Landlord: Rent’s increasing another $275 next month.

Me: That’s the fourth hike in three years.
Landlord: Expenses rise. That’s how business works.
Me: My paycheck has barely moved in that time.
Landlord: Sounds like an issue to take up with your boss.
Me: Interesting… your higher costs become my responsibility, but my higher costs stay mine alone.
Landlord: …
Me: Out of curiosity, how many rentals do you own?
Landlord: Eight.
Me: I was just trying to figure out who’s actually carrying the financial burden here.
Landlord: …
Landlord: Rent’s due on the 1st.
It’s funny how the person with multiple properties rarely ends up absorbing the extra costs. Somehow, that burden almost always rolls downhill.