Who Benefits from Rent Control? Effects on Tenants in Santa Monica, California

Abstract The objective pf Santa Monica's rent control law, in effect since 1979, is to protect renters —particularly “the poor, minorities, students, young families and senior citizens” — from rapidly rising rents. Comparing 1987 and 1979 tenant surveys indicates that the rent control ordinance has fulfilled some of its goals. Length of tenure has increased, while lower-income tenants and the elderly have benefited most. In addition, the law may have contributed to stopping the decline in households with children. However, it has not stopped a decline in the proportion of black and Latino households. The results suggest that the vacancy control provision of the ordinance is the major factor offering protection to tenants. Since rent control does not increase the supply of affordable rental units nor prevent housing discrimination, it should be viewed as one of a number of housing policy strategies for maintaining affordable housing for specific target populations.