Andy Burnham, the newly elected MP for Makerfield and widely anticipated successor to Sir Keir Starmer as Labour Party Prime Minister, is facing calls to introduce an emergency brake on rent increases. The proposal, put forward by the campaign group Persuasion, would allow the state to limit rent hikes while accelerating the construction and acquisition of social homes.
Emergency Rent Brake Proposal
Persuasion has conducted a poll suggesting that populist cost-of-living policies, such as the rent brake, could help Labour fend off Reform UK in key constituencies. A spokesperson for Burnham stated that he has promised to give families “the breathing space they need by tackling rising costs.” The emergency brake would be part of a broader strategy to address the housing crisis.
Burnham's Housing Vision: £40 Billion for Council Homes
Burnham has expressed strong opposition to the current concept of “affordable housing,” advocating instead for a large-scale return to building traditional council houses. In an interview with The Telegraph, he outlined plans to invest £40 billion into constructing these homes. This borrowing programme, he argued, would represent the biggest state housing intervention since the 1970s. Additionally, Burnham supports suspending the Right to Buy scheme for newly built council homes in areas with acute housing pressure.
Reactions from the Sector
Landlord Zone has issued a warning that some proposals linked to Burnham’s housing agenda “are likely to concern parts of the sector.” In earlier speeches, Burnham argued for stronger powers for councils to compulsorily purchase non-decent private rented homes, alongside wider action to increase social housing supply. The suspension of Right to Buy on newly built council homes has also been a key element of his platform.
Broader Implications
Bishop and Sewell commented: “What isn’t in doubt is that housing is, and has been for a while, a priority for Burnham and during his time as Mayor of Manchester he has implemented many significant policies – it is therefore likely that this priority will not change if he goes through the doors of number 10, and that the housing sector in the UK could be in for some significant changes over the coming years.”
The emergency rent brake proposal and the £40 billion investment plan signal a dramatic shift in housing policy if Burnham becomes Prime Minister, with potential impacts for landlords, renters, and the broader housing market.
