The vast majority of respondents to a recent Redfin survey believe there should be caps on the amount landlords are allowed to increase rent, regardless of whether they’re Democrats or Republicans, and regardless of whether they own or rent. Redfin economists say rent control worsens housing affordability in the long run. 

More than four of every five U.S. residents (82%) believe there should be caps on the amount landlords are allowed to increase rent. 

The survey data in this report is from a Redfin-commissioned survey conducted by Ipsos in September 2024. The survey was fielded to 1,802 people aged 18-65, including 188 who live in California. This report focuses on the following question: How much do you agree or disagree with the statement below? There should be caps on the amount landlords are allowed to increase rent. Respondents could select strongly agree, somewhat agree, neither agree nor disagree, somewhat disagree or strongly disagree. For this report, we grouped the “strongly agree” and “somewhat agree” answers, and we grouped the “strongly disagree” and “somewhat disagree” answers.”

Caps on rent increases, also known as rent control, give governments the authority to put a lid on how much landlords are allowed to increase rent each year. The White House proposed a federal rent control policy in July; the policy would cap rent increases on existing units at 5% nationwide. Only seven states and Washington, D.C. currently have state or local rent control policies in place.  

The vast majority of respondents believe there should be caps on the amount landlords are allowed to increase rent, regardless of their political affiliation or whether they own or rent the home they live in:

• 86% of  respondents who identified themselves as Democrats believe there should be caps on the amount landlords are allowed to increase rent, compared with 79% of respondents who identified as Republicans. 
• 86% of renters believe there should be caps, compared with 78% of homeowners. 

Redfin economists say rent caps can increase rental costs because they make the supply shortage worse

 

Although most of the people surveyed support rent caps, Redfin economists say that in reality, rent caps increase costs in the long run. 

“Rent control sounds appealing for renters in theory because it limits price increases and saves money in the short term, but it eventually worsens rental affordability because it exacerbates the supply shortage,” said Chen Zhao, Redfin’s economic research lead. “If rent increases are capped below the amount developers would need to make a profit, they have little incentive to build more apartments and homes. The best way to make rentals more affordable is to build more units.” 

78% of Californians support rent control

 

Nearly four of every five respondents who live in California (78%) believe there should be caps on rent increases, similar to the share for the U.S. as a whole. 

California already has statewide rent control: The Tenant Protection Act says landlords may not raise rent more than 5% plus the increase in cost of living (inflation) each year. Rent control is in the news in California in the run-up to the election because there’s a proposition on the November ballot that would allow cities to expand rent control. For instance, city governments could limit annual rent increases to less than 5%, and the state couldn’t intervene.