December 16, 2025
Contact: Debra Freeman, [email protected], 757-452-1143
New Virginia Majority Statement on Richmond City Council Moving Anti-Rent Gouging to Statewide Legislative Priority
Yesterday, December 15, Richmond City Council voted for anti-rent gouging to be a part of Richmond’s 2026 statewide policy agenda that will advance to the General Assembly in 2026. In November, City council members also passed the Residential Rental Inspection Program. As a part of the Richmond Housing Justice Collective, NVM led the charge in highlighting the escalating price of rent throughout the city, and members were at the forefront of advocating for tenants by sharing their personal stories of how rising housing costs affected them.
It has been made clear to the Richmond City Council that a shortage of housing is not the issue. Rather, anti-rent gouging allows localities the authority to set limits on rent increases and apply common sense safeguards for housing providers to meet increased operating expenses, while exempting new construction for ten years. This legislation will provide economic relief to residents and strengthen tenant rights. Although there is still much work to be done, this is a step in the right direction to truly make housing more affordable.
NVM member Emeka A. a resident of Richmond’s third district said, “Anti rent gouging is important because there are people like me whose rent will get raised $200 a month, but paychecks will not. As someone who is on disability and had their housing voucher taken away, it’s important to have protections to prevent displacement.”
“I had to move from the neighborhood where I built a really strong community, and had to decide between affordability and safety. Anti-rent gouging is important because it offers protections to families that keep them from getting priced out of communities that they’ve worked hard to settle into,” said NVM member Jana H., a resident in Richmond’s second district.
We will continue to work with our partners and legislators on the state level to make anti-rent gouging legislation a reality for Richmond's residents who need it most, and allow families to stay in their homes.
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New Virginia Majority builds power in working-class communities of color, in immigrant communities, among LGBTQ people, women, youth, and progressives across the Commonwealth. We organize for racial and economic justice through large-scale political education, mobilization and advocacy around dozens of issues. We fight for a Virginia that is just, democratic and environmentally sustainable. For more information, visit our website.