Angela Rayner rules out rent controls in England
BBC News 2026-07-24 08:46:40
Context: Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has stated that the UK government is not considering implementing rent controls in England, citing the recent Renters' Rights Act as a significant step towards stabilizing the rental market. Rayner's comments come amid ongoing debates about the affordability of housing in the UK, with some politicians and advocacy groups calling for rent controls to be introduced. The issue has gained traction following concerns about rising rents and the impact on tenants.
Key Facts
- The UK government introduced the Renters' Rights Act in May, which has banned fixed-term tenancies and made it harder for landlords to evict tenants, with rents only allowed to increase once a year to the property's "open market rent".
- Angela Rayner, Housing Secretary, has ruled out implementing rent controls in England, stating that previous controls in other areas of the UK had not "necessarily brought rents down".
- In 2023, then-Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham called for a freeze on private sector rents until the cost of living crisis was over, but Rayner has now indicated that the government will not pursue this policy.
- Temporary rent controls were introduced in Scotland in October 2022 but expired last year, while Green Party leader Zack Polanski and London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan have both advocated for rent controls to be introduced in England.
- The UK government has set a target of building 1.5 million new homes by the end of the parliament in 2029, which Rayner described as "a difficult target" due to increased construction costs, but emphasized that she remains committed to achieving it.