Neither Rental Housing Association nor Boston officials have charted rent hikes in newly deregulated units. Tenants say units in once-stable buildings have turned over rapidly as landlords seek ever higher rents. Even so, Boston officials say hundreds of apartment dwellers have been forced to move. They predict the number of tenants priced out of their homes will eventually swell into the thousands. We don't think all of our crisis is over.
Landlords say the number of displacements is exaggerated.
They point to new rehabilitations of long-neglected buildings and more than 2,500 new rental units planned or under construction. Maureen Murphy embodies the tenant side of the battle. He's always wanted me out. He wants the big money and he knows he can get it. Murphy is waiting to see if her landlord will accept a city offer of a federal housing subsidy.