General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: The Starter Apartment Is Nearly Extinct in San Francisco and New York [View all]Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)SF most units are 'rent controlled' but that means limits to raises while you reside there, once the unit is unoccupied the rent can go up as much as the market can bear. No special unlisted magic.
NYC rent control changed greatly and that's part of why people lose where they live and have to leave NYC. The days of an apartment with a low, controlled rent passing from renter to renter are long gone. About 27,000 units in NY are still under old style rent control.
http://www.nycrgb.org/html/resources/faq/rentcontrol.html
Los Angeles, rent control is like SF, tenant protected while living there, rent can raise to any level for the next renter. No secret low cost units.
What city are you thinking of that still has such units in great numbers?