There are signs that politicians at every level are responding to the concerns of renters like never before. If only renter-friendly housing policies were matters of simple consensus.

According to an article by Jenny Schuetz, politicians in some parts of the United States are beginning to recognize the political clout of renters—as evidenced by the pro-development political platforms of elected officials like California State Senator Scott Weiner and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. Typically renters have been fairly inactive compared to property owners, though Schuetz suggest that skyrocketing housing process are spurring more political action by cost-burened renters.
What does a new, renter-friendly politics look like? Schuetz considers the pros and cons of several approaches, including:
- The end of exclusionary zoning—or at least loosening the single-family residential zoning that cover most cities. Schuetz cites SB 827 in California and Minneapolis 2040 as two ambitious examples of this effort.
- Financial incentives for more abundant housing. Schuetz cites the bill proposed last week by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and the Rent Relief Act proposed by Senator Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) as two examples of this approach.
One final platform plank under consideration here is rent control, which Schuetz describes as a "double-edge light saber." While rent control is a hit with renters and tenants-rights advocates, there's evidence rent control creates incentives for landlords to convert apartments to condominiums and creates disincentives for developers to construct new apartment buildings.
FULL STORY: ‘The Renters Strike Back’

The End of Single-Family Zoning in Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is the latest jurisdiction in the country to effectively end single-family zoning.

The Quiet Housing Crisis in Rural America
While housing shortages in major cities are grabbing headlines, rural communities are seeing higher rates of growth in housing prices and a silently spreading homelessness crisis.

Skyline-Defining High-Rise Potentially Coming to Boise
A rendering making the rounds in Boise depicts a 40-story apartment building that would be taller than all other buildings in one of the fastest growing cities in the United States.

11,000 Housing Units Possible with S.F. Office Conversions, Study Says
A new study by SPUR and the Urban Land Institute’s San Francisco chapter estimates a specific number of apartment units that could be built from vacant office units in the city.

‘Arrested Mobility:’ How Transportation-Related Laws Impact Black Americans
A far-reaching new study highlights the disproportionate effect of biking and walking laws on the mobility of Black Americans.

California Attorney General Wants to Get Serious About Housing
A bill sponsored by the AG’s office would give the state’s top attorney more power to intervene in lawsuits related to the state’s housing laws.
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Kingsville
Princeton Planning
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Spearfish
City of Lomita
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.