Eighteen associations representing housing providers, lenders and residents sent a letter Thursday to Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Sandra Thompson warning that mandatory rent control and rent stabilization policies will increase rents, reduce the capital needed to boost the supply of housing, and ultimately hurt current and future renters. 

As FHFA considers changes for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac-backed multifamily properties, the groups cautioned that rent control mandates will exacerbate the housing affordability crisis. The best way to ease rising rents is to create voluntary incentives within Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac programs to expand the supply of affordable housing, the letter stated. 

Signatories to the letter included the following: American Seniors Housing Association, Council for Affordable and Rural Housing, Commercial Real Estate Finance Council, Institute of Real Estate Management, Leading Builders of America, Manufactured Housing Institute, Mortgage Bankers Association, NAIOP, National Apartment Association, National Association of Home Builders, Nareit, National Association of REALTORS, National Association of Residential Property Managers, National Housing Conference, National Housing & Rehabilitation Association, National Leased Housing Association, National Multifamily Housing Council and The Real Estate Roundtable.