When an apartment is rent controlled, the landlord cannot raise the rent past a certain limit, which is usually much lower than the market rate. ... The rent can only be raised by a limited amount each year. Vacancy decontrol: When a tenant moves out, the landlord can increase the rent up to whatever the market will bear.

Why rent control is bad for tenants?

While rent control appears to help current tenants in the short run, in the long run it decreases affordability, fuels gentrification, and creates negative spillovers on the surrounding neighborhood. ... Rent control can also lead to “mis-match” between tenants and rental units.

Are rent controls a good idea?

Pretty much every economist agrees that rent controls are bad. ... Research on rent control shows that many of the beneficiaries are low-income, and that controlling their rents makes it more likely that they'll stay in their apartments for a good long time.