Don't Worry About the Vase Podcast Housing Roundup #15: The War Against Renters
May 4, 2026
A sharp look at why culture and policy favor owning over renting. Discussion of build‑to‑rent, congressional attempts to block institutional single‑family rentals, and political opposition to corporate landlords. Examination of rental covenants, eviction‑delay tradeoffs, new Los Angeles rent rules, and how strong rent control can mimic ownership. A quirky AI negotiation story closes the show.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Keep Deregulatory Wins But Drop Anti-Investor Clause
- Support the parts of the ROAD Act that speed permitting and deregulate manufactured housing, but reject Section 901 that bans selling newly built homes to corporate landlords.
- Zvi highlights manufactured housing deregulation as potentially impactful for affordable supply.
Rent Floors Can Create Ghost Buildings
- Commercial mortgage rent-floor covenants can force buildings to stay vacant when market rents fall, raising vacancy rates.
- Zvi cites a paper finding these covenants raised Manhattan vacancy 14% between 2016–2020.
Limit Extended Eviction Delays For Nonpayment
- Avoid extremely long, publicly funded eviction delays for nonpayment because they raise screening and reduce supply.
- Zvi argues city-funded eviction defense stretches cases, imposes landlord costs, and discourages building rentals.