By motion fairly than phrases, Gov. Maura Healey beforehand has indicated that hire management isn’t an efficient option to fight the excessive housing value burden borne by too many residents of this state.
The Legislature and Healey partnered in 2024 to cross a significant new housing manufacturing regulation. The governor’s capital funding plan for fiscal years 2026-2030 requires housing investments totaling $2.34 billion. The administration contends that funding in fiscal 2026 will drive down housing prices by serving to to create greater than 6,000 new models.
Since a 1994 voter regulation banned hire management in Massachusetts, payments introduced ahead to overturn that statute have frequently stalled within the Legislature.
The most recent legislative try, a invoice by Sen. Pat Jehlen, a Somerville Democrat, would allow cities and cities to restrict hire will increase to the speed of inflation and with a cap of 5%. It additionally bans no-fault evictions.
Jehlen’s proposal consists of exemptions for owner-occupied buildings with 4 or fewer models, public and backed housing, school dorms, newly constructed buildings for 5 years, and amenities that present residential aged care.
However now a referendum proposing that course has superior nearer to a spot on the 2026 state poll.
The Secretary of State’s workplace introduced in mid-December that it licensed 88,132 signatures for that petition — 13,000 greater than required. Lease management is one in every of 5 poll measures which have been licensed thus far this cycle. Eligible petitions will probably be filed as payments by the primary legislative day of the brand new yr (Jan. 7).
The poll initiative proposes a restrict on annual hire hikes for many models to both the annual Client Worth Index improve or 5%, whichever is decrease.
Whereas Healey has highlighted the now enacted ban on renter-paid dealer’s charges as an accomplishment “to avoid wasting renters 1000’s,” she attracts the road at hire management.
Requested by host Jim Braude on “Boston Public Radio” about whether or not she’d help the poll measure, Healey mentioned, “Look, I perceive the necessity, the curiosity in hire management, proper? I imply, it’s why I’ve labored actually, actually onerous, Jim, to construct as many homes as I can.”
Healey alluded to a 220,000-unit housing scarcity Massachusetts confronted firstly of her tenure, and mentioned that the state has thus far “began or constructed 100,000 properties.”
“We’ve obtained extra work to do, however I’m making an attempt to do all the pieces I can to drive down housing prices, which drives down housing costs, but additionally hire. My concern, , hire management just isn’t going to be the answer to how we get via this disaster. We have to construct extra properties,” Healey mentioned.
However rent-control supporters level to the poll initiative as a approach to assist enhance housing stability, in addition to shield small landlords.
“We do perceive that housing prices and constructing housing is pricey, however that doesn’t imply that we take away the accountability that builders and enormous company landlords have round the place they’re constructing housing,” Noemi Ramos, New England Neighborhood Challenge govt director, mentioned at a November rally.
However Tony Lopes, with the Small Property Homeowners Affiliation, cited rent-control classes from San Francisco and New York Metropolis, which he claimed led to the lack of rental models and discouraged funding and upkeep.
These two cities additionally proceed to have the best rental prices within the nation.
Lease management isn’t the reply to the state’s persistent lack of availability and affordability.
