Your role is as a social worker for a group of low-income tenants of an apartment building who have no heat in their building. The landlord is attempting to raise the rent but the tenants cannot afford the increase. You have brought the parties together for a meeting. What are the goals you are trying to negotiate for your group

Question

Your role is as a social worker for a group of low-income tenants of an apartment building who have no heat in their building. The landlord is attempting to raise the rent but the tenants cannot afford the increase. You have brought the parties together for a meeting. What are the goals you are trying to negotiate for your group

Answer 1

You want to get heat in the building. Then you want to deny the rent increase. A good argument is that the landlord is probably acting illegally by not supplying heat.

Answer 2

As a social worker advocating for a group of low-income tenants in a scenario where they have no heat in their building and are facing a rent increase, the goals you may want to negotiate for your group could include:

1. Ensuring reliable and immediate heat repair: The immediate concern is to address the lack of heating in the building. One of your goals should be to negotiate with the landlord or property management company to address this issue promptly and ensure that the heating system is repaired or replaced to provide sufficient heat to the tenants.

2. Affordable rent: Negotiating to prevent the rent increase or to find a compromise that the tenants can afford is a crucial goal. Consider advocating for rent stability or exploring options such as rent control or rent subsidies to help the tenants manage their housing costs more effectively.

3. Long-term maintenance solutions: Another important goal is to negotiate for long-term maintenance solutions for the building's heating system. This may involve collaborating with the landlord or property management company to establish regular maintenance schedules and protocols to prevent future heating issues.

4. Ensuring habitable living conditions: In addition to addressing the heating problem, advocate for other necessary repairs and improvements within the building to maintain habitable living conditions for the tenants. This could include addressing issues such as plumbing, electrical problems, pest control, and other safety concerns.

5. Tenant representation and voice: Advocating for the inclusion of tenant representation and input in decision-making processes is important. Negotiate for the establishment of a tenant association or a tenant-landlord committee to ensure that the tenants' voices are heard and their rights are protected in ongoing discussions with the landlord.

Remember that negotiations require careful planning, effective communication, and understanding the legal rights and options available to both parties.