Leader of Government Business Kurt Tibbetts blamed landlords for part of the post- Ivan housing problem.
Higher rents are part of the reason government statistics show housing costs for the first quarter of 2005 are up 29 per cent from last year.
Rent alone is 50 per cent or more higher for some types of housing because of a scarcity of rental properties.
Mr. Tibbetts suggested the situation should not be dictated only by supply and demand economics.
‘It is immoral… some of the acts of these landlords to their tenants,’ Mr. Tibbetts said. ‘(Landlords) are putting people out just so they can raise the rent.’
Mr. Tibbetts pointed out that some of the landlords who have raised the rent have not even properly repaired their housing from hurricane damage.
‘I can’t believe people don’t care and that it’s all about making a dollar,’ he said. ‘I make a plea to landlords to remember the circumstances and to be fair to their fellow man.’
Mr. Tibbetts warned opportunistic landlords of a reversal.
A large amount of rental housing is expected to come on line after repairs are completed later this year, according to realtors.
Several new projects are also slated for completion before the end of the year.
‘This situation is not going to remain this way forever,’ Mr. Tibbetts said. ‘Some of these same landlords (who raised rents to high levels) will be the ones crying because they can’t rent their places.’
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