Mexico City Caps Rents to Protect Its Urban Core: A Market Crossroads

INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Mexico Citys government revealed difficult new guidelines to resolve its fast-rising leas
Beginning August 28, 2024, authorities will limit lease boosts to no more than the main inflation rate.Before, property owners could raise
leas up to 10 percent each year, even when incomes hardly grew
Over the past decade, rents increased much faster than salaries, forcing countless working families out of the city center.Today, the
typical lease for a two-bedroom apartment or condo reaches almost 19,400 pesos (about $950) a month and has climbed up over 14 percent in a
year
Lots of longtime residents now move to distant neighborhoods since they cant keep up with these costs.The city has about 2.7 million homes,
however it still requires at least 800,000 more to meet current need
Gentrification and growth in short-term leasings, like Airbnb, have made things worse.Many homes that when housed households now serve
temporary visitors
In reaction, the brand-new rules will also restrict short-term leasings to half the year for any home
City officials want to stop the loss of steady, cost effective homes for local people.Mexico City Caps Rents to Protect Its Urban Core: A
Market Crossroads
(Photo Internet reproduction)Alongside new lease rules, the federal government doubled its real estate spending plan to 9 billion pesos
(roughly $444 million) and promised 20,000 brand-new public real estate systems by 2030
These homes will charge renters no more than 30 percent of their income.Still, specialists state just 2 percent of brand-new homes are
economical for average families, while the majority of brand-new builds target higher-income buyers
In 2024, building and construction of low-cost homes struck a national low, with just 128,000 units finished throughout the country.All
brand-new and current rent contracts must be signed up through a digital platform within 90 days of the laws publication
The city hopes this will bring more transparency and minimize abuses, given that the rental market today remains mainly informal.Mexico City
deals with a major real estate crunch that affects both citizens and small companies
Authorities hope these strong measures will make staying in the city possible for regular people and help keep neighborhoods and local
commerce alive.If not, more households might be pressed out, raising stress and compromising the citys vibrant areas.