Rent Stabilization and the Housing Crisis

Описание: In 2023 and 2024, PDM hosted a series of five Forums to explore the Commonwealth’s housing crisis and identify key strategies to address it. Last year, the legislature passed the Affordable Homes Act, an important step forward on a number of these strategies. But many challenges remain, especially our critical shortage of low and middle-income housing.

Corporate real estate investors continue to drive up housing prices in many MA communities. Corporate landlords raise rents and reduce availability of affordable units, thereby preventing many families from finding stable housing. Permitting rent stabilization would protect tenants from sudden steep rent hikes and maintain more equitable access to housing.

In 1994, a ballot initiative narrowly passed, discontinuing rent control statewide. Despite ballooning rents and shortages, our legislature has refused to restore measures to protect tenants. If proponents collect enough signatures, the 2026 MA ballot will include a rent stabilization initiative to limit rent increases to a maximum of 5% per year, support small landlords by exempting owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units and encourage continued housing production with 10-year exemptions for new construction. PDM supports the ballot initiative and is hosting this forum to discuss how it would help.

Our panelists, Mark Martinez, a Housing Attorney at the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute (MLRI), and Carolyn Chou, Director of Homes for All Massachusetts, will explain the importance of rent stabilization and how you can help get the question on the ballot. Cathleen Cavell will moderate.