Majority of tenants support rent controls, survey finds

More than 80% of tenants support the introduction of rent controls as Prime Minister Andy Burnham considers reform of the rental market, according to new survey data.

A survey of 5,607 tenants conducted by SpareRoom this month revealed widespread backing for the policy, though industry bodies and lettings professionals have warned the measure could reduce housing supply and exacerbate the rental shortage.

Record rent levels

The survey comes as rental costs have reached record highs in six of the UK’s nine regions, with supply declining following the implementation of the Renters’ Rights Act. Matt Hutchinson, Director of SpareRoom, said: “Rents just hit record highs in six of the UK’s nine regions, and supply across the country has taken a battering as the Renters’ Rights Act came into effect.”

He added: “Although tenants are now better protected in the market, they are certainly not better off. Renters have been struggling with housing costs since the pandemic forced up prices steeply, and now supply is being squeezed, rents will only go up again unless action is taken.”

Supply concerns

Despite tenant support for rent controls, the SpareRoom research found that six out of 10 tenants understand the policy risks pushing landlords out of the market, potentially reducing housing supply and driving up rents in the long term. Hutchinson noted: “It’s easy to see why the majority of renters support rent controls – they’ll bring some much-needed relief from rent rises – but they won’t solve the underlying supply issue.”

The findings reflect broader challenges in the UK property market, where supply constraints have affected both sales and rental sectors.

Industry opposition

Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA), urged the government to rule out rent controls. “As Angela Rayner herself and the cross-party Housing Select Committee have all warned, rent controls would undermine the supply of the homes to rent so many tenants urgently need,” he said.

Greg Tsuman, Managing Director of Lettings at Martyn Gerrard Estate Agents, warned that uncertainty is damaging the rental market. “With new taxes coming into effect in less than eight months and the cost of borrowing surging, while landlords are still coming to terms with the Renters Rights Act, a rent freeze would spell disaster for tenants trying to secure a property,” he said.

Tsuman added that many landlords selling properties would prefer to keep them vacant rather than risk retaining tenants in situ, further reducing available rental stock. He suggested that reducing tax costs on letting would be more effective than rent controls in addressing affordability concerns.

Market implications

The debate over rent controls comes as the rental sector faces multiple pressures, including ongoing changes to how properties are marketed and regulatory reforms affecting landlords.

Beadle called for the government to focus on improving enforcement against rogue landlords and repairing the justice system to ensure the Renters’ Rights Act can be implemented effectively. The government has not yet confirmed whether it will proceed with rent control measures, though Burnham has acknowledged the policy is under consideration.