ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – One Orange County Commissioner is pushing for more rent control measures and hoping her proposal at Tuesday’s county commission meeting will get some results for renters.
Her plan calls for a rent hike cap of 5% or the rate of inflation, whichever is less.
For example, if someone pays $1,000 a month for rent, the rent could not go up more than $50 for anything with four or more units.
That cap would only last for one year, and it would have to be approved by Orange County voters.
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“What I’m asking is for the board to take a vote in order to direct staff to write an ordinance and ballot language that can be on the ballot in November for the people to vote on,” Bonilla said.
Though in an internal memo from Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings obtained by News 6, he asked the county’s attorneys if Bonilla’s proposal is legal.
Their response is that it needs to be investigated. Because of that, a vote on Bonilla’s proposal will likely not happen until May or June.
Bonilla said that since the pandemic she’s seen more people struggle to stay in their homes.
“Just getting all of these emails coming in and they’re struggling, and they’re homeless. They’re living together, they’re on the floor,” Bonilla said.
She said it continues to have her in tears because she wants to do something to help the people of Orange County.
“Looking back, I never thought this would happen,” she said.
Orange County resident Tyler Smith said his rent went up recently by 17% and he’s having to make some changes.
“Just have to budget differently and plan differently,” Smith said .
Kiah Dream said she moved to Orange County in 2019.
“When I first moved here, I paid $1,600 for a 3-bedroom, now when I went back to the same place, it was $1,600 for a one-bedroom,” Dream said.
Here is a statement the Florida Apartment Association sent to News 6 last week.
“The limited housing supply, record-high inflation, and escalating property insurance premiums are just a few of the factors driving up the cost of housing across the state of Florida.
Local governments should avoid falling prey to failed policies such as rent control. Orange County leaders should instead focus on identifying real solutions, including removing barriers to housing construction. Rent control would exacerbate Orange County’s housing shortage by driving new investment in housing construction and business elsewhere. Policymakers should look no further than St. Paul, where multifamily building permits are down 80% since the city enacted a rent control policy.
For years, the apartment industry has expressed concern regarding Florida’s limited rental housing supply and offered effective solutions to address the challenge. The Florida Apartment Association and the Apartment Association of Greater Orlando remain committed to continuing to work with the county and our partners in state and local government on meaningful and effective solutions going forward.”
Gov. Ron DeSantis’ spokeswoman Christina Pushaw told News 6 last week that “those who are quick to insist on a state of emergency are those who believe that the government can and should solve every problem with the heaviest hand.”
News 6 will let you know how Tuesday’s commission meeting goes.