Angela Rayner Says Current Housing Reforms Are Already Helping Renters
UK Housing Secretary Angela Rayner has ruled out introducing rent controls in England, saying the government believes existing housing reforms are already improving protections for tenants.
Speaking to the BBC, Rayner said Prime Minister Andy Burnham is not considering rent freezes or rent caps, despite previously supporting the idea during his time as Mayor of Greater Manchester.
Government Says Rent Controls Are Not the Answer
Rayner argued that rent control measures introduced in other parts of the UK have not consistently reduced rental costs.
“I don’t think that rent freezes or rent controls are the way forward at the moment,” she said.
She noted that Burnham had called for temporary rent freezes in 2023 during the height of the cost-of-living crisis but said the situation has since changed with new housing legislation now in place.
Renters’ Rights Act Strengthens Tenant Protections
The government says the Renters’ Rights Act, which came into force in May, has already begun improving conditions for England’s estimated 11 million private renters.
Under the new law, landlords can no longer offer fixed-term tenancy agreements, making it harder to evict tenants without valid reasons.
The legislation also limits landlords to increasing rent only once a year and requires any increase to reflect the property’s market value.
Pressure Grows for Nationwide Rent Caps
Despite the government’s position, some political leaders continue to support rent controls.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has repeatedly called for powers to cap rents in the capital, while Green Party leader Zack Polanski criticised the government’s decision, arguing that rent controls would provide significant relief during the cost-of-living crisis.
Meanwhile, Scotland has already introduced legislation allowing designated rent control areas, where councils will be able to limit annual rent increases to a maximum of 6% from 2027.
Housing Target Remains a Challenge
Rayner also acknowledged that the government’s goal of building 1.5 million new homes by 2029 has become more difficult because of rising construction costs.
However, she insisted the government remains committed to meeting the target.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has pledged to tackle the cost of living through measures including lower household energy taxes and the return of England’s £2 bus fare cap, while promising to expand affordable housing across the country.
