In response to the filing of a 2026 statewide ballot question that seeks to reintroduce government imposed rent control in Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance issued the following statement warning of its destructive consequences for renters, property owners, and future housing development.
“Government imposed rent control was a failed experiment that voters rejected in 1994 for good reason. It made housing more expensive, less available, and far worse in quality. In short, it makes lives miserable for renters, landlords, and the communities these buildings occupy. Today’s activists are pushing the same broken policy under a new name, but the result will be the same: fewer new housing units, deteriorating buildings, and skyrocketing costs for those left behind,” noted Craney.
Even the discussion of rent control as a possible policy proposal will send rents higher, as landlords will want to increase rents before it's too late. It will also freeze current investment in new building, as developers will reevaluate their decisions to move forward.
“Government imposed rent control punishes the very people we should be helping: working families, small landlords, and future renters looking for a place to live. It kills new development, discourages maintenance, and erodes the housing supply, especially in places where demand is highest,” said Craney.
Pro government imposed rent control activists tried a similar effort during the 2024 election cycle and they were led by socialist State Representative Michael Connolly. They failed to get the necessary signatures to advance to the ballot.
“Lowering rents are a worthy goal and we share that desire, but government-imposed rent control will not get us there and brings tremendous negative economic pain. Massachusetts needs to lower property taxes, and repeal the NetZero mandates on housing in order to lower costs. Building more housing without lowering property taxes and repealing the NetZero mandates will only result in more expensive housing.” continued Craney.
“Voters in 1994 got it right, and the facts are even clearer today. Government imposed rent control is a failed idea from the past, and we must not allow it to wreck our housing future,” concluded Craney.