In 2019, Mayor Sadiq Khan said London needed a ‘rent commission’ to help implement a system of rent controls. [1] Five years on, no such commission exists.
Recognising the urgency of London’s housing crisis, today Zoë Garbett AM brought together renters, renters’ unions, community groups, campaigners, think tanks and academics to discuss what a workable rent control could look like in London.
Seated around City Hall’s Chamber, Zoë’s commission discussed the main objectives of rent control, how rent control would be designed across London, and what data is missing for immediate next steps in setting up London’s Mayor to act when the time comes.
Panellists on Zoë’s commission included representatives from Shelter, Generation Rent, New Economics Foundation, ACORN, and the London Renters Union.
Reflecting after the meeting, Green Party London Assembly Member and London renter Zoë Garbett said:
“I am tremendously proud of the people – specifically the renters – who spoke up in support of rent control from City Hall today.
“We know homelessness is increasing, we know 95 per cent of low-income households can’t afford private rentals, and we know more and more houses are overcrowded. Rent control can't keep being just a talking point – it needs to be in the Mayor’s housing policy.
“I sincerely hope the Mayor is inspired by my commission, which proves that such a body is both possible and productive. Founding his own rent commission would not only fulfil a campaign promise, but assure Londoners, desperate for a solution to our city’s housing crisis, that their Mayor is ready to act.”
Following the positive example set today, Zoë hopes the Mayor will convene his long-promised commission to formally gather evidence and chart a path forward for more affordable rents.
Zoë Garbett will put Commission’s findings directly to the Mayor of London at the next Mayor’s Question Time on 21 November 2024 at 10:00am.
Notes to editors
Zoë supports a two-year freeze on private rents and the establishment of a rent commission to explore how the Mayor would implement any type of rent control. While at present the Mayor lacks the legal authority to do so, a formal rent commission would be able to gather, analyse, and disseminate data needed to act once such powers are devolved by government.