Housing activists urge mayors to champion rent control powers

A coalition of housing campaigners is appealing to England’s mayors to push for authority over rent controls for private tenants to help alleviate cost of living issues.

The Homes for Us alliance, comprising 20 charities, trade unions and grassroots organisations, has written to regional mayors, urging them to press the government for rent control powers.

The alliance includes national bodies such as the New Economics Foundation (NEF) and Acorn, alongside local groups like the Greater Manchester Tenants Union and London Renters Union.

The campaign highlights the financial strain faced by private renters, who spend an average of 32.4% of their income on rent across England.

Rent controls to stop rises

Isaac Rose, of Greater Manchester Tenants Union, said: “Each month we see countless cases of people’s lives being turned upside down by rent rises they can’t afford.

“Families pushed away from their neighbourhoods, parents forced to take up second jobs to feed their kids, individuals forced into homelessness when they can’t pay.”

He added: “The ability of landlords to raise rents year on year is the crisis, and that’s why we are calling on the government to bring in rent control legislation to take real action to address a spiralling situation.”

Call for more social housing

The organisations say that in Greater Manchester, tenants allocate 31.4% of their earnings to pay rents, with the figure rising to 45.6% in Manchester city.

London renters dedicate between 39.8% and 57.2% of their income to rent.

In South Yorkshire, the average is 22%, rising to 26.9% in Sheffield.

Beyond rent controls, the alliance is pushing for a national commitment to council housebuilding to provide affordable housing options.

They believe a robust programme of public housing is essential to combat the ongoing crisis, offering a long-term solution to the challenges faced by renters across the country.

Boost local government powers

The campaigners are targeting the forthcoming English Devolution Bill, expected to reach Parliament later this year, which aims to enhance local government powers.

They argue that mayors should be granted the ability to introduce rent controls tailored to their regions’ needs.

Dr Abi O’Connor, a researcher at NEF, said: “Private rents have been allowed to spiral out of control by successive national governments who have prioritised the needs of landlords and private developers over renters.

“But this is also a local issue, with certain areas of England facing particularly acute housing affordability crises, influenced by a variety of local factors.

“Mayors are best placed to understand the housing needs of local people – the national government should give them the powers they need to address the housing crisis in their areas.”