3 Minneapolis Council Members Push For Rent Control

MINNEAPOLIS - Minneapolis council members Cam Gordon, Jeremiah Ellison, plus Council President Lisa Bender are pushing to make rent control a part of city law, saying landlords have too much power when it comes to evicting tenants or increasing the cost of the monthly rent.

Their measure would have to be supported by voters through a ballot referendum. Under state law, cities cannot enact rent control unless the general principle is approved in a general election.

"These Charter amendments are just a first step," said Gordon in a news release.

"When we succeed in putting them on the ballot this fall and when passed by Minneapolis voters, they will enable a future conversation about enacting rent stabilization, to protect the most vulnerable residents of our city from being displaced from their homes."

The council members say that rent control is needed to prevent price gouging on rental units by capping price increase to a fixed percentage increase each year. In Oregon, they noted, annual rent increases are limited to 7 percent + inflation.

In California, annual rent increases are limited to 5 percent, plus inflation.

The councilmembers also want to require that landlords provide a "just cause" when they decide not to renew a renter's lease.

"Renters have very little control over their housing costs, leaving them at the mercy of the market," reads a policy document released by the three council members.

"Currently, landlords may raise rental prices with no limitations and without providing justification. Rents in many parts of our city have increased faster than renters’ incomes, especially for renters of color and renters with the lowest incomes."

According to the city's research, half of the renters in Minneapolis earn less than 60 percent of the local median income. For many Minneapolis renters, most of their monthly income is gone once they've paid their rent bill.

"More than half of the people in Minneapolis rent their homes," notes Bender, "and almost none have protection from eviction or abrupt, large rent increases. I have seen too many families lose their homes to eviction or displacement, we need to use every tool we have under state law to prevent eviction and stop unlimited price gouging by landlords."

"As it stands, landlords can raise the rent as much as they want, without providing justification," said Ellison.

"The Council has passed a number of housing measures in recent years to increase access and prevent displacement, but our neighbors are still losing their homes because they simply cannot keep up with the rent. That’s why we must open the doors to pursuing a rent stabilization policy, and join the 180 other municipalities across the country that have taken such measures."