Facing a growing shortage of affordable housing in the District, members of the D.C. City Council yesterday introduced legislation that would strengthen existing rent control laws, reports The Common Denominator.

Eleven members of the council joined sponsor Jim Graham (D-Ward 1) in endorsing the legislation, which would limit increases on rent for certain properties to 10 percent per year and restrict the increase of rent on individual units in rent-controlled buildings. The legislation would amend the Rental Housing Act of 1985, which allows for more substantial annual increases on rent. Currently some 80,000-100,000 housing units in the District are subject to the District’s rent control laws. Legislation was also proposed outlining the rights of tenants to form associations in their buildings. Montgomery County is also exploring options to secure affordable housing.

According to the D.C. Fiscal Policy Institute, affordable housing in the District is becoming more and more scarce. The District lost 2,400 affordable rentals and 9,400 affordable homes from 2003 to 2004, while gaining 4,600 high-cost rentals and 10,800 high-value homes in the same period. Moreover, median rent increased by nine percent and median home values by 32 percent.

The proposal is part of a wider government strategy to limit the impact of the city’s rising costs on lower and middle class residents. D.C. Mayor Williams recently proposed that the city adopt a living wage of $11.25 an hour, and the council has endorsed legislation capping taxes on natural gas and regulating increases on the prices of prescription medications.