The problem is market power. We want a free market in which supply and demand dictate price without manipulation. But in any given region, there is a fixed sup

The problem is market power. We want a free market in which supply and demand dictate price without manipulation. But in any given region, there is a fixed supply of property that is slow to change to demand. And there is also a fixed demand- everyone needs a home. If one market participant buys up enough of it, they can choose to raise rents on that entire segment of the market. People need a place to live, and if their job, life, livelihoods are tied up in that specific area then leaving isn't a viable option. The market participant literally is rent-seeking. They aren't improving these homes. They're raising prices by virtue of owning enough of them to be able to manipulate the market. They can charge more for the same service without providing anyone with more value. Saying that anyone opposing this is some kind of communist against property ownership is a straw man argument. We just want to see a fair free market.