'It's Not Evil. It's Just Math' – Dave Ramsey Was Called A "Bad Christian" for Raising Rents …. And He's Not Sorry About It

Dave Ramsey has never been known to tiptoe around his opinions, especially regarding faith and finances. Recently, the personal finance coach, known for his strong Christian values, faced backlash for what some called an "unchristian" move: raising rents on his properties. Ramsey, however, didn't flinch. He's got a simple response for those accusing him of being a "bad Christian" over it – "It's just math."

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In a 2022 episode of The Ramsey Show, Ramsey addressed a question from a landlord wondering if it would go against his faith to raise the rent. Ramsey explained to the caller, "I own rental property single-family homes among many other properties we own. If I raise my rent to be market rent, that doesn't make me a bad Christian. I did not displace the person out of that house if they can no longer afford it. The market did. The economy did. The ratio of the income that they earned to their housing displaced them. I didn't cause any of that."

YouTube videos began circulating, criticizing him for these statements. But, Ramsey isn't backpedaling or apologizing. Instead, he's doubling down and standing firm. 

To him, the concept is straightforward: charging market rates isn't about personal values; it's about staying in business. As Ramsey put it during an appearance on the Iced Coffee Hour podcast, "math is not evil." He believes that if tenants can't afford the increased rent, it's simply a reality of the market – not a moral failing on his part.

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Ramsey went on to explain the logic, arguing that raising rent isn't about pushing people out or being heartless; it's a business decision that has to make financial sense. According to Ramsey, it's not his responsibility to absorb the cost if someone can't afford market rent – it's just how things work.

Now, in true Ramsey fashion, he didn't stop there. He tackled the argument from the other side, adding a touch of his trademark bluntness. "Christians don't raise rents? What kind of dumb statement is that?" he asked, amused at the absurdity. To him, the idea that Christians should keep rents artificially low for moral reasons misses the point of business altogether. Ramsey sees it as a transaction: tenants pay rent for a place to live and landlords set that rent according to the market. It's not personal; it's business.

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Ramsey even had a few thoughts for those who say it's "evil" to price rentals at market rate. "Welcome to life," he quipped. "You're gonna have to make more if you're gonna live in Manhattan." His point? It's no different from any other expense in life – if you want to live in a high-cost area, you must earn enough to afford it. For Ramsey, it's not a moral or ethical issue; it's just reality.

Ramsey also shared some instances where he has shown generosity toward his tenants, but he stressed that these were personal choices, not policies. He recalled when he waived rent for a tenant going through cancer treatments, calling it an "act of kindness" rather than a business decision. But he was clear: this doesn't mean keeping rents low always. "It's not evil to charge rent," he said, adding that he'll always raise rent to meet the market – just like any other business would.

So, don't hold your breath if you're looking for Ramsey to apologize for raising rent. Faith and business can coexist for him – he's just not mixing them when it comes to the numbers on his rental properties. To Ramsey, that's not a flaw in his character; it's just common sense.

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