Since 1996, real estate agents must, under federal requirements, advise the sellers or lessors whose property they are marketing of these obligations. Increases awareness about the issue can motivate homeowners to test for potential health hazards. Rent Control Background One of the most destructive housing policies is rent control. It discourages the construction of new rental housing and causes the neglect of current rental housing. Rent control places an unnecessary burden on landlords and property owners.
Rental housing is a business in which owners are entitled to a market return on their investments.
Return on investment creates incentive to build and provide more affordable housing. As more rental housing is created, upward pressure on rents is eased as demand is met. The answer to the problem of scarce housing and rising rents is to increase housing supply, not decrease it, and direct financial assistance to needy renters. The D.C. rent control system was established in 1975. Even the controlled units do not have fixed rent levels.