Justice for Renters

Rent control ballot fight heating up as Mass. Teachers and other unions line up in support - The Boston Globe A group of major unions threw their support behind the ballot measure last week, which if passed would limit annual rent increases to 5 percent in most apartment buildings across the state.

“We represent a lot of workers who make $20 or $21 an hour, and everyone feels the same crunch if they rent right now. Whatever wages the union is able to win at the bargaining table, those raises are almost always eaten up by huge rent increases.”

That's why we need rent control.

Detroit seniors escalate fight against national corporate landlord DETROIT—For Theresa McCormack, the dream of a peaceful retirement in a community with her peers quickly soured. When she moved into the River Pointe Towers on Detroit’s east side this past April, she…

Shame on Capital Realty Group.

The corporate landlord must fix the serious problems at its properties -- not intimidate tenants!

LA landlord Gerald Marcil among investors accused of bait-and-switching banks Gerald Marcil, a multifamily player in the Los Angeles market and notable Republican donor, is accused in a lawsuit of defrauding banks.

Controversial landlord Gerald Marcil spent huge money to kill the expansion of rent control in California.

He's now smack in the middle of a major scandal in Los Angeles County.

EU to propose short-term rental rules to tackle ‘social crisis’ in housing Bloc’s first affordable housing plan to cover issues such as tenants’ rights, property speculation and tourist lets

It's fantastic to see that the European Union is creating a comprehensive plan to address Europe's housing affordability crisis.

We urge EU officials to create policies that put people over outsized profits.

The Briefing: Rent-Fixing, Predatory Landlords, and Tenants Fighting Back This week, The Briefing focuses on rent-fixing software, the power of Stephen Schwarzman, and battles in Pittsburgh and San Francisco.

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Chicago tenants organize in response to steep rent hikes Renters from Rogers Park to Logan Square are forming unions and launching strikes as rents jump and corporate landlords move in.

It's great to see tenants pushing back in Chicago.

It's one more example of a growing pro-tenant movement in the United States and around the world.

Only people-power will end the predatory business practices of Big Real Estate.

Tenants Launch US’s First Ever Rent Debt Strike Against Corporate Landlord Nine tenants organized by the Debt Collective are refusing to pay back rent, hoping to inspire others to do the same.

Go get 'em!

The Briefing: Rent-Fixing, Predatory Landlords, and Tenants Fighting Back This week, The Briefing focuses on rent-fixing software, the power of Stephen Schwarzman, and battles in Pittsburgh and San Francisco.

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Rent control ballot fight heating up as Mass. Teachers and other unions line up in support - The Boston Globe A group of major unions threw their support behind the ballot measure last week, which if passed would limit annual rent increases to 5 percent in most apartment buildings across the state.

It's great to see major unions supporting the rent control effort in Massachusetts.

Rent control is the only way to protect middle- and working-class tenants against predatory landlords and Big Real Estate.

The Real Dirt: RealPage Scandal, Predatory Landlords, People Power This month, The Real Dirt looks into the RealPage scandal, predatory corporate landlords, and the need for people power.

It's the end of the month, which means it's time for the newest edition of The Real Dirt!

We take a look at the RealPage scandal, predatory corporate landlords, and people power.

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Tenants and Activists Around the World Must Band Together to Fight Corporate Landlords Only a global people-power movement will finally rein in predatory corporate landlords and wildly inflated rents.

We need a people-power movement to defeat corporate landlords.

Strength in numbers is our greatest tool to win tenant protections.

This Saturday, join Housing Is A Human Right at the Left Coast Forum in Los Angeles for a housing panel at 10 a.m. at LA Trade Tech, room 2.

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www.eventbrite.com/e/left-coast...

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Robynne Alexander sentenced for Laconia fraud - Valley News Real estate developer Robynne Alexander sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison for wire fraud. She defrauded investors of $3 million in Laconia project.

Once again, a real estate insider tries to rip off clients.

It's another example of the real estate industry's culture of lies, deceit, and greed.

It's why hard-working people need strong tenant protections.

Spokane eyes ban on algorithmic rent-setting amid state, federal lawsuits (The Center Square) – The Spokane City Council is considering a ban on “algorithmic rent price fixing,” with a $5,000 fine per violation after Seattle and other major cities recently

Spokane is yet another city considering a ban on rent-fixing software.

We urge City Council members to approve it.

Rent-fixing software helps corporate landlords to collude and wildly inflate rents!

How the Trump Oligarchy Works: The Case of Stephen Schwarzman When your money runs the world, it also runs you.

An important read for understanding billionaire Stephen Schwarzman, co-founder of Blackstone Group.

Blackstone has spent millions to kill the expansion of rent control in California so it can keep charging outrageous rents.

Modern-Day Robber Baron: The Sins of Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman Blackstone CEO and billionaire Stephen Schwarzman has been a key player in the worsening global housing affordability crisis. Activists want to rein him in.

As a follow up to our previous post, here's our exclusive investigation into billionaire Stephen Schwarzman.

The corporate landlord spent millions to kill the expansion of rent control in California.

Dozens protest eviction of 3 disabled seniors from apartment in SF: 'Where are we going to go?' Dozens of tenants' rights advocates marched through Noe Valley in San Francisco at the front steps of a Victorian apartment house where three seniors are now facing eviction.

We applaud activists in San Francisco for standing up for seniors who may be tossed out of their rent-controlled apartments.

The landlord's action is purely about greed -- and it's unacceptable.

Exposé: Big Real Estate's Money Trail to Kill Rent Control Measure in California The untold story of how corporate landlords spent millions so they could keep charging unfair rents.

Here's an excellent investigation into Big Real Estate's campaign to stop the expansion of rent control in California.

It's by our award-winning advocacy journalist @prmcdonald.bsky.social.

A must-read!

Dozens of property owners, managers settle rent-fixing case Greystar and Brookfield are among those involved in the proposed settlements for the class-action lawsuit.

Big Real Estate will settle, but won't take responsibility.

The public knows the truth.

The RealPage scandal has fueled the housing affordability crisis across the U.S.

In San Rafael, Residents of a Mobile Home Park Are Fighting to Keep Their Homes | KQED Residents say Harmony Communities is using rent hikes and evictions to push families out of one of Marin County’s few affordable housing options.

California state politicians need to immediately investigate the predatory business practices of Harmony Communities.

The corporate landlord is out of control -- and people are suffering!

Rent Debtors Strike Against Abusive Corporate Landlord The Debt Collective is leading the charge against the real estate behemoth Equity Residential.

"Many California tenants racked up rent debt with Equity Residential and other large property owners during the pandemic, often due to the companies’ predatory practices."

Only rent control will rein in predatory corporate landlords.

With Rental Registries, Cities Seek to Close Data Gap With Landlords Cities like Pittsburgh, Oakland and Rochester have passed ordinances to track property ownership and mandate inspections for rental housing. But landlords often resist.

Rental registries are essential: they help in holding landlords, especially corporate landlords, accountable.

We need rental registries across the nation!

“I think this (RealPage) lawsuit is a good stopgap, but we need a huge overhaul for tenants to actually have rights in this country."

Absolutely! www.rgj.com/story/news/2...

Exposing California Apartment Association’s Multi-Million-Dollar Campaign to Stop Rent Control An eye-opening exposé shows how corporate landlords and the California Apartment Association sway state and local elections in California.

You won't find this coverage of the California "Anti-tenant" Association anywhere else.

A must-read!

Welcome to Housing Is A Human Right on Substack Housing Is A Human Right will be publishing its unique take on housing-justice issues on Substack.

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Tenants of troubled Hill District properties demand improvements A handful of tenants from a group of subsidized Hill District properties marched on a property management office on Thursday, demanding fixes and a meeting with managers.

We applaud Pittsburgh tenants and activists for holding corporate landlord NB Affordable accountable.

Local politicians must support their fight and have their demands for better living conditions met!

Welcome to The Briefing at Renter Revolution The Briefing is written by Housing Is A Human Right’s award-winning advocacy journalist Patrick Range McDonald.

Subscribe to our Substack publication, Renter Revolution.

It will cover housing issues from a tenant-activist perspective.

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Most rent-controlled buildings to be exempted from S.F. upzoning plan Mayor Lurie makes a deal with Myrna Melgar, D7 supe who criticized lack of tenant protections in zoning plan.

San Francisco Mayor Dan Lurie must protect middle- and working-class tenants and existing affordable housing in his upzoning plan.

We've seen the harm that former Mayor Mike Bloomberg's upzoning caused in New York City, and Lurie can't repeat the same mistake.