are landlords rent seekers 
not generally the use of the word rent can create some confusion here the term rent in rent seeking is based on the economic definition of rent which is defined as economic wealth obtained through shrewd or potentially manipulative use of resources that said it s possible for landlords to engage in rent seeking behavior the bottom linerent seeking is an economic concept that occurs when an entity seeks to gain wealth without any reciprocal contribution of productivity an example of rent seeking is when a company lobbies the government for grants subsidies or tariff protection rent seeking comes in many forms from lobbying or donating funds for example if you donate money but write it off on your taxes it could be considered a form of rent seeking rent seeking interferes with the efficient operation of the free market and it imposes unfair prices and barriers on individuals and companies 