Green Party leader calls for rent controls because ‘landlords are better off than renters’
9:20 AM, 3rd February 2026, 3 months ago
30
Categories:
The Green Party leader has claimed “landlords can charge whatever they want” as he calls for rent controls to be introduced.
In an interview on the BBC, Zach Polanski claimed Mayors should have the power to cap rents.
The Green Party previously passed a motion at their party conference to abolish landlords.
If you are a landlord, you are doing better than a renter
Speaking to the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Polanski claimed renters were feeling the pinch as “they’re stuck in an overinflated market where landlords can often charge what they want.”
However, Ms Kuenssberg hit back and argued against the stereotype that landlords are wealthy.
She asked Mr Polanski: “A lot of landlords are also struggling right now, and a lot of them aren’t wealthy people, they have saved up and having a rental income is money they rely on.”
However, Mr Polanski claimed: “Ultimately, if you are a landlord, you are doing better than a renter.
“We have landlords that own dozens and dozens of properties, and it’s about the deep injustice between a very small group of people who own a lot and the masses of people who own absolutely nothing.”
Mayors should have the power to cap rents
The Green Party wants to introduce rent controls and Mr Polanski claimed there was evidence of countries that have introduced rent controls successfully.
However, as previously reported by Property118, rent controls can do more harm than good. In Scotland, rent increases accelerated following the introduction of rent controls in September 2022, with Scottish renters experiencing the steepest annual rent growth in the UK at 11.6%.
While the rent cap has now ended in Scotland, rent controls are set to return under the Housing (Scotland) Act in 2027.
Ms Kuenssberg also pointed out that countries such as the Netherlands have seen rental shortages since rent controls have been introduced.
Mr Polanski claimed Mayors should have the power to cap rents and pointed out that London Mayor Sadiq Khan has pushed for rent controls.
He said: “I sit as an elected member of the London Assembly, and Sadiq Khan, as London Mayor, was calling for rent controls. He said that when we had a Labour government and a Labour mayor, that would be the difference this country needed. But I don’t know if people have noticed, there hasn’t been much difference.
“Rent controls should be based on local incomes, local affordability and housing stock, as we need to build more homes. If the national government wants to introduce rent controls at a national level, I wouldn’t oppose that either, it’s just that someone needs to do it.
“The problem we need to fix is spiralling rents that are getting more and more expensive.”
You can view the BBC’s interview with Mr Polanski by clicking below with his comments on renters starting at 1:20
Comments
Have Your Say
Every day, landlords who want to influence policy and share real-world experience add their voice here. Your perspective helps keep the debate balanced.
Not a member yet? Join In Seconds
Login with
or
Previous Article
UK rents fall again as market cools ahead of Renters' Rights ActNext Article
Shelter CEO wants to work with private landlords
Member Since July 2024 - Comments: 12
11:14 AM, 3rd February 2026, About 3 months ago
Reply to the comment left by Person Of The People at 03/02/2026 – 11:05
Maybe I could do that on the return trip:)
Seriously though I’ll always remember when my ex tenant complained about a 5% rent rise after 4 years of no rise and told me he would have to get a cheaper car he had a V6 Mercedes!
Member Since February 2024 - Comments: 72
11:43 AM, 3rd February 2026, About 3 months ago
The poor bloke lives in another world….. many landlords are older, have worked hard all their lives and/or have inherited the property and use the rent for their income security and oh, don’t forget the taxes the landlord has to pay? If the people of this country want equality then tax all benefits as per the working person and see the government rake in a fortune every year!!!!
Member Since September 2018 - Comments: 3538 - Articles: 5
12:08 PM, 3rd February 2026, About 3 months ago
absolute muppet.
Member Since December 2019 - Comments: 18
12:30 PM, 3rd February 2026, About 3 months ago
This muppet looks like he should have been in the film Deliverance.
What a desperate position the UK is in to have this muppet running a political party.
Member Since December 2019 - Comments: 42
12:49 PM, 3rd February 2026, About 3 months ago
I recommend that Zack be given the Ladybird economics book to help him understand that his statements are completely inaccurate and his proposed policies will not work. The Green Party could be valuable by bringing facts and influence to bear on ecological matters, some of which are relevant to property. Post-war Germany was a great experiment in parallel socialist and democratic markets. For example, 40 years from a similar start point, and there’s Mercedes/BMW/Audi/Volkswagen vs Trabant. Knowing that you’re never going to get elected makes controversial, inaccurate statements a low-risk approach.
Member Since April 2018 - Comments: 374
1:54 PM, 3rd February 2026, About 3 months ago
Vote touting from a moron but I am beginning to think whatever party holds power small landlords will be hung out to dry. What he doesn’t mention is how much money has to be invested to produce £12,000 pa gross, then deduct all the costs. Wish I could earn the salaries my tenants do.
Member Since January 2023 - Comments: 3
1:57 PM, 3rd February 2026, About 3 months ago
Interesting the Green party views success as having more money than others.
“Doing better than a renter” is a damning comment to the millions of renters who no doubt don’t want or need sympathy from this no-name
Member Since October 2019 - Comments: 400
2:04 PM, 3rd February 2026, About 3 months ago
This is all no good for my ‘mental health’ I’m in bits!!!
Member Since October 2023 - Comments: 205
4:32 PM, 3rd February 2026, About 3 months ago
I have not been able to afford (or justify) an ipad. I make do with cheaper lenovo.
My tenant missed a rent payment coming up to Christmas. When I asked what happened, he said he had to get his two kids an ipad each, and couldn’t afford the rent!
I said “could they not have got something less expensive, or even shared one” He said no way.
So its not about being better off, its about choices!
Member Since February 2024 - Comments: 72
4:48 PM, 3rd February 2026, About 3 months ago
to David 100, what you have said is soh true, and because landlords in the PRS have been stripped of practically all their rights, I’m sure many tenants really believe they have the right not to pay the rent !!!!
Government and people in organisations like Shelter treat us as inhuman, while councils have done practically nothing to weed out the rogue landlords even when they have the right to because they don’t have the social housing to spare and can’t afford temporary accommodation …. so we all get tarred with the same brush, and are forced to put up with housing LLs for free? I’m sure Sainsburys or Lidl would not let customers take goods for free for 3 months before taking them to court,,,, but we are going to have to ? Why don’t MPs and government Ministers sacrifice their salaries for 3 consecuutive months and see how they get on!