News Summary
Jim Rooney, CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, has voiced his opposition to a proposed statewide rent control initiative that seeks to limit annual rent increases to 5%. In light of a recent survey indicating that 25% of Boston residents plan to leave due to high rental costs, Rooney argues that rent control will hinder property investments and lead to stagnation. Advocacy group Homes for All Massachusetts promotes the proposed policy, citing the need for affordable housing solutions in a city where rental prices remain exceptionally high.
Boston
Jim Rooney, the CEO of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, has publicly opposed the introduction of rent control in Massachusetts, asserting that it will not address the state’s ongoing challenges with young professionals moving to more affordable areas. His comments were made during an interview following a proposal from a coalition of housing advocacy groups that have suggested a statewide ballot initiative to limit annual rent increases to a maximum of 5%.
A recent survey by the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce revealed that 25% of respondents—totaling 823 participants—indicated plans to leave the region within the next five years primarily due to escalating rental costs. Rooney has criticized the concept of rent control by arguing that such measures deter property owners from making investments in their properties and may lead to a situation where tenants remain in the same apartments for extended periods, ultimately creating stagnation in the housing market.
The organization advocating for the rent control measure, Homes for All Massachusetts, suggests that the proposed policy would connect rent increases to the overall cost of living in the state, providing a cap of 5%. Unlike previous local initiatives that permitted municipalities to enact their own rent control measures, this new proposal aims for a uniform statewide application.
This isn’t the first time rent control has been brought to the forefront of housing discussions in Massachusetts. A previous attempt to formulate a rent control question for the 2024 ballot failed due to insufficient signatures. Currently, national trends indicate that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) projects a 2.9% increase in the cost of living for 2024. Under the new proposal, landlords would be restricted to raising rents only by this percentage in 2025 if it is accepted.
Boston remains one of the most expensive cities for renters in the United States, ranking third overall. As of July, the median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in the city reached $2,880, with two-bedroom units averaging $3,530. In comparison, the national medians for one- and two-bedroom apartments stand at $1,520 and $1,905, respectively. The housing crisis in the state is critical; over half of renters are deemed cost-burdened, allocating over a third of their income to rent.
Supporters of the proposed rent stabilization measure, such as community advocates and housing organizations, emphasize the urgent need for interventions to protect working and middle-class families from the ongoing housing cost crisis. Many believe that the market dynamics currently allow corporate investors to aggressively acquire housing properties, subsequently imposing significant rent increases that further burden low-income and middle-class renters.
Historically, Massachusetts had implemented rent control measures until they were abolished in 1994 due to perceived ineffectiveness. The debate surrounding rent control and its implications has resurfaced over the years, with critics—including Rooney—arguing that such policies stifle housing development and contribute to a decline in available housing stock. Studies consistently show that cities with rent control experience a slower growth rate in housing availability compared to those without regulations. Moreover, historical analyses suggest that rent control often deteriorates conditions for tenants and the quality of housing stock over time.
In response to the housing crisis, recent legislative proposals have sought to provide cities with the power to establish local rent stabilization measures rather than enforce statewide regulations. Homes for All Massachusetts is preparing to submit an initiative petition for certification by the Attorney General before potentially gathering over 75,000 required signatures to qualify the measure for the November 2026 ballot.
If the proposal does not advance through the legislative process, lawmakers have indicated their commitment to bring the issue of rent stabilization to a statewide ballot, further underscoring the persistent and evolving nature of Massachusetts’ housing crisis.
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Additional Resources
- Boston Herald: Editorial on Rent Control Repeal
- MassLive: Rent Control Opposition by Greater Boston Chamber
- Boston.com: Rent Control on 2026 Ballot
- Boston Agent Magazine: Discussion on Rent Control
- Axios: Massachusetts Rent Control Ballot Question
- Wikipedia: Rent Control
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