Rent Control: What It Is, Where It Matters, and How It Affects Tenants and Landlords

When you hear rent control, a law that limits how much landlords can increase rent in certain areas to keep housing affordable. Also known as rent regulation, it’s not just a policy—it’s a lifeline for millions of renters who can’t afford market rates to keep rising. In places like New York, California, and Maryland, rent control isn’t a suggestion—it’s the law. But it doesn’t apply everywhere. And even where it does, it doesn’t mean rent never goes up. It just means there’s a cap, and your landlord can’t kick you out just because they want to charge more.

Think of tenant rights, the legal protections renters have when living in a rented property, including against unfair evictions and rent hikes. If your landlord sells the building you’re renting in, rent control often means your lease stays locked in—even if the new owner wants to raise the rent to market rate. That’s exactly what happens in Maryland, where your rights don’t disappear just because the property changes hands. Same goes for security deposits: if your landlord in Virginia misses the 45-day deadline to return your deposit, you’re not out of luck—you can legally demand it back with penalties.

But rent control isn’t just about stopping rent hikes. It’s tied to housing affordability, the ability of people to find and keep a place to live without spending more than 30% of their income on rent. When cities don’t have rent control, rents can double in five years. That’s why places like San Francisco and Portland have fought to keep these laws alive. But critics say rent control reduces the number of rental units available because landlords don’t want to invest in properties they can’t fully profit from. It’s a real debate—with real consequences for people trying to find a place to live.

What you’ll find below isn’t theory. It’s real-life rules from states where rent control matters most. You’ll see how landlords in Virginia handle deposits, what happens when a rental property is sold in Maryland, and how renters in the U.S. navigate leases, evictions, and price increases. These aren’t abstract laws—they’re the details that keep you in your home or force you out. Whether you’re renting right now or thinking about it, understanding rent control could save you thousands—or your entire apartment.