London Mayor Sadiq Khan has renewed his call for rent controls, telling Assembly members this week that the policy remains his top priority for devolved powers. Khan maintains that capping rents is essential to improving conditions for tenants, though landlord groups argue it could reduce housing supply and drive up costs. 

Rent regulation was a key plank of Khan’s re-election platform, and he has consistently advocated for the measure since taking office. Pointing to Scotland’s rent freeze, he questioned why London should be treated differently and wanted to know: “Why can’t we have what Edinburgh has?”

Landlords in Scotland are pulling back—and rent controls might be the reason. 

A landlords association spokesperson says fewer landlords are registering, and many are thinking about selling up or shrinking their portfolios. He warns this could mean fewer homes to choose from and higher rents in the long run. 

Back in London, a new government paper on devolving powers has people talking. Mayor Sadiq Khan hopes it’ll give him the tools to finally bring rent caps to the city.

Despite mounting calls for rent regulation, the Department for Housing has reiterated its opposition to controls..

The landlord association told the Telegraph: “The Government will not allow rent controls in London or anywhere else. We will empower tenants to challenge excessive rent hikes through our Renters’ Rights Bill to give people housing security

The Renters’ Rights Bill won’t cap rents but it will give tenants more power to fight unfair increases. Landlords can still set prices based on the market, but they might face more disputes once the new rules kick in. 

And while rent controls remain off the table for now, Sadiq Khan isn’t backing down. With talk of Andy Burnham eyeing a challenge to Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, Khan seems to be keeping the issue alive—just in case the party’s stance changes.

A London letting agent Sarah Miles has stated that many landlords are “deeply uneasy” about the rhetoric. “Talk of rent caps, even if they don’t materialise, creates uncertainty.

“Investors want stability, and right now a lot are questioning whether London is worth the risk.”