> In addition as I've watched rents around me rise, and anticipated my own rent rising, I wonder at the expectation that we should continually get less for more

> In addition as I've watched rents around me rise, and anticipated my own rent rising, I wonder at the expectation that we should continually get less for more. My house isn't getting any newer after all. I think your central confusion stems from the idea that the price of rent is in any way related to the original cost to buy the land and build the building you are renting. It is not. Rents move to stay competitive with the demand in the area. If more people want to live there, rents will rise. If vacancies increase, rents will fall until all the units are filled. Landlords have no leverage against renters in this regard - if you can find a similar rental for cheaper in your area, you are free to move or negotiate down your rents with your current landlord. Attempts to legislate this market dynamic away just risk guessing demand incorrectly and limiting prices inefficiently, which results in less housing stock and more expensive/scarce rentals in all cases.