I enjoyed my time with the Chicago Association of Realtors. Unfortunately, their members are facing many of the same issues as people in the real estate business in Seattle are dealing with. I pointed out that supporters of rent control don’t really believe in private property, or at least they don’t think anyone should be denied the use of someone else’s private property for housing with few if any terms. What’s happening in Chicago, in spite of falling prices, is the ideological assertion by some that people who own and operate buildings shouldn’t be able to set their own rents. But tenant advocates want other things too, like limiting the ability of property owners and managers to screen tenants. What makes the bad policies being pushed worse is that they are coming incrementally with the same broad intent: deny people who make a living owning and managing rental properties unable to do that.

If a take over of all rental properties by the government was openly stated by tenant groups they’d likely get no support. So they’re taking it one step at a time. First in time legislation, banning screening for criminal backgrounds, more inspections, more fees, more requirements for deposits and other unrelating things like voter registration. Taken together these along with rent control would make privately owned rental properties an extension of City government. In my presentation I offer some ideas for offering positive solutions. We’ll also need better data and messaging. It’s a long fight ahead. We have a lot of work to do all over the country.