The Fight to Protect Property Rights w/ Stacey Johnson-Cosby

Spurred by the pandemic, tenant rights are changing around the country. But what does that mean for housing providers, like landlords, property managers, investors, and REALTORS®? Listen in as Stacey Johnson-Cosby breaks down the devastating long-term effects of extended moratoriums, the loud voices of organized tenant groups, and why property rights need to be protected now more than ever—and hear what you can do to help your community and its people while protecting your hard-earned legacy.  

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• 00:20 - Introducing Stacey Johnson-Cosby; an agent of 33 years in Kansas and Missouri and passionate private property rights advocate
  • 01:40 - Tenant rights are changing around the country; Stacey and her husband are investors and housing providers and have been for 25 years
  • 02:55 - Many agents are also investors; they need to preserve income and the housing market
  • 03:15 - She created an alliance of housing providers (landlords, property managers, investors, and REALTORS®) and her survey says many will sell
  • 04:10 - She believes that eviction moratoriums will have devastating long-term effects
• 04:30 - Stacey’s alliance
  • 05:55 - How she found people; people came out for a Healthy Homes Rental Inspection and they educated people
  • 07:00 - The alliance was formed before it became a ballot initiative; then they formed a campaign
  • 08:05 - She ran for council and is energized to be the voice for the housing industry; people need to do their homework and should know what already exists
  • 09:50 - They represent over 100,000 rental units in her area in the alliance; they are available for policy questions, education, etc.
• 10:35 - How to replicate her alliance in other areas without creating bad legislation to fight
  • 12:45 - Tenant groups are organized and national; she wants housing providers to have the same organization and voice
  • 14:50 - Many housing providers are struggling, too, and can’t afford to also house and support their tenants
• 15:13 - The socialist nature of tenant groups
  • 15:45 - Squatting and taking over properties is becoming more common
  • 16:05 - Watch what’s going on with your city council; don’t assume that you will get notified
  • 17:00 - She went to a city council meeting and the tenant groups were already there and organized; they worked with the mayor to create a tenant Bill of Rights
  • 17:20 - The national movement is that housing is a right; Stacey spoke and said that housing providers should have a seat at the table, too
  • 19:50 - Many people spoke against the tenant Bill of Rights at the second meeting; tenant groups want projects 
  • 21:20 - The government is not a good landlord; public housing in not a good idea
  • 22:10 - Some tenant groups think housing should be free and that evictions should not be allowed
• 22:55 - On owning a home
  • 24:45 - Homeownership is the first step to the middle class; it’s also a way to create a legacy
  • 25:30 - You don’t always have to be stuck being a renter; the focus should be to help more people own homes
• 25:57 - On rental assistance
  • 27:15 - The government should provide rental assistance, not cancel rent; housing providers want people to be able to stay in their homes
  • 28:45 - There are so many paths to take to better your future; share the knowledge to help future generations
• 29:50 - On tenants/landlords working together
  • 30:10 - Landlords are human and are just like tenants; they struggle and want to help, too
  • 31:00 - They held a virtual resource summit to help people get assistance; the assistance is out there
  • 32:15 - They also hosted a job fair for jobs paying $15 or more; there were 30 employers offering around 300 jobs 
  • 36:23 - Tenants want to pay and want to work; they want to be a part of their own future
• 38:08 - Her suggestions
  • 38:38 - Be a voice for housing; for investing to create wealth, speak up, and connect leaders and groups to work together
  • 39:43 - Know about the tenant groups that are out there disincentivizing property ownership; look up #cancelrent #rentstrike
  • 40:30 - Help house homeless students; there’s a shortage of affordable housing and housing providers want to change that
  • 41:25 - Share your knowledge with others and your family so people can learn how to grow a legacy, invest, and have property
• 43:00 - How to reach Stacey: text [phone], email [email protected] and check out the National Housing Provider Coalition website and on Facebook, and the KC Regional Housing Alliance website and on Facebook