The National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) is wary about the prospect of rent controls being introduced but has conceded common ground with the new prime minister.
Amidst reports that Andy Burnham would seek to introduce rent controls, the NRLA has announced it has written to the new prime minister to outline its vision for the PRS.
Burnham has made housing central to his government agenda — appointing Angela Rayner as housing secretary and making former housing secretary John Healey chancellor — and the NRLA has agreed with much of his criticisms of where housing is falling short in the UK.
However, in a blog written by its CEO Ben Beadle, the NRLA has reaffirmed its opposition to rent controls.
“Back in 2016, as mayoral candidate, Andy Burnham pledged to ‘seek powers to regulate rent increases and property standards’ if elected,” wrote Ben.
“Fast-forward to February 2023, and he signed an open letter to the government calling for an immediate freeze on private sector rents until the cost-of-living crisis was over.
“In his first speech as Labour leader on Friday, he described the sell-off of council homes as leaving ‘the country chasing rents in the private rented sector through the benefits system’.”
Beadle pointed out that Burnham stopped short of any firm policy pledges in his public comments since then and sees several possibilities.
These, he explained, could include a national rent freeze or system of controls, or, in line with Burnham’s views on devolution, give regional mayors greater freedom to make their own decisions.
“Neither of these are good news — for landlords or tenants — and we will continue to make the argument that rent controls, regardless of their nature, only ever result in reduced options for tenants and lower housing standards, something that goes against all that he stands for,” added Ben.
BTL Insider has contacted the prime minister’s office for comment.
