Place burden of proof on tenants who claim hardship

As a landlord, I can identify with the story of Romeo Budhoo (“Walls are closing in,”

May 4). His plight is one that numerous other landlords have endured as a result of the endless eviction moratoriums.

The attitude of his tenant is reflective of tenants who take advantage of the moratoriums. They not only view landlords as greedy people who do not deserve to be paid but they also pass this attitude to their children. They fail to recognize the hard work and sacrifices landlords have made to acquire and maintain their properties.

Despite the enormous amounts of money tenants have received in pandemic relief, some continue to withhold rent and use the funds to buy luxuries.

As John Cole’s cartoon May 4 pointed out, businesses are unable to find workers because, in large part, the unemployed do not need to work. Not only do unemployment benefits pay them more but, with the Legislature’s help, they do not have to pay rent. Contrary to the claims of tenant advocates, landlords will never recoup the rent they are owed.

The burden needs to be placed on tenants to prove hardship. All they need to do is fill out a form that does not even have to be notarized. Landlords must file notarized affidavits attesting to their compliance with the moratorium requirements.

Just as landlords are subject to criminal liability, tenants should be subject to criminal liability for falsely claiming hardship, harassing their landlords and destroying property.

Of course, this will never happen because the primary interest of politicians is not the welfare of their constituents but rather their votes.

Sandra M. Colatosti

Albany