WILMINGTON — The ordinance that would cap rent increases in Wilmington failed to pass despite significant appeal from activists and tenants urging action.

Ordinance 25-016 as amended would have capped landlords to 5% increases per year or the 12-month average of the consumer price index, whichever is higher. It would have also created a Housing Stability Committee, to monitor rent control policy, collect data on housing costs and recommend long-term solutions.

The ordinance brought out dozens of people to testify during Thursday night’s hearing, including landlords with smaller investments who worried that it would force rent suppression, which could lead to an inability to pay for improvements to apartments and townhomes, thus driving down the quality.

Local landlord of 20 years Renee

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