Residents, housing groups urge Richmond council to prioritize anti-rent-gouging protections

Dozens of public commenters and housing advocates urged Richmond City Council on Monday to make anti-rent-gouging legislation and stronger tenant protections a priority for the 2026 legislative session.

Speakers included renters from multiple council districts and representatives from advocacy groups. Kaseisha Palle, an Eighth District renter and housing policy analyst with New Virginia Majority, told council Richmond must pair new housing construction with protections against “predatory” rent increases and corporate landlords. “Anti rent gouging stops unfair rent hikes,” Palle said. “The longer city council neglects to address rent gouging, the costlier the housing crisis becomes.”

Rosemarie Castillo described a recent rent increase at her Southwood Apartments home that she said rose from $775 to $1,400 and alleged poor maintenance and repeated court fees for late payments. Diana Smith of Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia said Richmond renters are among the most cost-burdened in the country and urged a “multi-pronged approach” including rental inspection programs and resident-informed redevelopment plans.

Representatives from the Legal Aid Justice Center and residents of Jackson Ward public housing (Gilpin Court) presented a “Better Deal for Gilpin” proposal, which they said is backed by signatures from more than 600 Richmonders and seeks resident-driven protections and guarantees of affordable units during redevelopment.

Speakers asked council to prioritize anti rent-gouging in the city’s 2026 legislative agenda, expand rental inspection and strengthen anti-displacement measures for public housing redevelopment. No formal votes on those requests occurred at the meeting; they were submitted during the public comment period.

Council members thanked speakers and noted the housing work remains a major agenda item for the council and administration.