Shock alliance blocks council call for rent control powers

An unexpected and unlikely political alliance has prevented another city council demanding powers to freeze private rents.

London, Bristol, Liverpool and Manchester are amongst the various local authorities wanting the UK government to delegate powers to control private rents.

Now there’s been a move to add Belfast to the list - but traditional foes in the Sinn Fein and the Democratic Unionist Party have joined forces to frustrate the cut council from making the gesture.

In Belfast’s case the council would have to seek powers from the Northern Irish devolved government at Stormont  - but Sinn Fein has already dismissed the idea of rent controls led by councils as “hot air.”

However, Sinn Féin’s opposition is not to rent controls but to councils having such powers.

Indeed Sinn Fein backs controls on private sector rents, but wants them implemented across Northern Ireland and simply operated at local level.

Some independent councillors on Belfast Council cited Bristol as an example of a city which is lobbying the UK government to secure more powers.

Either way the combined forces of the DUP and Sinn Fein defeated a motion calling for the enhanced local council powers to be given to Belfast.

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