A state bill that would let cities dramatically expand rent control has been put on hold for a year by its author amid fierce opposition from landlords. Landlord groups have blasted a Costa-Hawkins repeal, arguing that developers will build fewer homes if they don’t have assurance that their projects can’t be subject to rent control. “The rent control debate is very quickly assuming a central place in the broader discussion of affordable housing.”The fight is already heated at the local level as rents have soared during the economic recovery. About 15 cities in California currently have some form of rent control, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland and Beverly Hills. “This bill really places a laser focus on what we can do to address the immediate needs of tenants,” Bloom said.

Source: Los Angeles Times April 06, 2017 21:52 UTC