You are assuming a world where landlords are all powerful assholes operating as a cartel. UBI redistributes power both at the supreme government level, and at individual relations levels. Everyone has "I won't do what you tell me" money even if it is not quite the "fuck you" money you currently think landlords have. "Oppressive fuck you" money only exists in a world of corrupt markets.

if UBI is $1500/month, there is certain to be a rise in the number of housing options that rent for $1000-$2000. UBI empowers you and 10 of your friends to get into the real estate business and build more homes, and make a lot of money doing so. Your fear makes UBI more attractive because current social corruption suppresses new housing because scarce housing has a large cohort benefiting from extortionist property values. UBI benefiting that cohort is good for democratic appeal of UBI.

Humanist economics is abundance instead of scarcity. Creating abundant housing or abundant anything else is a huge job creator. UBI also allows for room mates/subleasing where you are sure tenants can afford to pay. Denser living is also abundance. Market solutions for housing exist. Government getting into the housing construction business on a break even target basis with market affordability (small) mission, is a 0 cost government program to promote abundance, and can be done locally.

[–] petrol_sniff_king@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

and make a lot of money doing so.

I don't want people to make a lot of money off of housing. Why would I want that?

Look, people had more relative income before, and rent is too high now. If UBI gives people more income now, rent will be too high later. There need to be rent caps. UBI alone doesn't fix the fundamental problem.

I mean, at best you're saying that laissez-faire competition will make rent caps unnecessary, to which I say great! Let's add them anyway. No one will ever set rent as high as the cap, so there should be no problem.

[–] humanspiral@lemmy.ca 1 points 7 hours ago

I don’t want people to make a lot of money off of housing

Corruption of housing market already exists. Home owners want scarce housing. You start by saying you are angry/fearful that landlords will raise rents, and the market solution to that is more landlords.

UBI/unconditional cash gives you and everyone else more options. Definition of freedom. You get get into the housing industry with the goal of making housing much more affordable for everyone else while just making less money than the market could give you. Everyone gets to make more money from work, if they want work, and afford the housing they aspire to. UBI permits more home ownership options with less risky/cheaper mortgages.

rent caps

rent control which is maximum yearly increases are still a good thing. Rent caps are not because you're/should be allowed to rent 10000 square feet, and then allowed to subdivide that to sublet to 100 people if that is path you want.