Why is the Landlord considered the bad guy? (2024)

What exactly is a Landlord, and why do tenants always seem to assume the worst?

Simply stated, A landlord is the owner of a house, apartment, condominium, land or real estate which is rented or leased to an individual or business, who is called a tenant (also a lessee or renter). But the word itself often evokes negative emotions. People think of the Landlord as a bad guy. Why is this?

The word "landlord" can be traced back to Old English, and the concept began in the Roman Empire and its manorial system. As all the land in an empire was considered the sole property of the kings that ruled it, land could be granted by those rulers as reward to those in their favor. Large tracts of land thus became estates owned by a single person who came to be known as a "lord". That land was not vacant. Peasants without money or favor were living and farming that land. Once that land became the property of a lord, those peasants became bound and dependent on their lords for protection and often justice. Further, under feudalism such relations became widespread and the peasants became tenants now obligated to pay rent to that lord. While some lords were certainly benevolent, the words "landlord" and "tenant" came to represent a relationship with an imbalance of power, and a dependency on one by the other often controlled by fear.

The word has been in use for over 1000 years, but despite the fact that our culture has moved well beyond this ancient system, the lingering negative essence of the word "landlord" remains for many. The news media certainly doesn’t help as it often reports on delinquent or negligent landlords that demand rent but provide little if any maintenance or services. Municipal governments in return, often blame such landlords for crime and blight. As a result, the average person has been groomed to be wary of the "landlord".

But that's simply not fair, and it's not the way the vast majority of property owners view their role in our economic system. For we do have a vital role to play. As a property owner, Ozzy Properties redevelops and manages mainly commercial real estate. In other words, we spend our time creating and maintaining the space within which business can thrive. In order to grow and expand, companies need space. They certainly need space for employees to work and interact with one another and their customers. And, often they need space with very specific physical attributes or utilities reliably available. Although there has been much chatter about a "virtual" work space, it is not reasonable to presume that human beings can effectively conduct business, manufacture products for sale and engage with one another face to face without a home base upon which the business is built. And especially for small businesses where ownership may be out of reach, those needs are met by the Landlord.

The base must be a solid foundation that functions both mechanically as well as emotionally. The home base should be a place upon which the business can rely, and is proud. In short, we view our role as a business partner. The landlord takes on considerable risk and expense by opening its doors to others. Just as a tenant assumes risk by taking up residence. Certainly therefore, our relationship is a legal one, bound by documents that govern the rights and responsibilities of both sides, but if considered properly and respectfully, the partnership should work to help both sides to flourish.

Once that lease is signed we are on the same side. We are both the customers and the clients of the other. No bad guys.