Question

When Myra's boyfriend, Byron, unexpectedly lost his roommate and could no longer afford to live in his apartment, he moved in with Myra. Myra's lease did not allow anyone who was not on the lease to occupy the premises. The landlord was not on the premises, so Myra was not worried about it being discovered. Myra's neighbor on the left, Tyra, is really incensed about Byron moving in with Myra. Tyra's best friend is Myra's neighbor on the right, Preston. When the same thing happened to Preston's girlfriend, Preston did not let her live with him because of the lease prohibition. Tyra is thinking seriously about whether to tell the landlord that Myra has an unauthorized person living with her. Discuss the ethics of Myra's actions and whether Tyra should tell. “It's none of her business” is not an option. Discuss Myra's situation as an ethical issue. Who are the stakeholders? Think hard. What do they stand to lose by Myra's situation? What do they stand to gain? Is it a form of stealing? Is there a public policy at play? Does it have monetary implications? For whom? Think broadly

Answer 1

Firstly, Myra is facing an ethical dilemma, whether she must abide by the rules her landlord has set for the lease or help her boyfriend Byron as he is not able to afford to stay in another flat separately. She chose to help Byron instead. Though this decision may be ethical, her action of not informing her landlord is unethical.

As for Tyra, she faces a delimma whether to inform the landlord about Byron staying in the apartment with Myra or ignore the matter. Though she is not responsible to inform the landlord of the unauthorized stay of Bryon, it is her ethical duty to be true with her landlord.

As for the Bryon, he must find an alternate solution, i.e. another place to stay since he is not permitted to stay in the house rented by Myra at the earliest.

The fourth stakeholder is the landlord, who being not present at the scene, is being lied too. However, he must accomodate Bryon atleast until his staying problems are resolved.

If Myra would not inform her landlord about Bryon's stay, it would be a form of stealing. Instead she and bryon must pay for at least the time period he is staying in the apartment.