A small San Francisco landlord argues for repealing state restrictions on rent control.
Buck Bagot, a senior citizen and longtime resident of Bernal Heights, lives in the same building as the unit he's rented out since the '90s. This week, he took to the San Francisco Chronicle to support a California ballot initiative that would repeal Costa-Hawkins, the 1995 state law restricting local rent regulations.
If cities could enact stronger rent controls, Bagot writes, they could protect tenants from rent gouging by corporate landlords, who make up a growing portion of housing operators in the state. They could also eliminate the incentive to evict tenants created by vacancy de-control—a key mandate of Costa-Hawkins that permits landlords of rent-controlled units to raise rents to market rates when tenants moves out.
Bagot addresses common concerns about rental protections, including that they hurt landlords' profits and discourage new development:
"All rent control laws allow landlords a reasonable rate of return, with annual increases. Additionally, to make sure that new development is not deterred, all rent control laws I’ve ever heard of exclude newly constructed housing units."
He stresses, "Rent control allows landlords like me to make a fair return on our investment and keep up with rising taxes and maintenance costs." If Costa-Hawkins were repealed and stronger local laws enacted, he writes, these landlords would "do just fine."
FULL STORY: Time to repeal state restriction on rent control
Tenant Advocates Turn in Signatures for Rent Control Ballot Measure in California
The measure would repeal the 1996 Costa-Hawkins Act that places limits on rent control ordinances. Repealing the act would allow cities with rent control to consider expanding rent control to provide tenants greater protections.
Another Rent Control Initiative on the Ballot in California
There are significant differences between Proposition 21, a statewide rent control measure on the ballot in California, compared to a similar measure defeated soundly by voters in 2018.
California Gas Tax Supporters Get Good News from Latest Voter Survey
In a turnaround from prior voter surveys, a poll released Wednesday on November propositions found a slim majority of voters opposed to repealing the state's first legislative gas tax increase since 1989. Rent control opponents received good news too
The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.
Early Sharrow Booster: ‘I Was Wrong’
The lane marking was meant to raise awareness and instill shared respect among drivers and cyclists. But their inefficiency has led supporters to denounce sharrows, pushing instead for more robust bike infrastructure that truly protects riders.
Push and Pull: The Link Between Walkability and Affordability
The increased demand for walkable urban spaces could make them more and more exclusionary if cities don’t pursue policies to limit displacement and boost affordability.
L.A. County Towns Clash Over Homelessness Policies
Local governments often come to different conclusions about how to address homelessness within their respective borders, but varying approaches only exacerbate the problem.
A Mixed-Use Vision for Houston Landfill Site
A local nonprofit is urging the city to consider adding mixed-use development to the site, which city officials plan to turn into a stormwater detention facility.
Milwaukee County Makes Substantial Progress on Homelessness
In 2022, the county’s point-in-time count of unhoused people reflected just 18 individuals, the lowest in the country.
Town of Palm Beach
Texas A&M AgriLife Extension
York County Government
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Fitchburg, WI
City of Culver City
Sonoma County Transportation Authority
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
