Orange County commissioners are talking about the idea of rent control on Tuesday. Dozens of people attended the meeting, with many landlords saying they had to charge more and tenants saying it was forcing people out of their homes. Before the meeting even started, rent control supporters gathered outside to call on county commissioners to take bold action: Commissioner Emily Bonilla called for a 5% rent increase cap for 12 months. The county paid for a study, done by GAI Consulting, which said there was no urgency in the rental market and said the problem was low housing stock and population growth. Rent control proponents have taken their message indoors, as have landlords and property investors. Some of them said the real solution is to encourage more construction. “Rent controls have been in place in cities like Los Angeles and New York for decades, but their rents and homelessness remain high. People are fleeing these places and coming to Florida to escape these restrictive government policies,” said Robert Arnold, with the Central Florida Realty Investors Association “I’m angry and disgusted by the faces here who are trying to save their own pockets at the expense of residents who need help,” said resident Elizabeth Martinez . The commission is only expected to talk about the rent issue and hear about the study, but Bonilla says she wants to call for a vote, on putting the rent control issue on the November ballot, so that voters can decide. Related: OUC Announces Rate Increase as Florida Residents Struggle with High Living Costs Related: OUR Florida Rental Assistance Program Is Ending For Good
Orange County commissioners are talking about the idea of rent control on Tuesday.
Dozens of people attended the meeting, with many landlords saying they had to charge more and tenants saying it was forcing people out of their homes.
Before the meeting even started, rent control supporters gathered outside to call on county commissioners to take bold action:
Commissioner Emily Bonilla has called for a cap on rent increases of 5% for 12 months.
The county paid for a study, done by GAI Consulting, which said there was no urgency in the rental market and said the problem was low housing stock and population growth.
Rent control proponents have taken their message indoors, as have landlords and property investors. Some of them said the real solution is to encourage more construction.
“Rent controls have been in place in cities like Los Angeles and New York for decades, but their rents and homelessness remain high. People are fleeing these places and coming to Florida to escape these restrictive government policies,” said Robert Arnold, with the Central Florida Real Estate Investors Association
“I’m angry and disgusted by the faces here trying to save their own pockets at the expense of residents who need help,” resident Elizabeth Martinez said.
The committee is only ready to talk about the rent issue and hear about the study, but Bonilla says she wants to call for a vote, on putting the rent control issue on the November ballot, so that voters can decide.
Related: Report says government action will have no impact on soaring rent prices
Related: OUC announces rate hike as Florida residents grapple with high living costs
Related: OUR Rental Assistance Program in Florida is definitely ending