The Mayor of London is once again calling for rent controls in London as he demands that rents must be frozen to prevent mass evictions.

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Sadiq Khan is warning landlord that he intends to gain new powers to stop any rent increases for the next two years as he says that up to half a million of renters in London could face eviction due to rental arrears incurred because of the pandemic.

Khan is lobbying for the new powers in spite of there being little proof or evidence of rising rents in the capital.

His intentions are announced today in time for the evictions ban in England that was lifted yesterday Sunday 20th September.

The mayor is also asking the government to introduce grants for tenants to clear their rental arrears, as well as scrapping Section 21 evictions altogether and increasing welfare payments by putting an end to the benefit cap.

Khan said: "More than ever, Covid-19 means that many of London's private renters are facing a really uncertain future.

"More likely to be in lower-paid and insecure work, the end of the furlough scheme means even more renters in the capital are now at risk of pay cuts or losing their job.”

He added: “If Berlin can freeze rents for five years, there’s no reason London shouldn't be able to freeze rents for two years in these extraordinary times.”

Richard Merrick of PIMS, said: “Who really believes that if Khan does get the power to ban rent increases for two years that it will stop there as he has always advocated rent controls, which is about as useful as his badly named website – Cyclist Skills.”