I moved into my apartment in the middle of the pandemic — a time when stability and safety mattered more than ever. I was grateful to find a two‑bedroom home for under $1,500. It wasn’t perfect, but it was mine. It was safe. It was affordable.

But as soon as the world began returning to “normal” in late 2022, the rent increases started.

Every year.

Like clockwork.

Today, my rent is just shy of $2,000 — nearly a $500 jump — and yet nothing inside my apartment has improved.

No upgrades.

No renovations.

No modern appliances.

No fresh paint.

No updated flooring.

No improved safety features.

In several years, the only things replaced were:

• a broken dishwasher
• a stove swapped out for another used one

That’s it.

And I’m not alone.

Across California — and across the country — families, seniors, and working people are being hit with rent increases while living with:

• mold
• leaks
• broken heat
• unsafe wiring
• pests
• outdated appliances
• unaddressed maintenance requests

We are being charged more for the same conditions.

We are paying increases without receiving any benefit.

We are being priced out of our homes while nothing improves.

This is not just unfair — it is exploitation.

⭐ WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR

We are calling for a Fair Rent — Fair Housing Act that requires:

1. No rent increases unless the unit meets basic habitability standards.

If there are open maintenance issues, the landlord cannot raise rent.

2. No rent increases without documented upgrades or improvements.

If nothing has been improved, rent should not go up.

3. Annual rent increases must be tied to inflation or operating costs — not profit.

4. Mandatory inspections before any rent increase above a small threshold.

5. Transparency: tenants must receive a clear explanation of what improvements justify the increase.

These are reasonable, fair, and common‑sense protections that keep families housed and hold landlords accountable.

⭐ WHY THIS MATTERS NOW

Every day we wait, another family receives a rent increase they cannot afford.

Another senior sits in a cold home.

Another child breathes mold.

Another tenant is forced to choose between rent and groceries.

This is happening right now, and without action, it will continue.

 ⭐ THIS IS NOT A DOCUMENT — THIS IS A MOVEMENT

Every signature on this petition is a voice saying:

“Fix it before you raise it.”

“Housing is a human right.”

“We deserve safe, dignified homes.”

Your signature is not symbolic.

It is counted.

It is measured.

It is pressure.

Decision‑makers see it — and they feel it.

When thousands of us stand together, they cannot ignore us.

⭐ WHAT YOU CAN DO

👉 Sign this petition.

👉 Share it with your community.

👉 Stand with families, seniors, and renters who deserve safe homes.

This is how change begins — and how we make sure it doesn’t stop.

 

Across the United States, millions of renters face annual rent increases without any improvements to the homes they live in. Families are paying more while living with outdated appliances, unsafe conditions, aging infrastructure, and landlords who raise prices without reinvesting in their properties.

This petition calls on Congress to pass the Fair Rent–Fair Housing Act, a national law requiring that any rent increase must be accompanied by documented property upgrades, repairs, or improvements that directly benefit tenants.

To the United States Congress, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and national housing policy leaders:

We, the undersigned, call for the creation and passage of a federal law — the Fair Rent–Fair Housing Act — that requires landlords to complete meaningful property upgrades or improvements whenever they issue a rent increase.

Across the nation, renters are experiencing:

Rising rents with no improvements
Unsafe or deteriorating housing conditions
Landlords who profit without reinvesting
Widening economic and racial housing disparities
Families forced to move due to unaffordable increases
Rent increases without upgrades create a cycle of exploitation, instability, and declining housing quality. This is not sustainable, and it is not fair.

We believe that if rent goes up, housing quality must go up too.

We urge Congress to adopt a national standard requiring that:

Any rent increase must be paired with documented upgrades, repairs, or improvements.
Landlords must provide written proof of completed upgrades.
Rent increases are prohibited in units with unresolved habitability issues.
HUD establishes federal guidelines defining qualifying improvements.
Tenants receive strong protections against retaliation or unjustified increases.
Violations result in penalties, rent‑increase reversals, or mandatory repairs.
This policy will:

Improve housing quality nationwide
Reduce predatory rent practices
Stabilize communities
Protect low‑income families
Promote fairness and accountability
Ensure landlords reinvest in the properties they profit from
We call on Congress to act now and create a fair, balanced, and humane housing system where rent increases must be earned — not imposed without responsibility.

We demand the passage of the Fair Rent–Fair Housing Act.