BRATTLEBORO — There have been many articles talking about affordable housing here and elsewhere. Some people just don't get it. The folks who provide rental housing are being constantly handed down laws (that have a price tag on them) they must follow in order to rent their properties.
The state and towns dictate to us what we must do, and the state and towns wonder why we can't provide so-called affordable housing.
Affordable for whom?
Brattleboro, the state, and other towns in Vermont have themselves to blame.
They have built their Field of Dreams - if you build it, they will come. The state and towns supply folks from everywhere with just about everything they need, including cell phones! And they expect Vermont landlords to foot the bill.
Now we have more regulations on the way via our Legislature. Bill H.184 is just another slap in the face to those of us who provide rental homes to folks who are not ready to buy their own homes or who may not want to own their own homes.
With the cost of heating, water and sewer, taxes, Inspections, snow removal, and upkeep, I can see where some of us just give up and sell to some corporate investor. I personally have been approached to sell to an out-of-state entity and did not. I'm starting to regret my decision.
Do not preach about affordable housing while adding yet another burden on the backs of we, the local landlords.