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Carla Denyer, the Green Party co-leader and MP for Bristol Central, has proposed a law introducing rent controls in order to tackle ‘rip-off rents’ as housing costs spiral.
The move comes in the form of an amendment to the Renters’ Rights Bill, which has its third reading in the House of Commons on Tuesday (14th January). The amendment would set up an independent ‘living rent’ body to set rules about rent increases between tenancies, taking into consideration factors such as the home’s property type, condition, size and local incomes.
The proposal comes in response to spiralling housing costs which are particularly acute in cities like Bristol, where Carla Denyer is an MP. Figures show that in Bristol, if a 21-year-old rents a single room today at the average rate, they will have put £80,000 into their landlord’s bank account by the time they reach their 30th birthday. Nationally, average rents have almost doubled in a decade, leaving a third of renters struggling with their housing costs.
Carla Denyer said:
“It’s time to end the scandal of rip-off rents. Time after time, I’ve had constituents write to me about the poor condition of their rented homes, and the extortionate amounts they’re shelling out in order to live there.
“Right now, renters are facing a wild west when it comes to renting a home – and a lack of protection has left them at the mercy of landlords who see tenants as cash cows, not people in need of a home.
“Across Europe, rent controls are a normal part of the private rented sector. The UK is lagging behind, with dire consequences not just for renters but for the economy as a whole.
“We have a golden opportunity now to transform the experience of renting, and rebalance the rental market so it works for everyone.”