Developers often control not just the land, but also construction supply chains and procurement standards. This concentration of control can allow them to artificially inflate costs and argue that profit caps make schemes “unviable.”

To counter this:

• Require developers to benchmark costs against regional/national standards.

• Demand explanations for inflated material, labour, or procurement costs — especially when alternative solutions are available.

• Use independent viability reviewers to challenge developer-submitted figures.

• Implement post-completion profit clawback mechanisms if actual profits exceed declared expectations.

• This ensures the profit cap remains enforceable and not subverted by internal cost manipulation.