what does it take to help landlords with small portfolios improve the quality of naturally occurring affordable housing?

SUMMARY

czb was asked by a collection of non-profit funders to analyze the Rochester and Monroe County rental market with a specific emphasis on understanding and addressing the business models of small-time rental property owners. Because the need for housing assistance amongst low-income renters far exceeds available public resources, the vast majority of low-income renters procure their housing on the private market, often from landlords who own a small number of units—from only a handful to a few dozen.

The analysis resulted in a taxonomy of private sector landlords and revealed the key finding that the Monroe County rental marketplace is an efficient sorting mechanism, matching similar grades of landlords, tenants, properties, and locations with each other. The results of the matching system have negative repercussions for low-income tenants and the broader the community. The report recommended interventions to disrupt the system and match struggling tenants to better landlords.