House Members Urge Leadership to Fix Problematic Housing Bill Provision

Good news for NARPM members: some in Congress are listening.

Last month, we asked the House of Representatives to request a conference with the Senate on H.R. 6644, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. We raised two concerns about the Senate-passed version of the bill — one involving a definition that could accidentally sweep in professional property managers, and one involving a build-to-rent divestment requirement that could reduce housing supply instead of adding to it.

Today, a bipartisan group of more than 60 Members of Congress sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries raising similar concerns about the same provision. That kind of bipartisan support — from both Republicans and Democrats — is meaningful. It signals that these are not partisan talking points. They are legitimate policy problems that need to be fixed before this bill becomes law.

What the Congressional Letter Says

The letter, signed by Members from both parties and co-led by chairs of the Congressional Real Estate Caucus and the Build America Caucus, focuses specifically on Section 901 of the Senate-passed bill. Their concerns closely align with NARPM’s:

• Section 901’s definitions are too broad. The language as written captures the construction of new single-family rental communities — not just large corporate purchases of existing homes. That goes well beyond what the bill was intended to do.
• The mandatory seven-year divestment requirement would reduce housing. Requiring build-to-rent homes to be sold after seven years creates financial uncertainty that could stop this type of housing from being built at all. Industry experts cited in the letter project a loss of at least 72,000 new rental units per year under this provision.
• Professional property managers could be caught in the net. The letter specifically notes that Section 901’s definition of “large institutional investor” may include professional property managers — exactly what NARPM flagged in our own letter to the Hill.
• Renters and working families would be hurt most. The letter warns that divestment requirements could force the displacement of families relying on these homes, and that military families and relocating workers who depend on quality rental housing would face fewer options.

Why This Matters to You

As a professional property manager, you are a small business service provider — not a corporate investor. You manage homes on behalf of owners. You handle maintenance, leases, tenant relationships, and fair housing compliance. The idea that a management contract could expose you to regulatory requirements designed for large institutional buyers is a serious problem.

NARPM has been clear from the start: we support expanding housing supply and improving affordability. Those are goals our members work toward every day. But good intentions don’t fix bad language. The bill needs targeted corrections before it crosses the finish line.

What Comes Next

The House is expected to take up the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act in the coming weeks. The letter from Members of Congress is an encouraging sign that leadership is hearing concerns from the housing community — including ours.

You can read the full Congressional letter here. You can also review NARPM’s earlier letter the House here.

We will continue to monitor this legislation closely and keep you informed as it moves forward. Stay tuned.