Why is rent control such a bad idea?
Rent control has been a bad idea wherever it has been tried. The record shows that rent control discourages new housing from being built, creates housing shortages and decreases property values. The decreased property values can lead to new city taxes to replace the lost property tax revenue Furthermore, rent control does little to help the less affluent. In fact, rent control tends to decrease the availability of affordable housing. Rent control would also wipe out rental assistance programs created by the private sector — such as the Orange County Mobile Home Rental Assistance Program — which help reduce monthly rent payments for low income community residents.
