Defunding Rentals Left Buildings Crumbling | Real Estate News

Real Estate News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 6, 2026 · 1m

Forget defunding the police—now it’s the rental market getting a “defund” treatment, and the results? Buildings are crumbling while tenants stay stuck. Laws meant to protect renters, like New York’s 2019 rent stabilization act, have backfired by freezing rents so hard they’ve killed incentives for repairs, leaving thousands of units vacant or rotting. Add in two-year rent freezes, labyrinthine permits, and tenant leverage tactics that delay renovations for years—and you’ve got a city where landlords can’t fix anything without risking eviction lawsuits or losing money. It’s not just broken…