Zacks, and many landlords, would argue that the rent-control cheats are not only failing to pay their fair share, but they are also holding down the number of available rentals. "People are hoarding the units," he said. "You have these beautiful homes being used for storage."
Liberal, Incompetence, Oops, Fascism, Greed
Well-to-do people are taking advantage of the city's long-protected practice of limiting rent increases to preserve affordable housing by using their cheap apartments as weekend getaways. Attorney Andrew Zacks represents landlords who work with the city to push out these cheaters. He says these tenants are cynically playing the system. "You have this class of very rich, elite people benefiting from rent control," he said. "They have a good deal on a $500 or $800 place on Nob Hill and they use it as a pied-a-terre when they come into the city."