Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Landlords put rents up by 8% last year – and even more in London

The new figures make grim reading for tenants

Jon Stone
Friday 27 February 2015 18:06 GMT
Comments
Residential houses
Residential houses (Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Private landlords increased the rents they charge tenants by 8.2% last year, new government figures suggest.

The Government’s housing survey found that the average weekly rent for a property in England rose from £163 to £176.30.

But the rate of increase was even higher in London, with the average weekly rent hitting £280, up from £258.30 – an 8.4% rise.

The English Housing Survey is conducted annually by the Government’s Department for Communities and Local Government.

By the end of 2014 CPI inflation fell to a below-target 0.5%, meaning the large rise will hit tenants particularly sharply.

Polling conducted earlier this year found that the overwhelming majority of people support the introduction of legal rent controls on privately rented housing.

According to a survey by the pollster Survation only 6.8% of British people are against the idea of caps, with 59% in favour.

Labour had pledged to limit rent rises but not to reduce rents. The Green Party supports rent controls, as do some senior Labour members including former shadow minister Diane Abbott.

The Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, and Ukip are against rent controls.

The campaign group Generation Rent says landlords receive a total of £27bn in subsidies from the government in terms of mortgage interest tax breaks, capital gains tax loopholes, and housing benefit payments.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in