Permanent Rent Stabilization in Prince George's County
Una renta justa | logement équitable
With CB 55, it's expected that 40,000 renters will be displaced due to the protections this bill lacks.
CB 55, the rent stabilization bill presented by Chair Ivey, excludes elements critical to protecting immigrants: that means landlords will be able to evict renters without just cause and bring in renters that can pay a steeper rent increase.
Rent Stabilization is a policy that prevents landlords from hiking up the rent over a certain percentage each year, matching inflation costs. That means increases are tied to the economy, not the whim of an unscrupulous landlord. The policy keeps rent affordable and predictable for tenants from year to year.
For example, a 3% rent stabilization policy means that a landlord can only raise the rent by 3% of the current amount each year. If a tenant pays $1,000 per month in rent in 2024, the landlord can only raise the rent to $1,030 per month in 2025, maximum.
- Black and Latine households are subjected to egregious rent spikes that historically push families out of communities. Predatory rent spikes are a racial justice issue, and we can stop them by passing rent stabilization permanently.
- Permanent rent stabilization is not just a policy; it is a lifeline for those who bear the disproportionate burdens of housing insecurity.
- Without robust regulations, landlords may exploit their power, hiking prices without consideration for the financial strain it places on tenants.
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Meet the Activists Fueling the Housing Justice Fight
Kia, 20 years in Prince George's County
“Without a proper 60 day notice they sent me an email at 9pm that my rent would be increasing by $800 a month. YES – $800! With CASA’s support, I reached an agreement with the landlord and instead of $800 my rent went up by $200. That is still super high and the county council has the power to stop these extreme rent hikes that should be deemed illegal permanently.”
Delfina in Riverdale
Tim in Greenbelt
Isabel in Langley Park
Housing Justice 101
Rent Stabilization Helps Landlords
Rent stabilization would encourage landlords to build more housing to reach profits instead of simply piling costs on existing tenants. This is similar to the way in which corporations adapted to the invention of the minimum wage. We should not encourage profiting off of exploitation.
Rent Stabilization Supports Quality Housing
The apartments in the worst condition in our community experience the most disproportionately high rent hikes. With no rent cap, a renter requesting quality housing usually ends up with a punishment for speaking up: a significant rent increase. With nowhere else to turn, those with the fewest options are left with the least opportunities.
Rent Stabilization Must Protect Tenants
Where just cause evications are allowed, landlords can skirt rent stabilization provisions merely by evicting tenants and starting the new rent at a rate higher than permitted under the stabilization limit. Rent stabilization must prohibit this form of eviction and denial of lease renewals.
