Call to Action: Testify Against Rent Control on Tuesday, July 29!
The Joint Committee on Housing will hold a hearing about rent control (S1447) on Tuesday, July 29, beginning at 1PM. We strongly encourage property owners, brokers, other members of the business community, and all who care about property rights and the health of our neighborhoods to testify against this proposal filed by Sen. Pat Jehlen of Somerville.
You may testify at the state house in person, or do so virtually. There are also instructions below detailing how one can submit written testimony as well.
In order testify remotely, please register with the Committee before 3pm on Monday, July 28. You can do so using this form https://forms.office.com/g/NafWxZzw6q.
Those testifying in person at the state house can do so before the hearing begins on Tuesday, July 29.
We hope that you will turn out to support property rights and to express your concerns about rent control. Our businesses and our communities depend on it.
You can feel free to use the talking points below, or to put them in your own words.
Regarding Rent Control
I am against rent control because it sends the wrong message to current and potential rental housing providers that Massachusetts is not a welcoming state. We should be encouraging more owners to become rental housing providers, not pushing them away.
I am against rent control because it:
reduces the much-needed supply of housing, which reduces housing availability, while driving up rents to the detriment of tenants
makes it more difficult for owners to collect their hard-earned rental income and to keep up with rising operating costs
leads to the disrepair of existing housing and neighborhoods
makes it more difficult to remove noncompliant tenants to the detriment of the owners, the properties themselves, and the other good tenants who depend on their landlords for safe, maintained living places
deprives municipalities of the tax dollars paid by property owners
Please register for the hearing and make your voices heard to keep our momentum going!
Please WRITE IN!
Please include the bill number S1447 and the word "Testimony" in the subject line of the email
Please address your email to:
jointcommittee.municipalities®ionalgovernment@malegislature.gov
Your state representative and senator. Your can look up their email addresses here: https://malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator
Please copy SPOA (askspoa@gmail.com) so we can reference our members' testimony to legislators.
