From December 2022 to February 2023, the National Apartment Association (NAA) commissioned ndp | analytics to conduct interviews with housing providers and developers from three different markets affected by rent control policies and proposals: St. Paul, Minn.; Santa Ana/Santa Barbara, Calif.; and Portland/Eugene, Ore. The housing provider research was supplemented with an online public opinion poll across the United States in February 2023. Below are the top 10 insights into American perceptions of housing availability, residential construction and rent control policies. 

1. Over half of Americans would prefer policies that control pricing but discourage expanding housing options as a means of addressing housing affordability in their local communities. However, support varies by income level, with those in lower income brackets more likely to support rent control than those in higher brackets. 
2. Similarly, a preference for rent control policies varies by age, with Gen Z respondents more likely to support it than older respondents. 
3. Regionally, support for rent control is highest in the South amid soaring rents in states such as Florida and Texas. 
4. On the other side, respondents in regions with current rent control, such as the West and Midwest, are less likely to support rent control and prefer policies that encourage expanding housing options but have no control over pricing. This suggests a heightened understanding of the adverse effects that rent control can have on communities. 
5. Overall, 50% of Americans believe there is not enough housing availability, and over half of Gen X and Baby Boomers believe there are not enough options. Notably, Baby Boomers and Midwesterners are least likely to characterize housing availability as too much. 
6. Residential construction and development fall short in the eyes of over one-third of Americans. This sentiment is highest (41%) among those earning less than $50,000 annually. This same demographic also perceives that there is a lack of existing housing options. Additionally, 37% of respondents in the Western region expressed their dissatisfaction with the level of residential construction activity. 
7. Roughly half of respondents want policies that increase funding for local programs by attracting more residential and commercial development. Gen Z and Gen X respondents show the strongest preference toward this solution, and regionally, Midwesterners support this the most. However, Millennials had the lowest level of support for attracting more residential and commercial 
   development. 
8. Only a small fraction of individuals (15%) favor raising taxes as a means of increasing funding for local programs. However, the data reveals that over one-fifth of Millennials support this approach. Looking at responses by income level, those earning under $50,000 annually expressed the most (17%) amount of support for raising taxes from existing residents. 
9. Americans are divided on their perception of rent control policies. Forty-nine percent of respondents believe rent control only provides housing to those with low or moderate incomes. However, 51% disagree with this point of view. These findings highlight the polarizing views surrounding the implementation of rent control. Those earning over $100,000 annually are slightly more likely to believe that rent control only aids those with lesser incomes. Additionally, 51% of respondents in the Northeast believe that rent control only benefits low- and moderate-income households. 
10. Gen Z  has shown the greatest support for rent control policies, and yet, this group has the highest level of disagreement with the idea that rent control solely benefits low- to moderate-income households. 

David Chou is NAA’s Advocacy Research Analyst.