What Is Rent Control and How Does It Work

Rent control is a government program that places a limit on the amount that a landlord can demand for leasing a home or renewing a lease. Rent control laws are usually enacted by municipalities, and the details vary widely. All are intended to keep living costs affordable for lower-income residents.

Does rent control actually work?

Consistent with these findings, they find that rent control led to a 15 percentage point decline in the number of renters living in treated buildings and a 25 percentage point reduction in the number of renters living in rent-controlled units, relative to 1994 levels.

What is an example of rent control?

Rent controls can be broadly defined as governmental regulations that limit landlords’ ability to set and increase rents freely on residential properties. … The most well-known example is in New York City, where a number of rental properties are still controlled under a rent ceiling.