How might code enforcement impact housing affordability?

The statement highlights a key aspect of how code enforcement can influence housing affordability. When code enforcement agencies impose minimum standards for properties, property owners may face increased costs to meet these requirements. This can happen in various ways, such as the need for repairs, upgrades, or maintenance to ensure compliance with health, safety, and building codes. Consequently, these added financial burdens may lead to higher rents or property prices, as landlords may pass on these costs to tenants or buyers.

In addition, if property owners cannot afford these compliance costs, they may choose to leave the market or reduce their investment in maintenance and improvements, potentially leading to a decrease in the overall quality and quantity of available housing. While the intention behind enforcing minimum standards is often to protect residents and maintain neighborhood safety, it is essential to recognize that these measures can inadvertently contribute to issues of housing affordability by creating financial challenges for property owners and, by extension, the tenants who reside in those units.