As the conversation about rent control in Boston heats up, city councilors have to contend with how aggressively they want to pursue a policy that will eventually need to win approval from state lawmakers who have historically opposed the measure.
Wu's rent stabilization and"just cause" tenant eviction proposal before the council would limit annual rent hikes within city limits to 6% plus the change in the Consumer Price Index, with a cap of 10% in high-inflation years. It would also exempt live-in small landlords in two- to six-unit buildings, as well as new construction for 15 years, in a bid to avoid disincentivizing new development.
Councilor Kendra Lara took issue with Wu's suggested cap of the CPI plus 6%, calling it"untenable." Lara argued that because rents in recent years have grown at a rate below the cap, the policy would give landlords a green light to pursue even larger rent hikes. Wednesday's hearing was a mix of support and criticism even from advocacy and industry groups. Progressive tenant advocates criticized Mayor Michelle Wu's rent stabilization proposal as being too moderate, while the Greater Boston Real Estate Boarda $400,000 campaign against the measure, saying it will lead to decreased development of new units in the city.
Legislative leaders have shown little interest in reviving rent control after the statewide ballot question banned the practice, and several councilors in Wednesday's hearing brought up the"Jim Brooks" bill, which the city passed to prevent"no-cause" housing evictions in 2017, but died at the State House.