Montana’s Rental Market Woes: High Prices And Unreliable Landlords

According to some new research when it comes to rentals in Montana, there could be a problem

If you're a renter and living in Montana, chances are over the last few years, you've seen your rent increase. In towns like Bozeman and Missoula, rent has skyrocketed and for many Montanans, it's become a bit too much to take.

For folks like myself, who would love to buy a home but with prices where they are in the real estate market, are forced to rent, it can cost a small fortune each year.

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I have a two-bedroom/one-bath apartment and while nice, it's nothing over the top. So how much do I pay a year? Over 27 thousand dollars. However, according to research from the website Move Buddha, the price isn't what has many Montanans up in arms, it's the landlords themselves.

According to the data, Montana is ranked 2nd in the nation when it comes to the worst landlords in America. Montana landlords only score a 2.2 out of 5.  The only state with a lower ranking is Maine with a score of 2.1

So what are some of the concerns Montanans have when it comes to their retail properties?

The biggest complaint coming from Montanans is that of health and safety. Many Montana renters claim that their rentals have things such as bedbugs and other unsanitary conditions. The other big complaint is the instability of renting here in The Treasure State with many renters claiming the threat of sudden eviction and or huge price increases when it was time to renew their lease.

This has caused renters in places like Bozeman to voice their concerns in front of the city government. In fact, in the recent Bozeman mayoral election, one of the biggest platforms the candidates addressed was the lack of affordable housing in the area.

No matter how you look at it, it is a problem that doesn't seem to be going away anytime soon. In many Montana towns, construction on rental properties is in full swing, but then the question for many is, when will those projects be completed and will those looking for rental properties be able to pay what is being asked?

What do you think? Should landlords be held to a higher standard? The state does have certain rights for both tenants and landlords which can be viewed here but is it enough? Should more be added?

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