Private rents are like a runaway train with no driver, leaving too many renters as passengers with no control over our lives.
The cost of renting has soared well above wages in recent years, with more and more of renters’ income being swallowed up by landlords. The impact rips our communities apart, causing poverty and homelessness, and leaving cash-strapped councils to pick up the pieces.
1988 was the last time we had rent controls in England. Since then rents have risen by 1,200%. If the price of our groceries had risen at the same rate, a standard ten-item shop would cost nearly £120, more than five times what it costs today.
Introduce a limit on rent hikes
Although the Renters Rights Act has limited how often landlords can raise rent to once a year, and made it easier to challenge a proposed increase, it’s still possible to face an unaffordable hike if rents on new tenancies are rising faster than wages.
A limit on how much landlords can raise the rent, linked to the Consumer Price Inflation level or local wage growth (whatever is lower), will stop landlords from pricing renters out of our homes.
We have a new Prime Minister in Downing Street who has made ending rough sleeping his first priority. His government needs to hear how important it is to slam the brakes on rents.
Will you send a postcard to the new Housing Secretary, Angela Rayner, that shows how absurdly high rents have risen in recent decades, and asks her to act? A physical postcard can be much more powerful than an email.
You can also sign up for updates about the campaign on the right.
Join the CAMPAIGN
Our campaign will only be successful if renters and supporters from across the country pull together. Whether it’s signing a petition or a letter to a Minister, sharing your story in the media or responding to one of our surveys, your voice will be critical to bringing down the cost of renting.
Sign up to get updates and the latest ways to take part in the campaign.
