Leases are only a mechanism for achieving housing. People will need homes for the rest of their lives, so the length of the lease is not 'definitional' for esta

Leases are only a mechanism for achieving housing. People will need homes for the rest of their lives, so the length of the lease is not 'definitional' for establishing anything. The length of the lease is only the length of a commitment to living in some particular place. The overall housing still needs to remain affordable in aggregate, and that doesn't happen if everyone is expecting rent to increase after their lease lapses. Moreover, moving is expensive and can take months of planning. If rent prices rise beyond affordability, you're pushing a heavy burden on your tenants, and landlords should have an obligation to exercise that power responsibly.