A NEW type of landlord, deemed “vanlords,” are being blasted by tenants for charging obscene rent amounts for subpar living conditions.
Politicians are now trying to protect van tenants from being scammed by RV owners illegally renting their vehicles out for hundreds of dollars a month.
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San Jose, California, resident Juanita Macias used to rent an RV from a vanlord for $500 per month, not including electricity or water, local ABC affiliate KGO reported.
Macias said her neighbors in the Columbus Park area were paying upwards of $1,000 per month for an RV without basic living necessities.
Earlier this month, the San Jose Police Department briefed lawmakers about the vanlording problem.
According to the memorandum, vanlords rent out ill-equipped vans to homeless individuals seeking affordable housing.
The SJPD reported that two vanlords were renting 15-20 RVs out to people in need of housing.
The recreational vehicles were reportedly parked on public streets making for unsafe living conditions for its tenants.
“We found out that these bad actors are going out there and towing these dilapidated, unregistered, unsafe either RVs or vans or even trailers, and then renting it out illegally,” councilman Bien Doan told KGO.
The memorandum also noted that many of the vehicles rented out lack proper ventilation, which can “further jeopardize residents’ well-being.”
“The mayor and my colleagues put out this memorandum to help our police department and our code enforcement, give them an extra tool,” Doan said.
“How do we deal with this and how do we reduce this amount of unsanctioned housing out in the street?”
Councilmen believe that strict enforcement of vanlording laws will help address “ issues of exploitation and inequality.”
“Moreover, stricter enforcement of vanlording laws can serve as a deterrent for others who might be tempted to engage in similar practices,” the memo states.
“When individuals see that there are real consequences for illegally renting out RVs or other substandard housing, the risk of punishment may outweigh the potential profits.
“This can help reduce the overall prevalence of vanlording, encouraging the adoption of ethical and legal property management practices across the city.”
The memo suggests preventing the trade or sale of recreational vehicles between tow yards, salvage yards and vanlords.
Officials also recommend exploring enforcement mechanisms that Planning, Building, Code Enforcement, or Parking Control Officers can potentially execute.
What is vanlording?
According to the city of San Jose, vanlording is the practice of unlicensed and often illegal property management.
“Typically associated with unregistered, poorly maintained, or substandard housing conditions, vanlording refers to individuals who rent out properties, including recreational vehicles (RVs) or other vehicles, without meeting legal or safety standards.
In San José, a significant issue has emerged with individuals engaging in “vanlording” practices by renting out RVs parked on city streets to exploit homeless residents for a quick profit.”
While some support more stringent ordinances, advocates like Shaun Cartwright believe the city is handling the issue incorrectly.
“People are definitely being taken advantage of,” Cartwright said.
“But you have to remove those people from the situation and put them in housing first, before you go after the ‘vanlords.’”
The city has 90 days to respond with its plan to tackle vanlords.
