Housing advocates are calling on the General Assembly to extend recent progress on tenant protections and housing affordability when lawmakers return next year.

In a news conference Tuesday in the General Assembly Building, members of New Virginia Majority, Virginia Organizing and the Legal Aid Justice Center celebrated the inclusion of anti-rent gouging among City of Richmond’s major legislative priorities for the 2026 session. 

Joined by City Council Vice President Katherine Jordan, advocates said this would be one of many visits to the General Assembly as they continue discussions on bills letting localities adopt anti-rent gouging measures. 

“We have had some important gains,” Jordan said as she recognized advocates’ work over the years. “But we’re in this building because there’s more work left to do.” 

Housing advocates also urged Richmond officials to advance a rental inspection program approved by City Council last month. The Richmond Housing Justice Collective is pressing the administration to give the Land Use, Housing and Transportation Committee a clear plan and timeline for adding units to the program in the first quarter of 2026. 

For advocates, some of whom have faced hardships as Richmond renters, the rental inspection program and anti-rent gouging measures are steps intended to address Richmond’s high eviction rate, landlord practices and the shortage of affordable housing. 

“No family in our community can stay housed when rent grows faster than their wages,” said career educator, mother, and Virginia Organizing member Kindy Anderson, who has faced struggles with rent gouging and issues with housing. “This is why the rental inspection program and anti-rent gouging work hand in hand: one protects the quality of housing and the other protects the accessibility of housing.” 

Jordan and housing advocates are also urging public support for these initiatives, from contacting representatives to back anti-rent gouging legislation to taking part in upcoming events focused on the measures. 

“I’m eager to see what the General Assembly is able to do in getting some of those innovative housing solutions that not just focused on supply,” New Virginia Majority Lead Organizer Rachel Hefner said. “We need supply, we need more housing, we also need really strong tenant protections.”