rentstabilization

Rent stabilization is a form of housing regulation that limits rent increases on existing rental housing and may provide eviction protections. It is designed to keep housing affordable and reduce displacement in markets with rising rents.

Programs typically include a rent cap that restricts annual increases and tenant protections such as lease renewal guarantees and limits on evictions. In many jurisdictions, allowable increases are tied to a published index or formula. New construction may be exempt, and when a unit becomes vacant, landlords may be allowed to charge a higher market rent in some systems. Some regimes require units to be registered and rents to be disclosed to a public agency.

Geographic scope varies. In the United States, major programs exist in cities like New York and San Francisco, while some contexts apply statewide protections; elsewhere, only certain buildings or tenants are covered. In other countries, rent stabilization or rent control can be broader or differently structured.

Impact is debated. Proponents say stabilization preserves affordability and reduces displacement; critics argue it lowers incentives for investment and maintenance and may shrink the rental supply. Empirical results differ by jurisdiction and design.

History and purpose: The policy emerged in the mid-20th century amid housing shortages and inflation and remains a focal tool of urban housing policy in some regions, often combined with subsidies, vouchers, or tenant-rights reforms.