By April Becker, Las Vegas Sun, February 9, 2025
Living in Las Vegas, I’ve always believed in the power of a tight-knit community, where neighbors look out for each other and families thrive. It’s why my husband and I raised our kids here, and why I am so proud to give back to the community. As a business litigator and community leader, volunteering at The Meadows School and now as your County Commissioner, I’ve heard a lot of talk about rent control as a solution to skyrocketing housing costs. On the surface, it sounds like a noble idea. As a homeowner, mother, and grandmother, I can’t help but feel uneasy about what this might mean for our community, our economy, and the housing supply my grandchildren will inherit.
I understand the frustration with rising rents. Southern Nevada’s growth has brought incredible opportunities, but it’s also driven up the cost of living. For young families, first- year teachers, first responders, and retirees on fixed incomes, the challenge of making the rent payment is very real. But the hard truth is, rent control often creates more problems than it solves and often hurts those it is intended to help the most. The hidden costs can ripple through a community in many unexpected ways.
When landlords are forced to limit rental income, they often have to cut back elsewhere— whether that’s delaying repairs, letting properties fall into disrepair, converting those rental units into luxury condos that exacerbate our housing attainability challenges, or even selling to larger corporations that can absorb the loss. The result? Fewer homes owned by local families, and less generational wealth for those who have grown up and invested in this community over generations.
But it’s not just mom and pop landlords who bear the burden. Rent control discourages new construction too. Developers look at areas with strict regulations and think twice about building, fearing they won’t see a return on their investment. Building permit activity in entire regions has been shown to decline sharply after one city or township within the region adopt rent control policies. For example, in Saint Paul, Minnesota, after rent control was approved in November 2021, the city saw an 80% reduction in permits while neighboring Minneapolis (without rent control) saw a permit increase of 70% during the same period.
Here in Nevada, our population is growing at a faster pace than the housing supply, so a scenario in which developers no longer choose to build is the opposite of what is needed. New building must be encouraged. If not, we’ll only see demand continue to outstrip supply, pushing prices even higher and further shrinking supply.
Instead of rent control, let’s focus on solutions that address the root of the problem. We need policies that encourage builders to create more housing, not less. Streamlining permitting processes, reducing bureaucratic red tape, and incentivizing affordable housing developments are all steps in the right direction.
Southern Nevada is a place where hard work and determination can still pay off. But we have to be careful not to let well-intentioned policies undermine that spirit. Rent control might seem like a quick fix, but the unintended consequences could harm the very people we’re trying to help.
Let’s tackle housing affordability the right way—with policies that promote growth, fairness, and opportunity for everyone. Because at the end of the day, we all want the same thing: a thriving community where families can live, work, and dream big in the desert we call home.
Commissioner April Becker serves on the Clark County Commission and represents
District C which is home to more than 332,000 residents. District C includes portions of
Lone Mountain as well as portions of the incorporated city of Las Vegas. District C also is
home to Cold Creek, Indian Springs, Lower Kyle Canyon and Mount Charleston.