Green Party leader Zack Polanski is scheduled to deliver a keynote address tomorrow, 14 July 2026, at the launch of a significant new policy paper advocating for the implementation of rent controls across the UK. The event, hosted at the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose in London, marks the publication of 'Taking Back Control of Rents: The Impact of Rent Regulation on Affordability, Public Spending and Landlord Profits'. This report, a joint initiative by the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose and the New Economics Foundation, is expected to place the contentious issue of rent caps firmly back on the political agenda.
Polanski will be joined by several speakers, including Josh Ryan-Collins, report co-author Beth Stratford, and Pete Ely, to discuss the findings and implications of the new research. The Green Party leader has consistently championed the cause of rent controls, previously outlining his economic vision earlier this year in a speech to the New Economics Foundation. In that address, Polanski criticised the economic changes of the past four decades, which he believes have made life increasingly difficult for ordinary people, and proposed measures to 'rebalance the scales', with rent controls being a central pillar.
The debate over intervention in the private rented sector comes at a time when UK house prices and rental costs continue to be a significant concern for many. Data from various sources, including Rightmove and Zoopla, consistently show rising rents in many regions, particularly in urban centres. For instance, recent figures have indicated an average UK rental price increase of over 8% year-on-year, pushing the average monthly rent above £1,200 in some areas. This upward trend, coupled with higher mortgage rates following the Bank of England's efforts to curb inflation, creates a challenging environment for both first-time buyers and renters.
Polanski has previously highlighted the potential financial benefits of rent freezes for households. He stated that if rents had been frozen in autumn 2022, British households could have saved over £3,300 per year on average. This, he argued, would inject an estimated £18 billion of purchasing power back into the pockets of ordinary people, stimulating local economies. He also criticised the current Labour government for not including rent controls in the Renters Rights Bill, an initiative that Green MP Carla Denyer had actively pushed for.
The Green Party's stance underscores a growing call from some political factions for more robust regulation of the rental market. While proponents argue that rent controls could enhance affordability and provide much-needed stability for tenants, critics often raise concerns about potential negative impacts on landlord investment, the supply of rental properties, and the quality of housing stock. The launch tomorrow will undoubtedly provide further fuel for this ongoing national discussion.