Activist demanding rent controls have accused Housing Secretary Angela Rayner of not telling the truth.
Rayner has intimated that rent controls are unnecessary, partly because the Renters Rights Act has served to moderate rents, and partly because international evidence suggests they sometimes backfire.
But the London Renters Union disagrees and its spokesperson Maya Bhardwaj says: “What Angela Rayner is claiming is simply untrue.
“We’re still seeing renters forced to cut back on essentials, and even lose their homes, because of rent increases of 50% or more.”
The statement does not detail where rents have risen by 50% or more.
“The new tribunal system [from the Renters Rights Act] only prevents rent increases above what landlords nearby are charging for a similar property, so it does nothing to stop the rise in market rents themselves.
“The tribunal system is already so overwhelmed in London that cases are being referred to tribunals in other cities.”
Bhardwaj claims rents have risen 39% since 2020 in England and says for the poorest 20% of households who rent privately, rent now takes up two-thirds of household income.
“There is no solution to the cost of living crisis and no break with the last 40 years of economic injustice without an emergency freeze on private rents.
“Not only would a rent freeze put more than £2,000 back into the pockets of renters so we no longer need to cut back on food and other essentials, it would also save the government £2bn on the housing benefit bill.
“Even if rents fell by 10%, only 2% of landlords would become unprofitable. Rent controls exist across 16 European countries and the sky hasn’t fallen in, despite what the landlord lobby wants us to believe.”
Last week Prime Minister Andy Burnhan suggested that rent controls were being considered as part of the government’s packs to combat cost of living problems.
However Rayner – who as Housing Secretary has consistently opposed rent controls – made it clear in a series of interviews that the idea was firmly off the table.
