The term "Rent Controls" refers to measures designed to restrict the amount of rent that a landlord can charge a tenant for residential premises. Rent control measures appear in various forms across Europe, ranging from strict caps on the initial rent that can be charged under a tenancy, or measures that allow free negotiation of the initial rent but moderate any rental increases. Rent controls are generally employed in an attempt to alleviate inflationary or unaffordable rents that would otherwise arise on a free market; whether that is because of housing shortages or for other reasons. While their effectiveness and utility are a matter of ongoing debate, investors in residential property across Europe will want to understand the regulation landscape, and how rent controls are applied in different ways in different jurisdictions. To that end, this White Paper maps out the various rent control measures in place across key jurisdictions in Europe.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
