Mayor pushes Government for rent controls, accepting Zoë Garbett AM's demands for renters

Created on

21 November 2024

Mayor pushes Government for rent controls, accepting Zoë Garbett AM's demands for renters

Pointing to the success of her Rent Commission earlier this month, which brought together renters, unions, campaigners and academics for a roundtable at City Hall, today Zoë Garbett took her campaign for rent control directly to the Mayor. [1]

Seated in the same chamber at City Hall, Zoë recounted how one renter on her Commission saw her rent jump £400 a month in her home of 20 years, and how she expected to be forced out in January at the next rent increase. Zoë emphasised how others described being driven out of their support network, harming their mental health and rupturing community ties.

When asked about whether the Mayor is pushing for rent controls to be included in the Government's forthcoming Devolution White Paper, which will lay out the Government's plans for devolving power out of Westminster, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said: [2]

"The Government's current policy is not in favour of rent controls, so we're doing what we can to try and persuade them to change their minds."

Following their exchange, Green Party London Assembly Member Zoë Garbett said:

"The Mayor already pledged to host a rent commission - all he must do now is follow through on his promise to Londoners.

"My sincere hope is that our commission this month proved it's not only possible to bring together such an incredible coalition of renters and advocates, but also urgently needed to address London's rent affordability crisis.

"I'm not saying I know which rent control will be best for London: I'm saying London's renters deserve to be having this conversation with their Mayor, so he can properly represent their interests to Government."

Notes to editors

[1] Abandoning rent controls 'failed experiment' and 'should be brought back' after 36 years

[2] English Devolution White Paper to set out how councils will "move to simpler structures", Autumn Budget reveals