State governments and local government officials are proposing various housing policy reforms in 2024, with some being beneficial and others less so. This edition of Rent Free covers numerous proposed changes, such as Fort Collins, Colorado considering a YIMBY-backed update to its zoning code for the third time. Marin County, California is contemplating imposing strict new restrictions on short-term rentals, blaming them for the county’s housing affordability problems. State lawmakers in Wisconsin and Georgia are working to lift the ban on rent control.
The primary focus of this article, however, is on the wealthy and well-to-do individuals who are reaping the benefits of rent control in New York City. New York’s rent stabilization law, which aims to provide stable, affordable housing to renters, is also benefiting upper-income homeowners. Documents reveal that some of the rent-stabilized tenants in New York City own additional properties worth more than $1 million and rent them out for higher rates than what they pay for their rent-stabilized apartments. The lack of means-testing requirements in New York’s rent stabilization law allows individuals of any income to benefit from the reduced rents, meaning affluent tenants are enjoying the best deals. According to a Wall Street Journal analysis, wealthier rent-stabilized tenants pay significantly less rent compared to their peers in market-rate apartments.
Despite the disparities in benefits, attempts to reform the state’s rent stabilization program, such as adding means-testing requirements, are considered a political non-starter. New York’s progressive legislators oppose any efforts to weaken rent stabilization or exclude the wealthy from its benefits. Moreover, progressive-backed changes in 2019 made the program more favorable to high-income tenants. The article also highlights legislators who are themselves beneficiaries of rent stabilization, adding to the challenges of reforming the system.
The article then shifts its focus to Fort Collins, Colorado, where the city council is contemplating zoning changes for the third time in less than two years. The changes have sparked resistance from neighborhood activists but have gained the support of YIMBY activists who argue that the city needs more housing in more areas.
In coastal California, Marin County is considering a crackdown on Airbnb and short-term rentals as a way to address housing affordability issues, following a moratorium on issuing new short-term rental licenses since 2022.
In conclusion, the article highlights the challenges and complexities surrounding housing policy reforms at both the state and local levels and the various stakeholders involved in these ongoing debates.