“Tenants cannot continue to be passive objects of social intervention but must be political agents, taking action in the context of our daily lives.”

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! Abolish Rent is out in the US on September 24th, 2024 from Haymarket Books.

Abolish Rent is an uncompromising manifesto by Leonardo Vilchis and Tracy Rosenthal that dismantles the capitalist housing system and envisions a radical future where housing is a human right, accessible to all. Grounded in both the historical and contemporary context of Los Angeles, the book exposes how the housing crisis is not an aberration but an inherent feature of capitalism, designed to exploit and disempower tenants. Vilchis and Rosenthal’s writing is forceful, delivering a bold and urgent call to action, centering the collective power of tenants as the solution to end housing injustice.

At its core, the book’s central argument is that rent is a tool of exploitation, perpetuating inequality and concentrating wealth among landlords. Vilchis and Rosenthal expertly deconstruct the logic of rent, revealing its oppressive function as a “power relation” that traps tenants in cycles of poverty. They challenge the myth that housing is a mere commodity, instead positioning it as a fundamental human need that should not be subject to profit-driven markets. This critique extends to the role of the state, which the authors argue works hand-in-hand with landlords to police and maintain the system of rent, particularly through the violent eviction of tenants.

Race, class, and housing are deeply interconnected throughout the book, with the authors emphasizing that the housing system’s racial inequalities—disproportionately affecting Black, Brown, and working-class communities—are not incidental but intentional. From the annexing of Mexican land to the state-backed gentrification of neighborhoods, Vilchis and Rosenthal expose how housing has been weaponized to reinforce social hierarchies and uphold white supremacy. By weaving together histories of public housing, suburbanization, and state violence, the authors underscore that the fight for housing justice is inseparable from the broader struggle against systemic racism and capitalist oppression.

What sets Abolish Rent apart is its insistence on tenant solidarity and collective action as the path forward. Vilchis and Rosenthal don’t just offer critique—they provide real-world examples of tenant organizing, from rent strikes to eviction defenses, highlighting the successes of the LA Tenants Union and other grassroots movements. Through these stories of resistance, the book paints a vivid picture of how tenants, including unhoused people, can reclaim power and reshape their communities.

In sum, Abolish Rent is a vital text for anyone interested in dismantling the oppressive systems that govern housing and imagining a world rooted in collective liberation.

📖 Recommended For: Activists interested in housing justice, readers seeking critiques of capitalism, those passionate about tenant organizing and collective action, fans of Matthew Desmond.

🔑 Key Themes: Housing as a Human Right, Anti-Capitalism, Tenant Solidarity, Racial and Economic Injustice, Collective Resistance and Organizing.