---
title: Commonwealth Housing Alliance
description: Discover the proven risks of rent control in Massachusetts and join the coalition protecting property values and housing stability statewide.
---

2026 Ballot Question

# Housing Costs Are Too High. Rent Control Makes It Worse.

 94% of Massachusetts voters say housing costs are too high. Economists, local leaders, and housing experts know that rent control raises taxes, lowers home values, and reduces the number of homes being built.

[ Protect Your Home ](https://www.commonwealthhousing.org/join-the-coalition?hsLang=en) [ Get the Facts ](https://www.commonwealthhousing.org/get-the-facts?hsLang=en)

###### 351

 Communities impacted statewide

###### 10%

 Increase in Property Taxes

###### 14%

 Drop in Property Values

### Rent Control is the Wrong Approach

 Housing costs are a real challenge across Massachusetts.

 Research from institutions like MIT, Stanford, and Tufts show policies like rent control create far worse problems:

- Higher property taxes
- Lower property values
- Fewer homes being built

 That affects everyone. Whether you rent or own.

![Image B2](https://www.commonwealthhousing.org/hubfs/Image%20B2.png)

### What This Means for You

**

##### Higher Property Taxes

 Analysis from [Tufts University](https://www.governing.com/urban/massachusetts-rent-control-could-cut-property-values-by-300-billion-study-says) suggests communities could face significant tax increases or cuts to local services as the tax base shrinks.

**

##### Lower Home Values

[Research shows](https://economics.mit.edu/sites/default/files/publications/housing%20market%202014.pdf) rent control can reduce home values across entire neighborhoods—not just rental properties.

**

##### Fewer Housing Options

 Massachusetts already needs [more than 200,000 new homes](https://www.mass.gov/news/healey-driscoll-administration-releases-states-first-ever-comprehensive-housing-plan). Policies that do nothing to create homes worsen our housing crisis.

**

##### Reduced Housing Supply

 A major [Stanford study](https://www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=10.1257/aer.20181289) found rent control led to a 15% reduction in rental housing supply and a 5.1% rent increase in San Francisco.

### What Experts & Leaders Are Saying

[Governor Maura Healey](https://www.wgbh.org/news/politics/2025-12-23/healey-on-ballot-questions-yes-for-public-records-no-on-rent-control) has said rent control “is not going to be the solution” to the housing crisis and has warned that investment is already leaving Massachusetts.

 Local mayors, economists, and housing experts across the Commonwealth have raised similar concerns about higher taxes, reduced housing supply, and long-term economic impacts.

![Image B8](https://www.commonwealthhousing.org/hubfs/Image%20B8.png)

# Learn the Facts. Take Action.

[ Protect Your Home ](https://www.commonwealthhousing.org/join-the-coalition?hsLang=en)