Angela Rayner rules out rent controls in England
3 weeks ago | 8 comments
Generation Rent rent freeze campaign targets Angela Rayner
9:11 AM, 29th July 2026, 3 weeks ago
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Private renters are being encouraged to press new Housing Secretary Angela Rayner to bring in a rent freeze with a targeted postcard campaign.
Generation Rent has launched a postcard drive asking the government to restrict how much landlords can increase rents.
The campaign group says England has not had what it describes as proper rent controls since 1988.
It claims the number of private renters has risen by around 1,200% during that period.
Rents cost more
As part of its argument, the organisation says a basic 10-item food shop would cost nearly £120 today had grocery prices increased at the same rate as rents.
That would be more than five times the amount shoppers currently pay, it adds.
Generation Rent also says more than a third of private renters are living in poverty.
It argues that another inflation spike would increase the pressure on households and has called for ministers to introduce a limit on rent rises.
Tell Angela your details
The campaign is using physical postcards rather than relying solely on emails.
Renters can include details of their own experiences before the cards are sent to the Housing Secretary.
According to the group, printed correspondence carrying personal accounts is more likely to remain with politicians and can provide a more effective way of reaching decision-makers.
The postcards were designed by Generation Rent and cost £2.75 to send one or supporters can contribute towards the cost of a card for somebody on a lower income.
A limited number can also be sent free of charge.
Tags:
Angela Rayner, generation rent, Housing Secretary, landlord rent rises, private renters, rent controls
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Member Since March 2024 - Comments: 307
9:13 AM, 29th July 2026, About 3 weeks ago
I bought a property at auction in 1990 with a sitting tenant under a protected statutory tenancy. It cost £11,000 and the rent was set at £12.50 a week. There was no stamp duty to pay.
There was also NO central heating and NO bathroom or inside toilet. The WC was, as built in 1900, in the back yard. No amount of persuasion would get the tenant to allow me to modernise it.
Perhaps if we put a few home truths on postcards and sent them to Gen Rent they might get just an inkling of the bigger picture? More likely they are as wedded to their uninformed views as my tenant was to her unmodernised home.
Member Since December 2023 - Comments: 1651
9:51 AM, 29th July 2026, About 3 weeks ago
In 1988, the average house price in the United Kingdom was approximately £51,077 by the end of the year, having experienced a massive annual growth rate of 25.6%.
Bank of England interest rates were close to 13%.
Inflation was near 5%.
Capping rents at CPI plus 1% (like social housing) is fine if costs are capped at the same rate and the government stope introducing new cost drivers for the PRS.
Three more years and counting.
Member Since August 2019 - Comments: 18
10:53 AM, 29th July 2026, About 3 weeks ago
GenRent are trying to get back in the Media eye after their previous esteemed leader took a better paid job elsewhere.
They just continue to make things more expensive for renters.
A lot of people who pay below market rate should say don’t do it because look what happened in Scotland. The increases were used to increase base level rents.
Member Since May 2024 - Comments: 157
1:15 PM, 29th July 2026, About 3 weeks ago
I’m sure that home owner’s would love an interest cap on mortgages but this is the adult world, not the world of living with Mummy and Daddy..
Member Since April 2018 - Comments: 556
2:06 PM, 29th July 2026, About 3 weeks ago
Will the seaside postcard have a picture of a guillotine on it.Why are Gen Rent attacking landlords when its the government that has failed to build more houses to rent, sold off social houses and not supported private landlords.