Rent caps keep rent affordable
Rent caps ensure that rents do not increase at a higher rate than wages, elevating everyone's quality of life.
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Context
Limiting the amount a landlord can charge a tenant ensures that rents do not rapidly rise year-on-year.
The Argument
When implemented effectively, rent caps protect both new tenants from paying wildly inflated rents,and existing tenants from facing exorbitant rent increases midway through their tenancy. These measures keep rents affordable in cities where wages are not keeping pace with rent increases.
Counter arguments
Rent caps may keep rents affordable in the short term, but in the long term they do the opposite. Rent caps that keep rents below the market rate incentivize property sales among landlords, leading to a reduced stock of rental properties. The basic rules of supply and demand mean that with fewer rental properties on the market, rents will go up in the long term. Any gains of rent caps in the short term are eliminated in the long term.[1]
Proponents
Framing
Government interference in markets can be a good thing when used correctly.
Premises
[P1] Rent caps limit the amount landlords can charge tenants in rent.
[P2] Therefore, they allow the government to set maximum rental rates.
[P3] The government can keep rents from rising faster than wages.
[P4] Therefore, there will always be affordable housing.
Rejecting the premises
[Rejecting P4] In the long term, rent caps lead to less affordable housing.