Kingston Council to Decide on Rent Control Protections December 17

The Kingston Common Council will hold a special meeting on December 17, 2023, at 19:30 local time to vote on the future of rent control under the Emergency Tenant Protection Act (ETPA). This vote follows a Caucus meeting on December 1, where the council announced the session date. Prior to the vote, the Laws and Rules Committee is scheduled to discuss the legislative findings process regarding the ETPA on December 8 at 19:00.

Council member Michele Hirsch from Ward 9 emphasized the importance of the upcoming deliberations, stating, “The representation from seniors, veterans, healthcare workers, and single parents illustrates the diverse impact that housing stability has on different segments of our city’s population.” She urged that the voices of tenants must be prioritized, especially as the community faces an ongoing housing crisis.

Public interest in maintaining rent control was evident during two extended public hearings held at City Hall and the Kingston Library in November. These sessions featured numerous testimonies from tenants and advocates advocating for the continuation of protections. Some landlords also expressed concerns, arguing that rising taxes, utility costs, and inflation necessitate rent increases.

Hirsch noted that the public turnout and written comments reflect a strong community desire to preserve these protections. She stated, “This deliberation presents an opportunity for the Council to reaffirm its commitment to affordable housing and tenant rights, which are increasingly important as the new year approaches.”

During the hearings, Michael Tierney, a council member from Ward 2, inquired whether ETPA tenants had received the 15% rent reduction mandated by the Kingston Rent Guidelines Board in 2022. Tenants reported they had not, with landlords arguing that the reduction is currently under litigation and remains unresolved.

In August, the city released a study indicating that the vacancy rate for rent-regulated buildings was below the 5% threshold necessary to declare a housing emergency. This threshold is crucial for maintaining the city’s rent control regulations. The study found a 7.04% “net vacancy” rate for surveyed rent-stabilized properties, but for larger buildings with more than 22 units, the net vacancy rate was significantly lower at 3.73%, falling below the emergency benchmark.

In a letter sent on October 2, city Director of Housing Initiatives Bartek Starodaj recommended to the council’s Laws and Rules Committee that the city continue to declare a housing emergency under the ETPA for larger buildings built before 1974. If adopted, this recommendation would mean that tenants in smaller buildings would lose their ETPA protections, as current regulations apply to buildings with as few as six units.

Critics of the study and proposed changes, including tenants and various advocacy groups, are calling for ETPA protections to remain in place for all approximately 1,000 units currently covered. The Mayor’s office, led by Steve Noble, noted that the 2025 study also included a survey of the city’s regulated and market-rate housing stock, revealing much lower vacancy rates of 2.37% and 2.08% for these categories, respectively.

As the December 17 vote approaches, the outcome will significantly impact housing stability for many residents in Kingston, highlighting the crucial role of local government in addressing tenant rights and affordable housing.