Londoners have voiced strong support for rent controls as concerns mount over soaring rental costs, with the capital’s more than two million renters now spending an average of 40 per cent of their wages on housing.
A report published on Friday by Green Party London Assembly member Zoë Garbett called on Mayor Sadiq Khan to establish a commission to explore how rent controls could be implemented in the city. The report follows growing frustration over rising rents, which many tenants say are outpacing their earnings.
“We need to break this cycle of unaffordability and take control of the private rental market before even more Londoners are priced out of their own city,” Garbett said. “The evidence is clear: while increasing private housebuilding does not guarantee lower rents, introducing rent controls does.”
For many Londoners, the prospect of rent caps offers a lifeline. Patrick Dunne, 26, who shares a flat in Kennington, Lambeth, described the pressure of rising rental costs. “We started paying £540 per month each four years ago. Now we’re paying £780 each—a nearly 40 per cent increase,” he said. “My wages haven’t risen anywhere near that much. It’s impossible to feel secure when your living situation is at risk every year.”
Another renter, who lives in a shared two-bedroom property in Bromley, described her accommodation as “mouldy” and said she and her housemates were struggling to cope with escalating costs. “Rent controls are absolutely essential,” she said. “At the moment, I can’t see myself staying in London long term. I just can’t save while so much of my income goes toward rent.” With one housemate about to move out, her share of the rent is set to rise to over £750 per month—47 per cent of her income. “I wouldn’t even consider my house fit to live in,” she added.
While Khan has expressed support for rent controls, he currently lacks the authority to impose them. In 2019, he pledged to create a commission to design an effective system, but six years later, it has yet to materialise. The government under Prime Minister Keir Starmer has so far ruled out granting the mayor the necessary powers.
A spokesperson for Khan reiterated his commitment to making housing more affordable. “The Mayor is deeply concerned about the impact of unaffordable rents on London’s 2.6 million private renters and is determined to do everything in his power to address the crisis,” they said. “Sadiq is working with the government, local authorities, and housing associations to deliver more affordable homes. Last year, he unveiled a new key worker living rent scheme that could save frontline workers up to £600 per month, helping to build a fairer London for all.”