The Legislature is considering two bills, AB141 and AB161, that would increase protections for tenants in response to the pandemic and its economic fallout. So why should I, a landlord, support these bills? I have two reasons: stability for our community and Christian faith that calls for the protection of vulnerable community members. Let me unpack these.

Nevada has seen its pre-existing homelessness and affordable housing issues exacerbated by the pandemic. There’s no need for the yearly count of those sleeping on the street to tell me what’s there. I see tents, ad hoc shelters, half-hidden shopping carts piled high with someone’s every worldly possession, and individuals with signs asking for help at almost every freeway exit and shopping center. In addition, I have morbidly followed our region’s consistent ranking among the nation’s highest rates for rental price increases. It is a boon for the owners of rental properties like myself and a bane for renters—especially those on fixed incomes like retirees and people on disability.

While our economic base has managed to move toward more diversification and less reliance on the casino and tourism sectors, a significant number of lower-income wage earners depend on these jobs. It has been these jobs that experienced severe cutbacks in 2020-2021.  As a result, many households, especially those in upper-income brackets—including people in a position to own rental properties—have not encountered the same level of financial struggle that lower-wage earners in restaurants and casinos have encountered from layoffs and furloughs.

What can we do? We were overwhelmed before the pandemic. In Washoe County, there are efforts trying to build more housing—though most of these housing units are unaffordable for lower-income people. The City of Reno just announced a new partnership to build some affordable housing… but it’s only 10 units. The problem continues to balloon, and a sufficient number of affordable housing units are merely a dream on the horizon.

What can we do? We can take steps to ensure more legal protections are in place to keep individuals and families housed. We can openly and enthusiastically support the proposed legislation of AB141 and AB161. 

AB141 would do two things. First, it would extend the timelines for no-cause evictions and ensure that people have a little more time to secure new housing. The bill extends the notice given to the renter to find another place to live, to 60 days for those who have lived in the home for one to three years and 90 days for those who were in the home for three or more years. As a landlord, the current rental market guarantees that I will have very little trouble finding a new tenant, but tenants forced to move will struggle to find new housing. As a second provision, AB 141 would seal a tenant’s eviction record if they have been evicted during the pandemic resulting from lack of payment. Given the shortage of housing units in our state, this merciful provision would allow them a greater chance at finding new housing. Furthermore, as a resident in Washoe County, these provisions would benefit all residents through increased stability for renters and the community at large.

As an owner of several rental properties and a person of faith, I can offer to rent my property at an affordable rate to help homeless people and families have a secure place to live. As a Christian, my faith leads me to support more legal protections for the residents at risk of eviction in our community. The Bible calls us to care for the vulnerable members of our community, imitating God, “who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them with food and clothing” (Deuteronomy 10:18).  Five hundred thousand Nevadans are at risk of eviction in this moment, according to the Guinn Center, and for this reason, my faith calls me and others to act with what is in my power as a landlord.

Similarly, AB161 would put an increased level of responsibility on the landlord when seeking to evict a tenant by getting rid of “summary evictions” which allow landlords to evict tenants quickly and without due process. Currently, tenants must initiate their own court case to stay in their home. Especially when we think of low-income tenants, there’s no question that I, as a landlord, always have easier access and more financial resources to take legal steps toward eviction than a tenant has to fight for their home. 

My Christian faith, which includes the belief in the equal value of each person, regardless of property ownership or not, calls for all of us to support these bills. 

Peter Altmann has a Ph.D. in Biblical Studies and serves as a community leader with Faith In Action Nevada, a nonpartisan, multi-faith organization that organizes and advocates for racial justice, economic justice, and inclusive democracy.