Sadiq Khan demands powers to freeze London rent rise

New City Hall analysis, based on estate agents Savills forecasts, shows that halting rent hikes for two years would save Londoners an average of £2,998 across both years. Savings of £881 would come in the first year, and £2107.60 in the second.

Ofgem’s announcement of an average rise of £693 for energy bills from 1 April, spiralling gas prices and the Bank of England’s forecast that inflation will rise to over seven per cent have all motivated the move.

Khan’s call comes as City Hall and polling agency YouGov estimated that 25% of London’s 2.4 million privately renting adults had either fallen behind on their rent as a result of the pandemic, or said they were likely to do so.

Recent polling shows that 34% of Londoners have struggled to pay household bills in the last six months, with 13% having to either bypass essentials or rely on credit.

As renters are currently not equipped with further support, Khan said: “Rising fuel and energy costs – which will hit renters in energy inefficient homes the hardest – are already causing anxiety and stress.

“That’s why today (9 March) I’m calling on ministers to give me the powers to stop rents rising in the capital, and help me to give people a chance to get back on their feet after the pandemic”.

Alicia Kennedy, director of campaigning organisation Generation Rent, said: “The Mayor is right that renters need more protections from unaffordable rent hikes.

“It’s too easy for landlords to raise rent on tenants and it’s too difficult for renters to negotiate, or challenge a rent increase at a tribunal. Without intervention landlords can effectively evict their tenants by making their home too expensive for them to afford”.