ABSTRACT
Eviction, the legal expulsion of a tenant, occurs fairly often. In New York City in 1988, for example, 21,000 households were evicted, almost always for nonpayment of rent. Renters, especially low-income renters, are subordinate to property owners. There are several reasons for this power imbalance. First, the legal systems in capitalist societies are biased in favor of those who own property. Landlords face few restrictions on their ability to rent, sell, or otherwise dispose of rental units. Second, tenants usually act alone rather than together to overcome common problems. Typically, their one option when dissatisfied with a housing situation is to move. However, in tight housing markets this becomes less of an option since tenants are trapped by the marketplace. The largest and most influential landlord organization in the United States is the Institute of Real Estate Management of the National Association of Realtors. This organization provides instructional materials to educate landlords.
