The County has enforced a different set of standards on owner-occupied homes than on tenant occupied properties. No public good is served by enforcing two different sets of standards. 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. Montgomery County enacted a rent control ordinance in 1979. Shortly, thereafter, thousands of rental units were taken off the rental market and made available for purchase. By 1981, when rent control was finally repealed, Montgomery County registered a two percent vacancy rate or practically no rental housing available.