Twenty-six Members of Parliament have written to Housing Secretary Angela Rayner, pressing her to reconsider the government's decision not to introduce rent controls in England. This appeal comes as new research explores potential models for rent control.
The research, commissioned by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and conducted by the Autonomy Institute, models three rent control ideas that could be implemented from next year. These include a CPI-linked cap, a nominal freeze, and a moderate system limiting rent rises during tenancies to CPI and increases between tenancies to CPI plus 2%.
The MPs' letter highlights that rent currently consumes an average of 36% of a renter's salary, rising to nearly half in some areas. They argue that this contributes to a third of renters living in poverty and impacts local spending.
However, the Institute for Fiscal Studies recently indicated that rent controls could lead to a reduction in the number of available rental homes. Last month, Ms Rayner stated that the government does not plan to impose rent controls, referencing protections in the Renters' Rights Act and suggesting controls have not consistently lowered rents elsewhere in the UK, including Scotland.