Albemarle County, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Quinton Beckham from KW Alliance joined Cville Right Now Live, to discuss Albemarle County’s rent stabilization proposal and its potential effects. Beckham explained the difference between rent control and rent stabilization, noting that while both aim to keep housing affordable, they can come with unintended consequences. “We sometimes confuse affordable housing and housing affordability,” Beckham remarked, adding that “affordable housing requires government intervention… housing affordability is very market influenced.” He explained that imposing rent caps may discourage new developments, as developers might avoid building in regions with strict rental regulations. 

Beckham also pointed out that Albemarle County’s limited land availability further complicates the issue. “Only 5% of their land has been available to develop. It’s the same 5% that’s been available for almost 50 years,” he explained, stressing that affordability would be better addressed by increasing homeownership opportunities and housing supply overall. He argued that locking people into rent-stabilized buildings could prevent them from moving towards homeownership, which he views as a critical pathway to long-term stability and financial growth.  

Listen here for the full interview: