Do rent freezes work? This has been tested multiple times in New York City: During Bill de Blasio’s tenure as mayor, there were no rent increases on one-year leases in 2015, 2016 and 2020 — as well as 0% for the first 6 months and 1.5% for the last 6 in 2021……and the results?  Rents in New York are higher than any other place in the US. When rents don’t rise in line with inflation, they can become economically unviable and decay: the average number of maintenance deficiencies in pre-1974 rent-stabilized buildings is up 45% since 2017. (Bloomberg)

8/4/2025