An average two-bedroom apartment in Massachusetts currently commands $2,560 a month, nearly 74% above the national average
Massachusetts is bracing for a political showdown this November as voters weigh a ballot measure backed by labor unions and housing advocates that seeks to cap annual rent increases at the state’s inflation rate but not over 5% a year.
The proposal has gained significant traction due to staggering housing costs. An average two-bedroom apartment in the Bay State currently commands $2,560 a month, nearly 74% above the national average.
Not all support rent control
Democrats, including Governor Maura Healey, oppose it, citing that it would stifle new housing projects. Meanwhile, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu supports the curb and sees it as a necessary shield for tenants.
Opponents, including developers and business groups, point to cities like St. Paul, Minnesota, where strict rent limits led to a sharp decline in building permits.
Several supporters argue that working-class residents cannot wait for long-term development to solve the immediate affordability crisis. A November poll of 500 voters in Massachusetts showed 63% would support the rent control measure.
Not just Boston
Rent control policies are gaining significant support across the country, especially in blue states. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani ran on a platform promising a rent freeze. He is pushing for the same on 1 million rent-stabilized units.
Critics warn the move could slow construction and deter costly repairs. citing research that San Francisco’s 1990s rent control spurred conversions to owner-occupied housing. But Mamdani says freezing rents builds support for broader reforms, even as he proposes a 9.5% property tax.
Rent affordability is on everyone’s mind
As the price of rental properties skyrockets, housing affordability has become a major concern for everyone.