Rent control doesn’t address the root of our housing problems: a lack of available high-density housing. NIMBY homeowners have made it illegal to build new apartment complexes and condos via strict zoning laws. They’ve artificially restricted the supply of housing in order to jack up their own property values.
If a town has 80 apartments while 100 families need housing, rent control does nothing for the 20 families who can’t find an apartment when it’s illegal to meaningfully increase the supply of housing.
Housing in Seattle will continue to be fucked until we reform our zoning laws.
Seattle City Council committee to discuss rent control ordinance Friday ( komonews.com )