Five Labour MPs have put forward an Early Day Motion in the House of Commons calling for rent controls – even though the party nationally is opposed to such a policy.

The MPs are Nadia Whittome (MP for Nottingham East); Rachael Maskell (York Central); Grahame Morris (Easington, and a former front bench spokesperson when Jeremy Corbyn was leader); Mohammad Yasin (Bedford); and Bell Ribeiro-Addy (Streatham). 

They are supported by the outgoing Green MP, Caroline Lucas.

Early Day Motions have almost no chance of becoming law but do present an opportunity to raise issues.

The six MPs’ motion on rent controls reads: “That this House notes the huge cost of private rents in England and increase in private rents since private tenancies were deregulated and section 21 no-fault evictions were introduced under the Housing Act 1988; recognises the challenges with accurately estimating average private rents but further notes historical data points to an average £410 per month rent across all private sector tenancies in 1990, in 2023 prices, and ONS data indicating the average private rent in England in February 2024 was £1,276 per month, suggesting roughly a threefold increase; 

“…is deeply concerned by the homelessness crisis and the 50% rise of homelessness in one year due to no-fault evictions and that English councils spent £1.7bn on temporary accommodation last year; further notes that the cost of private rented accommodation in England is higher and renters’ rights weaker than in European countries with rent controls and more secure tenancies; calls on the Government to establish an independent Living Rent Commission tasked with consulting on and designing a national system of rent controls with local flexibility and to provide powers to local councils to control rents in high rent areas; 

“…believes rent controls must be implemented gradually and fairly alongside a suite of policies to give renters security of tenure and to address the housing supply crisis, including a mass programme of zero-carbon social homes; and further calls on the Government to follow the example of Scotland and other European countries by legislating for rent controls in the private rented sector.”