I'm sorry but your answer to Q1 is extremely naive. There is no way that activity from renters will even remotely approach the power of those who own property in politics. The latter group can lobby and make campaign donations, the former can't exactly...
The best thing you'll get is a campaign promise to do something about it, but not much action. The only way something will actually be done about it is if the effects of it become economically catastrophic or people start rioting en masse.
> no way that activity from renters will even remotely approach the power of those who own property in politics
Can speak to New York politics. Tenants' associations have massive sway. I've canvassed elections where a single building's tenants' association could predictably swing the outcome.
They also ally with developers when advantageous, e.g. to continue building housing stock. (Their divergent interests explain much of our affordable housing policies' idiosyncrasies.) This combination of activism and pragmatism beats the well-funded candidate every time in local politics because their elections are decided by margins of hundreds or even tens of votes.
> latter group can lobby and make campaign donations, the former can't exactly
Donations, at the local level, are a threat to incumbents through enabling primary challengers. And tenants' associations absolutely lobby. The problem is renters in most cities are some combination of disorganized, disengaged and/or ideological to a dogmatic degree.
The latter group can unionize like the tenants union of Washington[1]. Unions can lobby on the behalf of their members and make campaign donations based on their dues. While their power may not be as great as the amount of individual homeowners who can independently donate a union is a good mechanism here for renters to advocate for affordable housing. Here in Seattle there are multiple unions that have lobbied to local city council members for increased tenants rights such as 6 month notice for increase in rent[2]. _Things_ are being done about the problem at the local level across the country through unionization of renters and workers.
The best thing you'll get is a campaign promise to do something about it, but not much action. The only way something will actually be done about it is if the effects of it become economically catastrophic or people start rioting en masse.