Sadiq Khan promises 6,000 rent control homes for London key workers: 'I'll be a renters' champion'

Sadiq Khan has promised to build at least 6,000 rent controlled homes for key workers if he is re-elected as mayor of London in next month’s election – and has been urged to bring in city-wide rent controls if Keir Starmer becomes prime minister.

Khan laid out the measure while outlining a new deal for renters, alongside a £4m London licensing hub to support boroughs taking action to support tenants, and promises to help renters get two years’ worth of rent back from rogue landlords.

“Renters are at the sharp end of the country’s housing crisis and need a mayor who’s prepared to fight their corner,” said Khan.

“I’ve been calling for the power to freeze rents in the capital for years, but the government has refused. I’m not willing to stand by and do nothing so I commit to delivering new rent control homes across London, with 6,000 in the first phase. These will be homes for rent which key workers and middle-income Londoners can afford.”

London had the highest annual percentage change in private rent prices across the UK in the year up to February, according to the Office for National Statistics, with rents up 10.6% to an average of £2,035 a month.

Khan’s efforts to convince the Conservative government in Westminster to let him introduce rent controls have so far fallen flat with ministers who claim the measure would lead to declining property standards.

However, the Scottish government recently committed to introducing long-term measures to cap rents.

Campaigners said the likelihood of a Labour victory in the general election should see Khan work with Keir Starmer to establish a Rent Control Commission to introduce rent controls across London.

“Sadiq Khan’s new deal will fall flat if he does not continue to push for the power to cap rents in London,” said a London Renters Union spokesperson.

“London renters are trapped in a cycle of instability and many will feel let down if Khan stops campaigning for city-wide rent controls under a Labour government. Six thousand new rent controlled properties will not bring security to the capital’s three million private renters who are living in fear that they will be forced out of their homes by an unaffordable rent increase.

“A third term offers Khan a once-in-a-generation opportunity to push a likely new Labour government and bring much-needed rent control to the capital.”

As well as building the rent control homes by 2030, Sadiq Khan’s manifesto for the 2 May election also includes plans to invest in support to help renters defend their rights, with advice, guidance and funding for groups such as renters’ unions.

He has promised to freeze City Hall funding for landlords whose properties fail to hit housing standards.

Khan accused Tory rival Susan Hall of being “in the pockets of the landlord lobby” and being silent on renters issues on the campaigning trail.

“This election is a close two-horse race and the choice is clear – someone who will introduce rent control homes and stand up for renters, or the Conservative candidate for mayor who has been virtually silent on renters’ issues and stands with the Tories on the side of the landlord lobby,” said Khan.

“I’ll be a renters’ champion in City Hall and work together with a future Labour government to deliver a new deal for renters across London.”

Khan has recently been on a collision course with the Conservative government over his housing plans.

Housing secretary Michael Gove wrote to Khan to launch a review into his London Plan, citing “chronic under-delivery” and the need to boost brownfield development.

Khan said last May that he had started to build more than double the amount of council homes in the rest of England combined. Last month he promised to build 40,000 new council homes by the end of the decade.

Tory mayoral candidate Hall has promised to build more family sized homes and vowed not to build tower blocks.

Hall said: “If Sadiq has been able to do this the whole time, why is he just announcing it now? Rent controls have never worked, and Sadiq knows it.

“His hair-brained plan would worsen the housing crisis for Londoners and shows he simply isn’t listening.

“I am listening to Londoners, and that’s why I would build more family sized homes, to increase supply – and therefore bring down rents.”