NMHC:
NMHC members believe that transparency in the cost of rental housing is positive for renters and housing providers alike. While we support the voluntary initiatives included in the White House’s announcement today, we strongly disagree with the characterization that rental housing residents are pervasively being taken advantage of by housing providers. We are aware of no credible evidence to support this assumption.
If there are bad actors who are taking advantage of prospective residents, they should be dealt with through appropriate legal channels. As the White House announcement highlights, the relationship between a housing provider and a resident is already largely and appropriately regulated at the state and local levels which can be more responsive to the unique needs of local communities and their housing markets.
Given the housing affordability challenges facing communities throughout the nation, NMHC encourages the White House, as well as other lawmakers in both parties and at all levels of government, to put their focus on enacting policies such as the Biden administration’s Housing Supply Action Plan, released last year which outlined a number of thoughtful and actionable steps to lowering housing costs.
NMHC calls on our leaders to quickly enact proven approaches that create more housing which will expand housing opportunity for all, rather than exacerbate today’s crisis by promoting additional regulatory proposals that make it more difficult to build and operate the rental homes we need and ultimately, increase costs for renters.
NAA:
Statement from Bob Pinnegar, NAA President & CEO, in response to the White House announcement on fees in rental housing:
“Rental housing is a narrow-margin industry that exists to serve our renters and communities. Amenities and services come at a cost, which is communicated with residents in the lease and the leasing process. Though the industry supports increased transparency and has always called for dialogue between housing providers and their residents, policy-makers must recognize operational realities and the role that fees play in housing viability.”
