A bizarre new policy has been agreed at the Green Party conference – to abolish landlords completely.

This is the first conference for the new leader, self-declared ‘eco populist’ Zack Polanski and one of its motions called for the party to “seek the effective abolition of private landlordism”. It was passed with a significant majority amongst activist attendees.

The abolition of landlords was in a package of wider anti-landlord measures including the introduction of rent controls, new taxation on Airbnbs and short lets, and double taxation on empty properties.

Buy to Let mortgages would be banned and councils given first refusal when landlords sell properties, when the property doesn’t meet insulation standards, or when a property has been empty for more than six months.

There would also be a programme of council house building – by a state owned building company rather than private firms – and Right To Buy would be scrapped.

The motion also called for private residential tenancy boards to help settle disputes before they reach a tribunal.

These measures go far further in their attack on landlords than the party suggested in its 2024 election manifesto.

Steve Jackson, co-chair of left-wing pressure group Greens Organise and co-proposer of the motion, is quoted as saying: “Greens Organise members have voted overwhelmingly for us to support this motion at conference, and it’s no surprise. The private rental sector in this country is broken beyond repair.”