Removing Rent Control's Unintended Consequences Rent control was first introduced in the United States during World War II as a temporary measure to address wartime inflation and protect tenants from price gouging by landlords.
Its original purpose remains unchanged: balance property owners' interests with those of tenants. However, well intentioned policies can often lead to unintended consequences.
One such consequence is the reduced housing supply. As landlords are forced to freeze rents below market rates, they have little incentive to invest in new construction or maintain existing properties.