Today, Supervisor Kathryn Barger released the following statement reacting to the Board of Supervisors’ approval of a County Code amendment that imposes a temporary three percent restriction on rental property increases through December 31, 2023:
“While I understand the desire to deal with systemic problems like inflation and a high priced housing market with ‘quick fixes’ like rent caps, I believe imposing a cap on rent increases in our unincorporated communities is the wrong move.
Rent increase restrictions have a lot of negative, unintended consequences. Property owners are shouldering financial consequences while their property bills keep rising. Rent cap policies can also make a scarce housing market even leaner. Property owners in our unincorporated communities will have little to no incentive to lease their available properties, which will exacerbate our housing crisis.
I voted ‘no’ today because I can’t support policies that are unbalanced and shortsighted.”