In Massachusetts, the collection of more than 124,000 signatures makes it likely that a statewide rent control measure will be on the ballot in November.
Massachusetts voters may soon decide whether to bring rent control back for the first time in more than three decades, according to a Shelterforce article. After collecting more than 124,000 signatures, housing advocates have likely secured a spot on the November ballot for a measure that would cap annual rent increases while exempting small owner-occupied properties and new construction for a limited period.
Massachusetts tenant organizers won the right for cities to enact rent control in 1970, but that right was repealed by the state legislature in 1994 by a narrow margin of 51% to 49%. By 1998, average rents on previously rent-controlled units had risen by 54%.
The proposal comes amid rapidly rising rents, growing tenant organizing and a broader debate over whether and how rent stabilization can complement housing production strategies. The proposal would limit annual rent increases to 5% or the rate of inflation, whichever is lower, with exemptions for small owner-occupied buildings and buildings under 10 years old.
Read the full story: Could Massachusetts Get Rent Control Back After a 32-Year Ban?
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