When the new real estate rent increases were announced on June 1st I sat back and listened to what the community had to say.  I sat back a little more and listened to Michael Wilson’s Town Hall meeting regarding the real estate changes.  While both sides made good points the end result will be zones and hood rents will go up that’s a given.  So your choices are to go with the flow or get out before July 1^st. 

Many zone owners are long time members who have provided events and services to There members for free.  With real life economy tanking and people are struggling to just pay mortgages and bills, having their virtual rents raised is another expense some people do not need.  Therefore to offset the higher rents some zone owners will be making changes just to make ends meet. 

So what does that mean for members who do not own zones but frequent them?  It just may cost you to enjoy what you have been enjoying for free all these years.  While I will not name the zone owners specifically and not all zones are making changes I can tell you about a few that I know of first hand.   One zone owner is carefully considering charging fees for hosting rights.  If you want to host in that zone it may cost you a monthly fee.  Another Zone owner has sent out notice that if you are removed from their zone for bad behavior/rule breaking there will be a penalty fee charge to be allowed back into the zone.  One more I can tell you about is considering charging admittance fees for all events. 

Now you really can’t blame the zone owners their rents are going sky high and there needs to be some way to recoup the fees without having to reach deeper into their pockets.  It has been said by many that making Tbux in There is impossible unless you are a designer.  I have to agree with that.  I don’t think I would personally be able to have stayed in There for six years if I did not design to support my virtual habit.  So with the rent increases the average Therian may now be paying for what they always have gotten for free and it’s not the fault of the zone owners but merely a change of the times.  Like Michael Wilson stated rent’s haven’t gone up in four years and that is true but the zone owners response may be we have been providing events and venues for the membership for free for four years and now we have to charge in order to keep what we have worked so hard for. 

Please note not all zone owners will be charging but if you do see a charge don’t be surprised the rent has to be paid some how.