The 7 Myths of Rent Control

The public perception of rent control has been dominated by apartment owner-funded studies and messaging for decades, fostering misconceptions about it's impact, according to poverty law attorney Parisa Ijadi-Maghsoodi.

2 minute read

March 4, 2018, 1:00 PM PST

By wadams92101


For Rent

dc_slim / Shutterstock

Rent control has been losing the public perception battle. This circumstance comes as no surprise given that corporate money and profits align with property owners and real estate investors. San Diego poverty law attorney Parisa Ijadi-Maghsoodi provides a concise rebuttal to some of the most common public perceptions about rent control—what she calls the "myths" of rent control: 

Myth 1: Rent control is illegal. 

 Fact: Rent control is legal and an effective tool to address housing affordability.

Myth 2: Rent control decreases the housing stock by disincentivizing new housing construction.

 Fact: Rent control has no impact on new construction because it does not apply to new construction.

Myth 3: Rent control causes the rental stock to decrease because rent control units will be converted to condominiums.

 Fact: Ordinances restricting condominium conversions protect the stock of rental units under rent control.

Myth 4: Rent control hurts tenants.

 Fact: Rent control helps tenants. Rent control studies are funded by real estate developments, investors, and corporate apartment owner associations, and their own data supports the effectiveness of rent control.

Myth 5: Rent control is not needed, building market rate units will solve the housing crisis.

 Fact: Building market rate units without effective tenant protection ordinances exacerbates the housing crisis.  

Myth 6: Rent control incentivizes tenants to remain tenants, rather than become homeowners invested in their communities.

 Fact: Society has traditionally favored homeowners over tenants primarily because homeowners intend to reside in and better their community, and rent control furthers these goals.

To match these "myths," in her article, Ijadi-Maghsoodi provides 7 recommendations for additional measures to stabilize rental housing and protect families. For Ijadi-Maghsoodi's reasoning and authority for her conclusions, please read the source article. 

Thursday, February 22, 2018 in UrbDeZine

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Use Code 25for25 at checkout for 25% off an annual plan!

Redlining map of Oakland and Berkeley.

Rethinking Redlining

For decades we have blamed 100-year-old maps for the patterns of spatial racial inequity that persist in American cities today. An esteemed researcher says: we’ve got it all wrong.

May 15, 2025 - Alan Mallach

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

May 14, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Front of Walmart store with sign.

Walmart Announces Nationwide EV Charging Network

The company plans to install electric car chargers at most of its stores by 2030.

May 7, 2025 - Inc.

Aerial view of Albuquerque, New Mexico at sunset.

New State Study Suggests Homelessness Far Undercounted in New Mexico

An analysis of hospital visit records provided a more accurate count than the annual point-in-time count used by most agencies.

May 16 - Source NM

Close-up on white bike helmet lying on pavement with blurred red bike on its side in background abd black car visible behind it.

Michigan Bills Would Stiffen Penalties for Deadly Crashes

Proposed state legislation would close a ‘legal gap’ that lets drivers who kill get away with few repercussions.

May 16 - Wood TV 8

Muni bus on red painted bus-only lane in downtown San Francisco, California.

Report: Bus Ridership Back to 86 Percent of Pre-Covid Levels

Transit ridership around the country was up by 85 percent in all modes in 2024.

May 16 - Mass Transit