Labour has pledged to clampdown on rogue landlords and restrict rent hikes in England if it wins next month’s general election. 

A Labour government would not allow private landlords to increase rents beyond the national rate of inflation, while unscrupulous operators would be fined for letting out substandard housing. 

The party has also reaffirmed its commitment to introduce ‘open-ended’ tenancies, along with a ‘private renters’ charter’ that would see landlords face an annual ‘property MOT’, with hefty fines of up to £100,000 and forced repayment of rent if their properties are found to be inadequate. 

According to Labour,  private renters collectively pay more than £10bn a year in rent to landlords letting out below standard homes, with the party claiming that around a quarter of private rented properties in England are classed as ‘non-decent’. 

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said: “Labour will be on the side of tenants and take on dodgy landlords who have been given free rein for too long.

“Real change means taking on those who exploit the housing crisis to charge eye-watering rents for substandard accommodation.

“Labour will put power in the hands of tenants with our new charter of renters’ rights, a cap on private rents and funding for renters unions to support tenants to organise and defend their right to safe and secure housing.”