Zack Polanski and Jeremy Corbyn hit out at Angela Rayner’s refusal to introduce rent controls
"Labour won't support renters properly"
Returning housing secretary Angela Rayner has been out and about on the broadcast round today (24 July). As part of this, she appeared on BBC Breakfast and faced questions about the new government’s policies on the private rented sector.
Speaking on the programme, Rayner said: “We won’t be looking at rent controls if that’s what you’re getting at at the moment.
“That is not something that we’re looking to do because we’ve seen what’s happened in areas like Scotland. It hasn’t necessarily brought rents down.”
Pressed on Burnham’s historical position on rent controls (he previously called for the government to introduce a private sector rent freeze for the duration of the cost of living crisis), Rayner said “I don’t think that rent freezes, rent controls is the way forward at the moment”.
She added: “Three years ago Andy called for that because there was a significant crisis in the rental market. We implemented – between then – the Renters’ Rights Act which has given renters more power and control. They can challenge – you can’t hike rents up in the way that was happening at that time.”
Reports on Burnham’s early days in office also suggested that Burnham was considering introducing rent controls.
Rayner’s confirmation that the government would not be looking to introduce controls on private sector rents has proved controversial on the left. She’s faced heavy criticism, from among others, the leader of the Green Party Zack Polanski and the Your Party MP Jeremy Corbyn.
Polanski posted on social media: “The mask is coming off. Andy Burnham used to support rent controls because “there was a significant crisis in the rental market”.
“Sorry, what? Apparently now renters are just fine? Labour won’t support renters properly. The Green Party will.”
Corbyn made similar comments but drew attention to the relationship between high rents and homelessness. He said: “Extremely disappointing. There is no hope of ending homelessness if we do not stand up to vested interests and take action against extortionate private rents. We need rent controls, and we need them now.”
Chris Jarvis is head of strategy and development at Left Foot Forward
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