The Economist explains: Do rent controls work? | The Economist

The Economist explains: Do rent controls work? | The Economist

Our cookie policy has changed. Review our cookies policy for more details and to change your cookie preference. By continuing to browse this site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. by E.H. Add this article to your reading list by clicking this button AT THE end of July about 1,000 people packed into an auditorium in Seattle for a two-hour long debate on rent controls. The idea of controlling rent—currently illegal in Washington state—has found fans among several council members there, who argue that it would help fix a housing market which they argue is broken. These Seattleites are not alone in their thinking: in New York, Bill de Blasio, the mayor, has campaigned vigorously for rent freezes on rent-stabilised apartments. In London, several mayoral hopefuls have mooted the idea of introducing some form of rental control to the city. Why are rent controls popular, and would they work? Politicians, particularly those on the centre-left,

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