Sadiq Khan calls again for a rent freeze in London

Sadiq Khan calls again for a rent freeze in London

11:23 AM, 3rd April 2023, About A year ago 19

Text Size

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has again called for a rent freeze for tenants to be implemented in the capital.

He was responding to a news report that highlighted data from Rightmove that shows the average asking rent in London leapt by 15% over the year to reach £2,480.

And the rents for homes in inner London have passed £3,000 for the first time.

Mr Khan said on social media: “Our private rental market can’t continue like this — it’s not sustainable for Londoners who are struggling with other rising costs too.

“The Govt must allow me to freeze rents in the capital.”

‘Another call for a rent freeze from the man who’s in charge of housing numbers’

However, the chief executive of the National Residential Landlords’ Association (NRLA), Ben Beadle, hit back on social media and said: “Another day, another call for a rent freeze from the man who’s in charge of housing numbers in London.

“So rather than deflect and choke off supply further, why not do something already in your control like increase supply and investor confidence which will bring rents down?”

He added: “You could also help people by not increasing costs – licensing, ULEZ extension, fares – and perhaps support NRLA calls for a review of property taxation and encourage pro-growth measures. Just a thought.”

‘You are so out of touch’

Tom Harwood, the deputy political editor and presenter on GB News also weighed into the debate and he replied to Mr Khan: “You are so out of touch on this.

“Have you seen the chaos endure to rent in London? 50+ people cramming in for a viewing, horrible flats going in seconds?

“This is simply a function of limited supply.”

He added: “Capping rents without boosting supply makes things worse.”

Rents have reached their highest

The report in City AM highlighted that while house price growth in the UK has fallen, rents have reached their highest point in seven years.

Quoting data from the Office for National Statistics, it says that rents rose by 4.7% in the UK, the highest since January 2016.

And ‘fierce competition’ in London for rental properties has seen rents reach a record of £2,480 per month, Rightmove says.


Share This Article


Comments

Lup

7:21 AM, 4th April 2023, About A year ago

It is so people can afford to pay for his ULEZ charges and fines. Does this apply to inner London, outer London or the whole of everything what is inside the M25 which is not London but he thinks it comes under his reign

Cawas Raval

12:56 PM, 4th April 2023, About A year ago

Scrap the ULEZ
Why don't you get your so called corporation in order

Gary Dully

9:30 AM, 5th April 2023, About A year ago

The arrogance of this buffoon is breathtaking.

He’s introduced a car levy of over £3000+ for residents and thinks he’s doing the planet a favour, but any landlord in hock with a bank is having to pay eye watering levels of interest charges and then gets taxed on it under section 24!

He then goes on a HATE speech campaign attacking the very individuals that stop his streets being flooded with hundreds and thousands of homeless people!

Will someone hold him down and let them explain what’s actually going on with a critically wounded property industry?

The rents have a max / min rental requirement by the lenders, which means they can ask for more equity and we have little choice but to raise the rents!

Dottore Gee

19:35 PM, 6th April 2023, About A year ago

How about a ULEZ freeze Mr Khan? "Our private rental market can’t continue like this — it’s not sustainable for Londoners who are struggling with other rising costs too." The same applies to your £12.50/day rip off!

Jordan

8:27 AM, 8th April 2023, About A year ago

Rents are too high. Why raise rent, is it better to keep a tenant, than have to spend money to fix or repair a unit and when wait for new tenant. Housing is a community affair. We all need to work together, so all can prosper, in this cruel world. 😆

Accommodation Provider

9:56 AM, 8th April 2023, About A year ago

Inflation is running at 14% - why do Khan and all the other politicians not understand INFLATION ? Inflation indices have been doctored and changed to bring them down - even with that inflation is 10.2% officially. I have two HMOs with bills included - absorbing all the energy prices tripling and doubling again all myself. Can everyone stop being angry at landlords who pay for everything and as the only group are forced into impossible EPC upgrades (that is blatant discriumination - why not force everyone and aggressively threaten them with £ 30,000 fines and imprisonment as councils routinely do with landlords ?) And don't any of these politicians smell the coffee - rental supply going down by a third over 18 months - due to vexatious impossible government imposed landlord penalties expensive certificates and Moron Truss doubling mortgage rates overnight. Government must create more supply give more planning permission and keep illegal immigrants out. Simple ! Now go do it instead of waste my tax money on endless enquiries with 80 highly paid people sitting in a room achieving absolutely nothing.

Elena Sh

11:05 AM, 8th April 2023, About A year ago

Why not to INVESTIGATE who STANDS BEHIND this Khan? He is just front of the particular group...
It is not his decision. He is one of the PUPPETS and rippers of the TAXPAYERS.
Why nobody of them speaks about food , energy and life cost cap?

Gary Dully

11:26 AM, 8th April 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Jordan at 08/04/2023 - 08:27
The rents are rising because the landlords have to pay massive interest rates back to banks every month, which they then get taxed on.
£500,000 houses with a mortgage interest rate of 8% on a 75% ltv is £30,000 a year in interest, which is then subject to personal income taxes less any S24 allowance.

The S24 allowance is the lowest of 3 figures, profit, adjusted income, or interest paid. So if you only make £1 profit you only get £0.20 as an S24 allowance, so the landlord has to raise rents to both pay the interest and the crippling S24 tax, which no other business is subject to.

If you went on Dragons Den and pitched a BTL business model as a private landlord, they would piss themselves laughing at you.

JB

12:30 PM, 8th April 2023, About A year ago

Reply to the comment left by Gary Dully at 08/04/2023 - 11:26Ha Ha. Someone should try going on Dragons Den!! It would certainly prove a point

Leave Comments

In order to post comments you will need to Sign In or Sign Up for a FREE Membership

or

Don't have an account? Sign Up

Landlord Tax Planning Book Now