THE DEATH OF
HOUSING SUPPLY
Rent control is promoted as a solution to housing affordability, but in reality, it’s a Death Nail—a policy that leaves communities worse off than before. What begins as a promise to protect renters ends in economic and social devastation.
Rent control doesn’t just fail—it actively harms housing supply, affordability, and quality.
Rent Control is Not a Solution.
It's the Murder Weapon.
Rent Control Bleeds Local Economies
Rent Control Hurts People It Claims to Help
Exhibit A: Rent Control Destroys Housing Supply
Rent control decimates the housing supply by removing incentives to build and maintain rental units.
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Landlords Exit the Market: Conversions to condos and owner-occupied homes permanently remove rental units.
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Developers Stop Building: Future rent caps drive developers away, halting new projects and leaving communities with fewer options.
The Verdict: Rent control doesn’t just limit housing—it leaves supply dead on arrival.
Exhibit B: Rent Control Makes Housing More Expensive
Rent control creates scarcity, & scarcity drives up costs.
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Rents Rise Elsewhere: In uncontrolled markets, limited supply causes rents to increase, leaving most renters paying more.
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Ownership Costs Soar: Pushed out of the rental market, landlords sell, driving home prices higher and locking families out of ownership.
The Verdict: Rent control doesn’t fix affordability—it makes housing more expensive for everyone.
Exhibit C: Rent Control Destroys Housing Quality
Rent control condemns housing to decay by starving landlords of the resources needed to maintain it.
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Deferred Maintenance: Without enough revenue, landlords delay repairs, leading to unsafe and deteriorating conditions.
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Neighborhood Decline: Entire communities suffer as neglected buildings reduce property values and livability.
The Verdict: Rent control is a slow death for housing quality, leaving tenants in crumbling homes.
Exhibit D: Rent Control Bleeds Local Economies
Rent control isn’t just a housing policy—it’s an economic disaster.
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Jobs Disappear: Fewer developments mean fewer opportunities in construction, real estate, and related industries.
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Tax Revenues Plummet: Declining property values and reduced investment shrink the tax base, cutting funding for schools and infrastructure.
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Public Budgets Strain: Deteriorating housing demands higher enforcement costs, stretching resources thin.
The Verdict: Rent control doesn’t just harm housing—it kills local economies and weakens communities.
Exhibit E: Rent Control Hurts the People It Claims to Help
Rent control is a false promise to low-income renters.
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Benefits the Wealthy: Higher-income tenants often occupy rent-controlled units, leaving fewer affordable options for families in need.
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Locks Renters in Place: Tenants stay stuck in units that no longer suit their needs, preventing new renters from accessing housing.
The Verdict: Instead of protecting renters, rent control deepens inequality and blocks opportunity.
THE SOLUTION
Build More Housing
The only proven way to solve the housing crisis is to build.
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Increased Supply Stabilizes Rents: More homes mean lower prices and greater choice for renters.
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Economic Growth Follows Development: New housing creates jobs, boosts local economies, and generates tax revenue for public services.
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Private Investment Improves Quality: Encouraging housing development ensures safe, well-maintained homes for all.
The Verdict: Rent control kills housing—building more housing is the solution that saves it.
