Increase on Compassion not on Collection: Key to Combat the Real Enemy

The havoc produced by the pandemic has affected particularly the means and earnings of
people. It is an added burden of survival if landlords will increase the payment on rentals of
those who are on the work to pay or earn-and-pay scheme.

Yet, this claim does not sound convincing to those who are in the private rental sector
where their business is at stake during the uncertainty of times of the pandemic. Turbulence was
felt in 2020 in the private rental sector because of the significant declines in investment in many
jurisdictions (Byrne, 2021). This got worst when rent prices have relatively decreased
worldwide, and in particular, rent collection has remained surprisingly low and vacancy levels
become surprisingly low too. The uncertainty of events in 2020 has impacted the market and
caused a decline in rent collections and investments in properties (Jorda et al., 2020. This is due
to the fact that people are much concerned about securing their lives against the threat of the
virus and having enough supply for their basic needs rather than putting up investments and
using money without seeing something in return. On top of that, a temporary moratorium was
implemented in almost all countries. Collection of debts and putting penalty was frozen at a
certain time. Landlords should comply with the said moratorium and as part of the global
scenario, their compliance served as a sacrifice. Painful as it may seem to them, but an order is
an order that should be followed.
True enough that private rentals of properties and spaces were hit by the aforesaid
temporary relief on paying rents and charges this pandemic. Thus, the obligation of renters
should remain in paying for their rents since they occupy places or properties. This may seem
ideal, however, far from the reality in the middle of uncertainty. Increasing rental cost is another
hurdle in survival times. At present where essentials are priorities, the supposed to be increased
on collections of landlords makes the life of those who rent even more difficult. On another note,
Francke and Korevaar (2021) estimated that housing markets in a pandemic were likely smaller.
This means that in the field of housing and rentals, the pandemic has no great effect.
Accordingly, in a study conducted by Tomal and Marona (2021), it was found out that though
the effect of the pandemic in the last quarter of 2020 has a significant impact on rent levels, there
is however a projected increase in the subsequent quarters of 2021. Regardless of the impact,
whether big or small, the trajectory of their loss should not be pointed to those who avail their
service-their consumers, their renters. Hence, without them, housing and rental businesses will
not continue. The more that this pandemic would be a way for them to make housing exist not as
material things but home with affection and understanding. There might be a short span of pause
on the continuity and growth of rentals, but it is seen as something that can bounce back in the
coming years.
In this uncertain period, putting pressure or having strict and unreasonable rules over
anything doesn’t solve the global problem. Landlords may not attain quota and get the usual
profit on their properties, but this doesn’t take away their properties with them. Instead, this is
where their resiliency in the market will be tested. To be relevant in the time of the pandemic,
landlords and property owners should take this as an opportunity to recalibrate in achieving
sustainable goals that will bring income to them. Fields (2018) elucidated contingent new modes
of property-led financial accumulation emerging in the wake of the financial crisis. This affirms
the resiliency of the housing sector and its impact on the formulation of marketing strategies.
This could be done by reviewing marketing theories and looking at their relevance in the present
situation. In addition, the government’s role in mediating these concerns on the rental increase is
another key factor. Implementing rules or policies that will not dampen any of the sides of
renters or landlords will surely create a way towards taking into understanding on both sides
rather than difficult situations.
Requiring people to stay at home re-emphasizes the requirement for secure and
appropriate housing, and housing tenure has been central to the experience of the pandemic.
Sending out those who cannot pay rental obligations because of the additional charges adds up to
the problem of the government in implementing home quarantines and isolations. Helping the
government needs not be extravagant, simply remaining to the usual price of rentals is already an
impactful contribution. Adding an amount on the payment of rentals doesn’t solve the global
concern. As humans who are the targets of the enemy that we cannot see, let us not be predators
of our own. Instead, let us mutually benefit from each other and together face the pandemic. Yes,
the word tells us that it is not okay. The surroundings show us that something is wrong. A deadly
virus is anywhere, ready to infect victims. These are in the world but should be reasons for us to
shorten the world of others by taking away their chance for fair collection. An increase may just
be added if the properties being rented are being upgraded. But as long as the same property
rented remains, nothing has changed or improved, there is no way that landlords should increase
the price of rentals. Though it is not in the time of the pandemic, unjust collection, or
incomprehensible charges must not be put into the process and become part of the practice.
Unknowingly, if it will not be controlled, this will lead to corruption and abuse of authority.
Having a place that can be called home is the first line of defense against COVID 19, not
possession, nor income from the unreasonable way of collection. The key site of people this
pandemic are their homes or properties, taking away the chance to remain here brings them near
to the quagmire of death.
 References

Byrne, M. (2021). The impact of COVID-19 on the private rental sector: emerging international

evidence. https://publicpolicy.ie/perspectives/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-the-private-

rentalsector-emerging-international-evidence/

Francke, Marc, Korevaar, Matthijs (2021) Housing markets in a pandemic: Evidence from

historical outbreaks, Journal of Urban Economics, Volume 123, 2021, 103333

Fields, Desiree (2018) Constructing a New Asset Class: Property-led Financial Accumulation

after the Crisis, Economic Geography, 94:2, 118-

140, DOI: 10.1080/00130095.2017.1397492

Jorda et al., 2020 O. Jorda, S.R. Singh, A.M. Taylor, Longer-run economic consequences of

pandemic (Report no. w26934) National Bureau of Economic Research (2020) Google

Scholar

Tomal, Mateusz, Marona, Bartłomiej (2021) Rural and urban sociology, Socio-Economic

Research, Sociologický ústav AV ČR, v.v.i. https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?

id=975073