Angela Rayner opposes rent controls in England

Housing Secretary Angela Rayner said Prime Minister Andy Burnham is not looking to bring in rent controls in England.

She told BBC Breakfast that changes through the Tenants’ Rights Act, which came into force in May, were “already having a significant impact on the market”.

She added that the controls that have been in place in some parts of England over the past few years “have not necessarily reduced rents”.

In the year When he was mayor of Greater Manchester in 2023, Burnham called for a freeze on private sector rents until the cost of living was brought down.

But Rayner told the BBC on Friday: “I don’t think rent freezes, rent controls, are the way forward at the moment.”

“Three years ago, Andy called for that because there was a lot of trouble in the rental market.

“At that time, we implemented the Tenant’s Rights Act, which gave tenants more power and control.”

Temporary rent controls were introduced in Scotland in October 2022 but ended last year.

Green Party leader Zach Polanski has said he wants to see rent controls introduced for all rented properties in the UK, while London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan has long called for the government to introduce capital.

The Tenants’ Rights Act was introduced to give more stability and security to the 11 million people who rent from private landlords.

Under the Act, fixed-term tenancies are banned and now it is very difficult for landlords to evict tenants.

Rents can only be added to the property’s “open market rent” once a year.

Rayner was asked at the end of parliament about the government’s plan to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that the target was becoming more challenging to meet, citing rising construction costs as one of the reasons.

“1.5 million houses is a difficult target. It was when I set the target, but I will keep the target, and I will not lose,” she said.

In his bid to replace Sir Keir Starmer as Labor leader and Prime Minister, Burnham has promised to deliver the biggest council house building program in decades.

They have long talked about introducing reforms to property tax, including stamp duty and council tax – although the government has not specified exactly what they would change.