Readout of White House Meeting on Tenant Protections and Rental Affordability

Yesterday, Domestic Policy Advisor Susan Rice, National Economic Council Director Brian Deese, and American Rescue Plan Coordinator Gene Sperling convened a meeting with officials from across the Biden-Harris Administration and more than 70 tenant leaders and advocates, housing providers, legal advocates, and housing policy experts to discuss the Biden-Harris Administration's efforts to strengthen tenant protections and improve rental affordability.

Participants discussed several key topics related to tenant protections and rental affordability, including the right of tenants to safe, decent, and affordable housing. The participants also discussed the need for clear and fair leases, the importance of tenants being able to live free from retaliation or interference from landlords, and tenants' right to organize without fear. Administration officials underscored their commitment to enforcing the Fair Housing Act, and to preventing unlawful discrimination and advancing fair tenant screening practices and safety. Building off lessons learned during the pandemic, participants also discussed ways to institutionalize best practices such as eviction diversion and ways to ensure due process rights and fair proceedings.

Administration officials underscored the importance of this work within the context of the President's broader housing agenda, which includes actions to increase the supply of housing for purchase and rent and expand the availability of rental assistance.