Rent Control

Rent

California Rents Could Spike by as Much as 10 Percent

Thanks to inflation, landlords in parts of the state not limited by local rent stabilization ordinances can raise rent by up to 10 percent starting in August.

July 21, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

View of high-rise apartment building in St. Paul, Minnesota at sunset

St. Paul Landlords Raising Utility Costs To Circumvent Rent Control

After the city passed a rent stabilization ordinance, landlords are reworking leases to include new utility charges, effectively raising rents by as much as 14 percent.

July 12, 2022 - Minnesota Reformer

Car Traffic

San Francisco Just Ended Single-Family Zoning

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted to Tuesday to eliminate single-family zoning, but pro-development advocates say additional changes are needed to unleash a wave of construction.

June 29, 2022 - San Francisco Chronicle

View of New York City apartment buildings.

New York City Approves Rent Hikes on Rent-Stabilized Apartments

The rent increases, which the Rent Guidelines Board deemed necessary to support “mom and pop” landlords, will affect two million residents.

June 26, 2022 - The New York Times

Silicon Valley

How Rent Control Helped Create East Palo Alto

The story of East Palo Alto’s incorporation is one marked by great contention among local stakeholders, but also provides valuable lessons for organizers in forging and mobilizing local coalitions.

March 31, 2022 - Shelterforce Magazine

Williamsburg Brooklyn

NYC Rents Rising at Twice the National Rate

New York renters are being squeezed out as landlords raise rents by hundreds, sometimes thousands, of dollars.

March 8, 2022 - The New York Times

Colorado State Capitol Building

Denver Debates Inclusionary Housing Plan

Atlanta's inclusionary housing program, which closely reflects the proposed Denver plan, could serve as a bellwether for Denver's own future.

March 1, 2022 - The Denver Post

Downtown Tampa skyline

Tampa Rejects Rent Control, Citing Legal Concerns

The city council failed to move on a proposal that would have implemented rent stabilization, opting instead to explore other avenues for preventing evictions and improving the cost of housing.

March 1, 2022 - Creative Loafing Tampa Bay

 The Young Apartments — 1621 South Grand Avenue, at the southern end of Downtown Los Angeles.

L.A. Tenants Hit With Sudden Rent Hikes Under 'Discounted Rent' Loophole

A legal loophole has allowed some Los Angeles landlords to sharply raise rents on apartments that would otherwise fall under the city's rent stabilization ordinance and pandemic-related rent freeze.

February 18, 2022 - LAist

The Colorado River is flooded with brown water with the skyline of Austin, Texas in the background.

Rising Rental Costs in Texas Prompt Rent Control Discussion

Rent control is a political non-starter in the Lone Star State, but as rental prices continue to increase dramatically, advocates are looking for solutions.

February 6, 2022 - Texas Tribune

 The Young Apartments — 1621 South Grand Avenue, at the southern end of Downtown Los Angeles.

L.A.'s Pandemic Rent Cap to Stay in Place Until 2023

Landlords have been unable to raise rents on rent stabilized apartments in Los Angeles since March 2020. Unlike in other large cities with similar rules, Los Angeles won't be removing the rent cap anytime soon.

January 6, 2022 - Los Angeles Times

Mississippi River, Downtown Minneapolis

Minneapolis, St. Paul Voters Say ‘Yes’ to Rent Stabilization

Despite an all-out effort by the housing industry to stop them, two rent stabilization initiatives were given the green light following this month’s election.

November 29, 2021 - Shelterforce Magazine

St. Paul Minnesota

Aggressive Rent Control Measure Approved by St. Paul Voters

One of the nation's most aggressive rent stabilization measures, which caps rent increases at 3 percent regardless of inflation or the age of the building, will become the law in St. Paul.

November 3, 2021 - Pioneer Press

Basement Apartment

Rent Control Debate Heats Up As Renters Continue To Struggle

While some economists argue that rent control restricts new construction and encourages poor maintenance, proponents of the policy say it's necessary to mitigating skyrocketing rental costs that are putting more households on the brink of eviction.

November 2, 2021 - Governing

Glendale, California

How the Iconic Dingbat Took Over Los Angeles

The low-slung, car-oriented apartment buildings represent a mid-century solution to a housing shortage and offer valuable lessons for new development.

September 28, 2021 - Bloomberg CityLab

An image of St. Paul, Minnesota and the Mississippi River at nightfall.

Opinion: St. Paul's Proposed Rent Control Law Would Halt New Development

Rent control is a popular response to the ongoing housing affordability crisis in many parts of the United States, but there is still a chorus of economists and planners who argue that rent control can do more harm than good to housing affordability.

September 24, 2021 - twin cities sidewalks

St. Paul Minnesota

St. Paul Voters Could Pass the Nation's Strictest Rent Stabilization Ordinance

The extremely strict proposal would eliminate sharp rent increases, but could stifle housing construction and worsen the city's housing crisis.

September 10, 2021 - Minneapolis Post

Coronavirus

Rent Control Buckling Under Market Pressure, Sweden Increases Development

A housing affordability case study, provided by the unique housing policies in the country of Sweden.

August 26, 2021 - BBC

 The Young Apartments — 1621 South Grand Avenue, at the southern end of Downtown Los Angeles.

Los Angeles Ordinance Will Ban Tenant Harassment

The law targets "knowing and willful" actions on the part of landlords meant to drive tenants out of rent-controlled apartments.

June 23, 2021 - Los Angeles Times

Minnesota State Capitol

Rent Control Showdown in Minnesota

Republicans in the Minnesota State Legislature ditched an effort to block voters in the Twin Cities from implementing rent stabilization laws.

June 15, 2021 - Minnesota Reformer

News from HUD User

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Call for Speakers

Mpact Transit + Community

New Updates on PD&R Edge

HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research

Top Books

An annual review of books related to planning.

Top Websites

The best of the Internet—since 2002.

Top Apps

Planning apps for a brave new world.

Top Schools

The definitive ranking of graduate planning programs.

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.