Mass. rent control compromise proposed

The question surrounding whether Massachusetts should implement statewide rent control may not have to be on November's ballot. The campaigns for those for and against the proposal are working on a potential compromise. 22 News reporter Nick Antonakis has the details. Should Massachusetts cap year-over-year rent increases? That's the question voters were expected to be met with come November's election. Until now. As campaigns for those for and against the proposal are working on a potential compromise. Connor Units, spokesman for Housing for Massachusetts, told the Statehouse News Service, quote, we were formally contacted by the Yes campaign on Sunday with language that differs from the proposed ballot question. In good faith, we will review their proposal. The current proposal would cap year-over-year residential rent increases at the same rate as the increase in the consumer price index or at 5 percent, whichever is cheaper. Supporters say reform is needed to keep residents housed and prevent them from moving to less expensive states. Critics, including Governor Mara Healey, say it could slow down housing production and pull investors from funding projects. Supporters are hoping to get a deal done with the opposition so the question doesn't have to go to the ballots. Carolyn Chu, the executive director of Homes for All Massachusetts, said in a statement to 22 News, quote, while we made significant concessions in an effort to reach a true compromise, this legislation would achieve our primary goals of ending the state's ban on rent control and enabling strong protections from excessive rent hikes and unjust evictions for Massachusetts residents. The compromise would leave it up to cities and towns to decide whether to opt into a proposal would cap yearly increases at either 10 percent or the increase in CPI plus 5 percent, whichever of those two is lower. According to a recent poll, 69 percent of voters say they will support rent control. Working for you, Nick Antonakis, 22 News.