Oral Answers to Questions

Nadia Whittome Excerpts

Monday 20th February 2023 Commons Chamber

[Dehenna Davison]

I am sure the hon. Member will be very, very pleased to read the funding simplification plan we will be publishing in due course.

[Nadia Whittome (Nottingham East) (Lab)]

3. If he will give local government powers to set rent controls.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (Felicity Buchan)]

The Government do not support the introduction of rent controls in the private rental sector. Evidence suggests that they discourage investment, lead to declining property standards and may encourage illegal sub-letting, which would help neither tenants nor landlords.

[Nadia Whittome]

In September last year, a survey by the tenants’ union ACORN found that 48% of private renters had received a rent hike from their landlord since January 2021. Some increases were as high as 67%. In a cost of living crisis, that is fuelling poverty and homelessness. Will the Government act now to freeze rents, allowing vital breathing room while more permanent solutions to tackle spiralling housing costs are devised?