PRESS RELEASE: Small Property Owners Association Questions Lack of Representation on Wu Rent Control Commission

BOSTON—On March 10th, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu announced the creation of a 23-member Rent Stabilization Committee. While the group includes tenant advocates, labor unions, and community activists, it lacks any representation from organizations representing small property owners. SPOA strongly objects this omission and questions how a commission can fairly and accurately evaluate rent control, which is what is meant by “rent stabilization,” without the input of the very businesses it is seeking to control.

“Most of Boston’s housing stock is provided by small rental property owners, and they aren’t being given a voice at the table. To say the deck is stacked in favor of the radical and outdated idea of rent control is putting it mildly. Small property owners want to be part of the solution, but we can’t be part of the solution if we’re shut out of the process. Just hearing from us isn’t enough; we need a seat at the table,” said SPOA President Allison Drescher. “Small property owners provide more than 60% of housing in the state and are significant contributors to the tax base. Wouldn’t their input be essential to finding real solutions for this complex problem? After all, they are small business owners too, many who have suffered while weathering the pandemic. We all look forward to a return to normalcy which will allow important conversations to take the forefront—like how to confront Boston’s housing affordability crisis.”

“Small property owners are being blamed for rising rents in Boston when they are simply a factor of market conditions and rising inflationary costs. Rents go up because costs go up and housing stock is scarce. If the mayor is serious about combating rising housing costs, she needs to focus on production and funding of rental assistance programs, not artificial governmental price controls,” stated SPOA Vice President Amir Shahsavari. “Affordable housing is a very real crisis which benefits from open discussion with all stakeholders. Landlords want to be part of the solution too. Many two and three family units are owned by first generation and minority families whose life’s work is represented by their real estate. Why is there resistance to working together to solve this problem?”

The City of Boston cannot enact rent control without authorization from the State Legislature. The Commission plans to meet throughout 2022 with a goal of submitting a proposal to the legislature at the beginning of the 2023-2024 legislative session.

SPOA will be testifying at the Commission hearings, which will be open to the public, and will continue its advocacy on Beacon Hill to oppose policies that hurt property owners and do nothing to improve the long-term health of Boston’s housing ecosystem.

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