The Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) has published a paper calling for a rent "double lock" for private renters in England. The think tank is urging the Labour Party government to introduce private sector rent controls.
What is the Rent Double Lock?
The proposed "double lock" is similar to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) state pension "triple lock" but would link rent increases to either wages or inflation, whichever is lower. This measure aims to address the growing issue of unaffordable housing costs for millions of people.
Author's Statement
Maya Singer Hobbs, author of the paper, stated: "There are millions of people living with unaffordable housing costs, and if you want to bring those down quickly there are not many options. You could spend a lot more money on housing benefit, but that is expensive. You could invest in new supply, but that takes a long time to feed through into costs. That’s why we are calling for a rent cap, albeit carefully tailored."
Government Response
Chancellor Rachel Reeves told the Commons last month: "I will do everything in my power and use every lever we have to bear down on the cost of living, including for people in the private rented sector." This comes after the introduction of the Renters' Rights Act, which brought significant changes for renters.
Ban on No-Fault Evictions
From the start of May, section 21 notices, also known as no-fault evictions, were officially banned under the Renters’ Rights Act. This is considered one of the most major moves by Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government so far. A spokesperson for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government commented: "Banning no-fault evictions is the biggest change to renting in a generation and will free families from the misery it has created. We brought in this ban as swiftly as possible while giving the sector enough time to prepare for these seismic changes."
