Boston real estate: Rent control is NOT the answer
Boston City Council approves Mayor Wu’s rent control proposal
Mayor Michelle Wu is one step closer to making good on her campaign promise to make Boston rents more affordable.
The Boston City Council approved Mayor Michelle Wu’s rent control proposal Wednesday, bringing rent control one step closer to returning to the city.
Last March Wu took the first steps in making rents more affordable by establishing a committee tasked with making recommendations to stabilize city rents and protect tenants from being displaced.
The proposal, which would institute a cap on rent increases in the city, was approved by an 11-2 vote by the council. It comes nearly 30 years after Massachusetts voters voted to ban rent control across the state in 1994.
Getting the measure enacted, however, may not be swift or guaranteed. Once Wu signs the measure, it goes to the legislature for review. As there’s been much debate and opposition to the proposal, those on Beacon Hill will have a lot to sift through.
In February, the Greater Boston Real Estate Board issued a statement following Wu’s introduction of her plan saying, “rent control, also known as rent stabilization, is a proven failure. It increases housing costs, discourages upkeep and maintenance and disincentivizes construction. We strongly oppose Mayor Wu’s plan to bring government price controls on housing to Boston because it would make the region’s housing crisis even worse. Instead, the city – and all of Massachusetts – should focus on passing pro-housing policies that reduce red tape, encourage construction and lower overall costs.”
GBREB also launched a six-figure campaign opposing rent control in the city of Boston, an effort directed to voters and one the organization plans to expand as the bill heads to the legislature.
Following Wednesday’s City Council vote, GBREB CEO Greg Vasil issued the following statement:
“We are disappointed but not totally…