[htss2013]

Landlords require a certain multiple of rent in proven income. So the rent is automatically capped by local wages.

It's pretty black and white - either the landlord asked a price in line with local wages or they didn't. If they go too far,the landlord gets punished with expensive vacancies, or they loosen rent/income requirements and get punished with even more expensive evictions.

Point is, landlords aren't gangsters who can demand whatever number they pull out of their arses. They have to keep rent a reasonable ratio of local wages or they feel the pain.

[mapt]

They aren't individually gangsters. But collectively, it is equivalent to a form of extortion.