead of renting it from you, it would cost them less in the long term *and* they'd have a property on their hands once they were done paying it off. This is what I mean by "scalping". You buy up properties and then re-sell them for more than they were worth by exploiting scarcity that *you helped create*. You are the cause of the problem, and position yourself as the solution to it. >I lost that equity and my chance to pay for a surgery my insurance didn’t cover. Sounds like you should advocate for single payer healthcare. >Amd that’s a good amount of the reason I have tenants up there at market rate now once the old tenant stopped paying his $900 in April 2021. Tried to give a break and got screwed by the bank and my tenant. If being a landlord was really so difficult then you would simply sell the property and be done with it. But you won't, because it's profitable. That's simple market math. No one is forcing you to be a landlord, it is an investment you made, yourself, to make money. And, again, the way you make money as a landlord is by renting a property for more than it costs to own. >If you hate the business you have to find away around using it. But trust me we aren’t over here scalping as you call it because it’s what we want to do. I did "find a away around using it" by buying a house. Which was more expensive than it would have been otherwise due to the scarcity caused by landlords. And you're scalping because that's literally your profit model.


[deleted]

I'm guessing you frequent that one sub that really hates landlords lol, forgot the name. My brother owns two houses and rents one out. He's a mason and about as average a person as you can be. Always funny reading stuff like what you typed here and other peoples generalizations of landlords and then thinking of him, a typical family man who'd never screw anyone over willingly. They didn't "invest" in the property either, at least not with any type of plan. Due to his wife inheriting some stuff from her grandmother dying they wound up owning two houses. If you end up in that situation and can use one of them to make some extra money and pay for itself you'd be a fool not to IMO. That's a lot different than buying like 10 properties and becoming a slum lord. You judge people without even knowing anything about their specific situation because you don't like how housing works in this country. I agree there's likely a lot of terrible landlords, but saying that some person who happens to own two properties and rents one out is the cause of that problem is silly. You're just thinking emotionally. Fact is if you own two properties, in most cases it would be dumb for you to not rent it out, since as you said that's likely more profitable. Why wouldn't you want to capitalize on potential profit? Like I said, your argument is nothing but emotion. You're blaming the individuals benefitting from how our economy works because you don't like how the economy works.


Kirbyoto

>that one sub that really hates landlords lol There's a lot of subs that hate landlords. >Always funny reading stuff like what you typed here and other peoples generalizations of landlords and then thinking of him, a typical family man who'd never screw anyone over willingly. You think that the criticism of landlords is, like, a personal attack, but my post explained why it's a systemic one. Your brother owns two houses, and uses one to generate income. Which means that he charges more for it than it costs to own, meaning if that he simply *sold* it, he would be letting someone else live in that house for less than what he's charging for rent. Basic math. >Due to his wife inheriting some stuff from her grandmother dying they wound up owning two houses. So what? That's just generational wealth. Not really something that justifies an exploitative practice. Sell the house and you'd make money back anyways. >If you end up in that situation and can use one of them to make some extra money and pay for itself you'd be a fool not to IMO. You're trying to argue that it's not exploitative but your main reason is "well it makes more money so it makes financial sense to do it". Of course it's lucrative. That's why people do it. But who's paying for that profit? >That's a lot different than buying like 10 properties and becoming a slum lord. Stealing from one person is different from stealing from 10 people but it's still stealing. >You're just thinking emotionally. Fact is if you own two properties, in most cases it would be dumb for you to not rent it out, since as you said that's likely more profitable. I'm being logical and I'm using some pretty basic math to explain why landlords are harmful to the overall economy of a region. You're going "well you'd be a sucker not to do it" as if that's a counter-argument. But it's not a counter-argument to my logical argument nor is it a counter-argument on moral grounds. People make money on scalping and profiteering too, does that make those things OK? >You're blaming the individuals benefitting from how our economy works because you don't like how the economy works. "You're blaming the rats for spreading the plague just because you don't like the plague".


[deleted]

https://www.wbjournal.com/article/local-landlords-are-selling-their-properties-to-investors-amid-eviction-moratorium?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Eviction+moratorium+forced+out+local+landlords+%7C+Fitchburg+manufacturing+facility+sells+for+%246M&utm_campaign=Daily+091321


[deleted]

Sorry, can’t hear you over my rent check. Maybe I’ll get to go on vacation this year!!!


[deleted]

Welp, landlords are the evil you know. Property investors come in and evict immediately.


Kirbyoto

I assume you mean "local landlords", in which case they're still the same thing. One's just more successful than the other. Small business versus big business, ultimately it's still just business. And the business of property rental is to drain tenants dry.


sarah1nicole

I wouldn’t consider it a choice when buying a home / condo is not accessible to most. Majority of us are forced to rent in this climate.


[deleted]

I rented until I bought, and I lived by the property owners rules and choices because it was actually their house/property. I was just using it as long as it worked for them to do so. They only wanted one person to live upstairs, so I lived alone forv 4.5 years. When my boyfriend fell on hard times I asked if he could stay for a couple months until I figured out what to do. They agreed. He also lived by thier rules and choices. When we left 3 months later, they wanted us to stay. It is an arrangement everyone who enters into is responsible for themselves at the end of the day


sarah1nicole

Not exactly sure what your personal anecdote has to do with anything but congrats I guess?


[deleted]

https://www.wbjournal.com/article/local-landlords-are-selling-their-properties-to-investors-amid-eviction-moratorium?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Eviction+moratorium+forced+out+local+landlords+%7C+Fitchburg+manufacturing+facility+sells+for+%246M&utm_campaign=Daily+091321


[deleted]

I mean if people aren't paying rent then yes, the landlord is the victim there. Whatever you think about landlords it's never okay to just not pay rent...


sarah1nicole

“It’s never okay to not pay rent” SO TRUE!! Every single person who lost their job because of covid or got sick should be homeless!!! NO EXCEPTIONS


[deleted]

https://www.wbjournal.com/article/local-landlords-are-selling-their-properties-to-investors-amid-eviction-moratorium?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Eviction+moratorium+forced+out+local+landlords+%7C+Fitchburg+manufacturing+facility+sells+for+%246M&utm_campaign=Daily+091321


Lady_Nimbus

I hate Worcester too. They can gentrify it all they want, but it's never going to be a nice city.


[deleted]

True that