dtcwee: The Value of Nothing

The vintage cautions of the Seven Deadly Sins have much to offer the equally ancient practice of being a landlord. Envy comes at you from all directions as a landlord because once you hit a certain age, everyone you know has a story to tell about making money in property. You'll hear about awesome tenants, adroit agents, diligent trades-people, steady rents, and low vacancies. To add zest to the experience, you'll be told all this while mindful of your struggle with property managers who couldn't bang two rocks together, let alone fill the vacancies in your money-pit slum before it disintegrates in a pile of dodgy construction. Your successful companion's tales of being a landlord may even be an interlude before the climax of flipping the property for immense capital gains. The more skillful the narrative, the more you will ask, "Why can't I do that?"

The ancient ' Seven Deadly Sins ' with its message of virtuous moderation has much to offer the equally ancient practice of being a landlord. There is a lot that makes landlords wrathful . A tenant could alter the property without permission. They could ignore a simple fault until it turns into a crisis. A contractor could break more than they fix, and overcharge to add insult to injury. An agent could ignore all of this. Why, just last month: A tenant broke lease and skipped town, taking the keys with him. Tenants unplugged the alarm system during a blackout, draining the battery and requiring a costly replacement. As I write this, I frown. I grit my teeth. My breath and heart move faster. I remember how my already low expectations have been betrayed yet again. Surely I'm outraged for good reason?