CA City Passes Rent Control, First City in 30 Years

Is Cambridge, MA Next?

On July 31, 2015, Richmond's city council voted 4-2 to pass a "just cause" evictions ordinance. A similar initiative is underway in Boston and Cambridge, where we have learned that advocates here are also seeking "just cause" eviction.

Richmond tenant advocate Edith Pastrano was quoted by CourtHouseNews.com as saying, "I think Richmond needs an ordinance to protect tenants ... from getting ridiculously high rent increases."

Under the ordinance, landlords cannot evict a tenant who refuses to pay a rent increase. The measure will charge landlords approximately $200 per unit per year to administer the program.

Rent control is an economically ill-conceived form of housing regulation, in which market price increases are regulated by a board with Soviet-style central control.

The underlying driver of high rent is high demand relative to supply.

In our opinion, it would be far better for tenant advocates to work with landlords to increase the supply of housing and/or shift demand to other neighborhoods. Zoning and lower minimum standards are two ways to increase supply. Beautification and public transportation in other areas are two ways to decrease local demand.

Richmond Landlord George Burns used language that we can all relate to, but which probably did his local group no service: "The city ... shouldn't make it difficult for a landlord to get a bum out of his house."

Tenant advocates rarely consider their clients "bum's".

Under the proposals we have seen, Boston landlords would be unable to impose rent increases on senior citizens or families with dependent minors. Landlords would have to request a rent increase 60 days prior to its effect.  The rent control board would have ultimate authority to approve or deny any request.

We will update you if we hear any more.