Is it unethical to hide that I’m the landlord?

posted 5 months ago

Hi Chapos throwaway for obvious reasons.

I’ve managed to buy an apartment, two bedrooms. I live in it, but I rent the other room out. Is it unethical for me to hide that I’m the owner?

I don’t really lie-lie, like if I’m asked straight up I’ll answer, but I’ll avoid it if possible.

It’s mostly because it creates an odd power dynamic and I’d rather have a flatmate than a tenant if that makes sense.

Reason I bought is I don’t want to deal with landlords, obviously.

Do I get the wall?

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Hexamerous [none/use name]@hexbear.net

9 points

5 months ago

Semantics. What would you use as short hand for “sharing the cost of living and you get your own room” if not “rent out a room”? If this was posted on id jump to the worst possible conclusion too, but maybe ask OP before doing that here.

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booty [he/him]@hexbear.net

9 points

5 months ago

I mean if you’re not profiting and are literally just covering the extra expenses incurred by having a second person living in your home, first of all why? I mean it’s nice and all but I’m just suspicious of acts of charity like that (and certainly wouldn’t assume that that is what’s happening instead of the much more likely option)

And second, if you are performing that act of charity, why would you feel guilty or wonder if you’re getting the wall? If I were doing that I wouldn’t consider myself a landlord or feel any guilt for it at all. That’s called having a roommate. I guess on paper legally you’re still the landlord but it’s a different thing ethically.

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RION [she/her]@hexbear.net

4 points

5 months ago

Well he’s definitely not profiting based on his answers elsewhere in the thread.

I think when Hexamerous says “sharing the cost of living” they’re also including an at-cost fraction of the mortgage corresponding to the proportion of the unit the tenant is using.

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booty [he/him]@hexbear.net

3 points

5 months ago

Well he’s definitely not profiting based on his answers elsewhere in the thread.

Keep in mind that OP had posted 0 total comments in the thread last time I wrote a comment.

I think when Hexamerous says “sharing the cost of living” they’re also including an at-cost fraction of the mortgage corresponding to the proportion of the unit the tenant is using.

Why should someone else pay your mortgage?

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RION [she/her]@hexbear.net

4 points

5 months ago

I just figured it was worth pointing out in case you hadn’t seen it—apologies if it came off as passive aggressive or anything.

Why should someone else pay your mortgage?

Because they’re using part of the place the mortgage pays for. Otherwise OP could just store stuff in the bedroom, have family stay there, etc.

Believe me, I’m searching for a place right now after couch surfing with my mom for half a year with a pretty dinky income, so I hold no love for landlords or the institution of renting. Still, renting out an extra room in your place if residence is fairly low on my list of things to take umbrage with

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booty [he/him]@hexbear.net

3 points

5 months ago

I just figured it was worth pointing out in case you hadn’t seen it—apologies if it came off as passive aggressive or anything.

No worries!

Because they’re using part of the place the mortgage pays for

Yes, temporarily. And when the mortgage is paid, OP owns the house forever and can, as always, kick out those who paid the mortgage any time. Or just keep extorting them for personal gain. Either way, they don’t get shit.

Otherwise OP could just store stuff in the bedroom, have family stay there, etc.

Exactly why I don’t really like the argument that OP “isn’t that bad” or is “not like the other landlords” or “isn’t gaining anything” or whatever. The reason OP doesn’t just store stuff in the bedroom, or have family stay there, or whatever is because OP is exploiting another person for personal gain. He is acting according to his own material interests, leeching another person’s hard-earned money to pay for his house. OP even describes the amount of rent he is charging as “market rate.” He’s literally just another landlord, no different from the perspective of his tenant from any other landlord in the area. (except that he thinks he’s a superhero with a secret identity. leech man! lurks in the bathtub and sucks your blood while you’re not looking)

I feel like I accidentally fell asleep and now I’m just in some kind of dream where all of hexbear forgot why being a landlord is bad.

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Chronicon [they/them]@hexbear.net

4 points

5 months ago

I feel like I accidentally fell asleep and now I’m just in some kind of dream where all of hexbear forgot why being a landlord is bad.

I feel like ultimately a lot of it boils down to experiences like what CocteauChameleons said below:

rooms for rent have been the only way I’ve survived on my own other than sleeping in my car

It’s sorta hard to look at a situation that is, yes, exploitative, but less so than almost any other option available to most people, and say “nope you should just eat the cost and fill the bedroom with storage or a guest bed” and make sure that option isn’t available to anyone.

But honestly the urge to hide it is very sus no matter how you slice it, and OP could have presumably like, bought a smaller unit he could actually afford solo, or could find a long term roommate and either literally make them part-owner of the property, or cut the rent back to just half of non-mortgage expenses or something so he wouldn’t be exploiting them

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Is it unethical to hide that I’m the landlord?

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