Amid an intensifying housing affordability crisis and rising interest rates adding to mortgage finance costs, more people are looking to the private rental market and residential rent regulations are becoming a key talking point.
- Rent controls have seen a resurgence in Europe in the last five years. As witnessed in Denmark, France, Ireland, Spain, Scotland and recently the Netherlands.
- There are, broadly speaking, three generations of rent control which impact rent increases during and in between tenancies in different ways.
- Whilst some regulations disincentivise existing or potential investors, there are established forms of regulation that accommodate the deployment of long-term capital supporting the delivery, and ongoing maintenance, of residential rental properties.
- Balanced policy can give certainty to residents, policy makers and investors alike.