Sadiq Khan, Labour’s choice for London mayoral candidate, has set out his housing policies – with possible rent controls high on the agenda.

Writing in the New Statesman in June, Khan – a south London MP whose relatively easy win in the Labour mayoral race took many political analysts by surprise – says that in addition to various land release and planning measures to build new homes, he will develop a new “London Home Bond”, purchased by investors to fund housing. 

He will implement a “50 per cent target for genuinely affordable homes” in new developments and will use planning powers to prevent Buy To Leave purchases. 

Critically, he then moves on to the private rented sector.

“I will do everything I can to protect Londoners renting in the private sector. I’ll introduce a new London Living Rent model …. linking rents to a third of income” and promises “to push the Government to give the mayor the power to freeze rents in the private sector.”

He says he will also create a social housing letting agency.