Madam, – It appears that it is open season on landlords (Ailish Larkin, January 31st, and others). Being an older person I recall that the great majority of my parents’ generation lived in rented accommodation, as did many of my own generation. It is likely, following the recent financial meltdown in this country, that many will continue to live in rented accommodation for a long time to come.
Not all landlords are millionaire developers, or rackrenters living off the backs of others.
Renting property is a legitimate, some would say vital, business, that in the main is operated by ordinary private owners who own a purpose-built apartment block or a spare house, and without them there would be many now living with their parents or even on the streets, – Yours, etc,
Madam, – To suggest that economic contributors to the Letters page should be compelled to state their occupation, as Gavin Tobin suggests (January 31st), seems quite a cynical proposal. Mr Tobin appears to want to know the price of everyone rather than the value of what they have to say.
I'm sorry for small private landlords if their property investments did not work out. However, to extrapolate from that that public servants are writing to The Irish Timesto gloat about it is some feat of the imagination. – Yours, etc,