rent control

American

noun

government control over the amount of rent charged, as for housing.

rent control British

noun

regulation by law of the rent a landlord can charge for domestic accommodation and of his right to evict tenants

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

rent-controlled

adjective

Etymology

Origin of rent control

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

rent control

He is currently mulling rent control measures and caps to bus fares.

From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026

The ballot measure’s proponents said Tuesday that they will continue to advocate for rent control.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 24, 2026

When it comes to tenants, Steyer wants to expand the state renter’s tax credit and preserve its rent control framework that he says balances the need for more construction and protection of tenants.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026

New long-term measures will allow ministers to designate parts of the country as rent control areas by 2027.

From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2026

But the couple saw through her ruse to get around rent control.

From "The Joy Luck Club" by Amy Tan

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023