Is Rent Control Hurting the People It’s Meant to Help?
Rent control has long been positioned as one of the key tools used to protect affordability and prevent tenant displacement in tight housing markets. But as the Missing Middle Initiative’s recent video and accompanying article point out, the practical effects of rent control are far more complex and sometimes work against tenants.
A central issue raised in the video is the way rent control can unintentionally limit tenant mobility. When long-term tenants are paying rents significantly below current market rates, moving, even when it would improve their quality of life or align better with work or family needs, becomes financially unrealistic. This creates a form of housing immobility that impacts everything from career decisions to family planning. Affordability becomes tied to a specific unit rather than to the tenant’s evolving needs.
The video also highlights inefficiencies in the housing system, with larger homes remaining occupied by smaller households simply because downsizing would mean a substantial jump in rent. Meanwhile, younger families struggle to find appropriately sized homes, contributing to the mismatch between the stock we have and the needs of today’s renters.
Importantly, the video does not argue against tenant protections. Instead, it encourages a more balanced approach, one that pairs stability with the increased supply required to make housing accessible, flexible, and responsive.
At LandlordBC, we share the view that sustainable affordability comes from a healthy, well-functioning rental ecosystem, one built on adequate supply, clear policy direction, and a balanced understanding of both landlord and tenant realities.
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