Generation Rent is backing London Mayor Sadiq Khan by issuing a joint demand to the government for powers to introduce rent controls throughout the capital.

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Sadiq Khan’s office has released a forecast claiming that “unchecked private rents in London could soar to upwards of £2,700 pcm next year.”

In the joint statement issued on behalf of the London Mayor and Generation Rent’s chief executive Ben Twomey, Khan says: “These figures reveal the clearest picture yet of why rent controls are so necessary. Private renters make up nearly a third of everyone living in the capital, but they are being consistently let down by a Government that refuses to listen and take urgent action to protect them from even greater financial hardship. 

“Londoners re-elected me on a manifesto pledge to push for the powers to control rents and I will not stop advocating for this lifeline on their behalf. I am delivering on my promise to build a better, fairer and more prosperous London by building more affordable homes in the capital and providing vital support to Londoners through the cost-of-living crisis. It’s about time the Government did the same.”

Twomey adds: “Spiralling rents are driving families into poverty and on to the streets. That is why we support the Mayor’s call for devolved powers to take action to stabilise rents. The average London renter is already putting 40 per cent of their wages straight into their landlord's pocket, and this situation shows no sign of improving on its own.

"Controlling rents doesn’t address the lack of homes that allows landlords to charge so much on new tenancies. To tackle that we also need a big increase?in the supply of social and affordable homes, and the Mayor is right to call for funding to build as much of this as possible in London. Without action, Londoners will continue to face sky-high rents which are forcing the likes of nurses and teachers out of the city and hollowing out our communities."

Figures supplied by Khan’s office claims that half of children (49 per cent) in private rented homes are living in poverty.

Khan says: “If a two-year rent freeze were to be introduced renters could save £3,374 on average - with £887 saved in the first year alone and £2,487 in the second year.”

He says he wants the government “to deliver the £4.9 billion that is needed each year to build the affordable housing that is so desperately needed, and push for the powers to freeze rents to protect Londoners right now.”

Earlier this year Labour’s shadow housing secretary Lisa Nandy actually stated that if Labour wins the next election it will not introduces rent controls.

In June Nandy told attendees at a housing conference the introduction of rent controls is nothing more than a  “sticking plaster” which could only cause further cases of homelessness.