The talking point of "Rent control = bad" has always been disingenuous because it's parroted most often by the people who will be hurt from it the most (landlords). Home supply is already artificially constrained, regardless of rent control. Mostly because wealthy landlords form cartels to prevent new housing in major metro areas.
Rent control is just one tool that can be used to regulate housing, and it works in conjunction with other tools (e.g. rent control exceptions for new construction).
The U.S. already has an excessively de-regulated housing market, and it clearly has not worked for most people. Anyone that says regulation is bad here is almost certainly protecting their self interests.
I don't see how you can claim a home ownership rate above 60% means the market is working for most people.
All that means is that a majority of the population was able to buy a house at some point in time under some conditions. The recent data is clear: people who already have homes, are staying put in them. And a growing portion of people without homes are joining a fairly new class of "forever renters".
The median age of first time home buyers was 33 in 2020. In 2025 it is 40.
That's truly incredible if you think about it. In just 5 years, the median age has increased by 7 years.
Here's another interesting statistic: the percentage of homes bought by first time buyers is down 50% since 2007.
> Rent control is fundamentally unfair and socially undesirable.
I think this is an incredible claim to make. Unfair to who? Undesirable compared to what?
Rent control at it's core is a redistribution mechanism. It favors existing tenants at the expense of property owners.
If you care about low income renters getting displaced by a 40% rent increase, then it is a desirable mechanism.
Rent control is just one tool that can be used to regulate housing, and it works in conjunction with other tools (e.g. rent control exceptions for new construction).
The U.S. already has an excessively de-regulated housing market, and it clearly has not worked for most people. Anyone that says regulation is bad here is almost certainly protecting their self interests.