Somerville’s Anti-Displacement Task Force held the first of two listening sessions on rent stabilization last Thursday. — Photos by Maile Blume

By Maile Blume

Somerville has joined Cambridge and Boston in considering rent stabilization to prevent displacement of the city’s residents. Last Thursday, the Somerville Anti- Displacement Task Force held a listening session for property owners, to inform an upcoming draft of rent stabilization laws for the city. Another listening session for tenants will also be held this Thursday to inform the upcoming legislation.

According to the city’s website, rent stabilization legislation could include “laws that prevent rents from rising too quickly and laws that offer protection against wrongful evictions.” The new laws will consider which types of buildings will qualify for rent stabilization, as well as the circumstances under which a unit that once qualified for rent stabilization could be exempted from those restrictions.

Several property owners at the listening session voiced support for rent stabilization. Others expressed concerns about how to keep up with the rising costs of utilities and the maintenance of their properties, as well as how rent stabilization could curb development.

Property owner Derrick Rice expressed his support for the stabilization of rents, and said that he has seen many friends leave Somerville due to the lack of rental units or houses they could afford. “I benefitted from a system that lets people with wealth accumulate more wealth,” Rice said. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to stay – not because my house will become too expensive, but because there will be nothing and no one to stay for,” Rice added.

Other attendees echoed Rice’s concerns about how rising rents have affected the Somerville community. “The instability that comes with the type of rent increases that we’re seeing over the last 20 years is just a generational catastrophe,” said property owner Malcolm Cummings. Cummings added that he wants his young son to grow up to be able to “build deep roots and connections with people” in Somerville. Cummings was among several property owners who asked for the strongest possible version of rent stabilization for the city.

Other property owners raised questions about how rent stabilization could affect properties that are already offered to tenants at below market rates. “My apartments are at least $500 a month under market, and the two stores are $1,000 at least below market so that I could have artists in those stores,” said property owner Ellen Tan. Tan asked how the new legislation will determine base rents. “If those base rents start where my rents are now, I’ll be in serious, serious financial trouble if we go through another period of economic inflation periods as we have,” Tan added.

Property owners expressed concerns about the displacement of residents due to rising rents, as well as about how to keep up with the increasing costs for maintaining their properties.

Another question raised at the listening session is what role the city could play in supporting landlords. “My tenants are living in my apartment over five or six years because my rental is very reasonable,” said property owner Sonia Song. Song said that in recent years, labor costs, property tax, and the water bill for the property have all increased. “If city government can control this so that we don’t have inflation, we don’t have labor and the construction increase, and we don’t pay increased property tax, I think this problem would be solved. I think government should also help the landlords,” Song added.

Several property owners also shared concerns that rent stabilization could reduce construction and development in the city, while others mentioned their dependence on their incomes from their properties to keep themselves afloat financially.

Property owner Wheeler DeAngelis addressed those in the session who expressed concerns about not being able to raise low rents, saying, “The regulations are not for you, the regulations are to stop predatory practices.” DeAngelis added, “Rent stabilization will allow you to raise your rents according to inflation and tax raises.”

The next listening session, for tenants, will be held this Thursday, July 27, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m., at the Armory building, as well as over Zoom. To speak at the listening session, attendees are asked to register at least 48 hours before the session at voice.somervillema.gov/adtf or by calling 617-666-3311. The task force is also accepting written comments to adtf@somervillema.gov until midnight on Monday, July 31.