RLA: Rent control proposals dealt a huge blow

This is because private sector rents in London increased by an average of 0.9% in the 12 months to October.

RLA: Rent control proposals dealt a huge blow

With rents falling in real terms in the capital, proposals for rent controls by the Mayor of London have been dealt a critical blow, The Residential Landlords Association (RLA) has claimed.

According to the Office for National Statistics in the 12 months to October 2019, private sector rents in the capital increased by an average of 0.9%.

This is lower than inflation, which was 1.5% as measured by CPI and 2.1% as measured by RPI over the same period.

David Smith, policy director for the RLA, said: “Today’s figures show how absurd proposals for rent controls are.

“Rents in London are falling in real terms, yet the Mayor is failing to acknowledge this.

“If he wants to make renting cheaper it would be better to work constructively with good landlords to provide the new homes to rent the capital desperately needs.

“Without this, supply will fall, rents will go up, and tenants will have even less choice about where they live.”