Due to a decrease in housing supply, rising rents have led to proposals for rent control emerging swiftly across the country. Despite the goal of protecting renters, rent control policies can distort the market and worsen housing affordability. A recent study led by Dr. Andrew Hanson from the University of Illinois at Chicago, conducted on behalf of the National Apartment Association, highlights that rent control leads to a decline in housing quality. The research demonstrates a strong correlation between the expansion of rent-controlled housing and increased reports of housing inadequacies, interior deficiencies, and neighborhood issues in affected communities.
