HOUSING campaigners are calling on the next Prime Minister to introduce rent controls to tackle the cost-of-living crisis, warning the government is “trying to fill a leaking bucket.”

The Renters’ Reform Coalition — an alliance of 18 major housing charities and renters’ unions — said today that capping rent inflation is crucial as rents have grown faster than wages in 11 of the past 15 years.

Proponents of rent controls say this would also support local high streets by increasing disposable income and reduce the cost of housing-related benefits.

Analysis by Joseph Rowntree Foundation shows that a rent cap could leave renting households almost £1,200 per year better off within four years, while reducing the overall cost of housing benefit by over £600 million.

Other major think tanks, including the Institute for Public Policy Research and the New Economics Foundation, have set out detailed proposals for rent controls or caps, and Labour figures have backed the policy.

Coalition director Clara Collingwood said: “The next prime minister has no time to waste in delivering real improvements in our lives.

“With rent growing faster than our wages for 11 of the past 15 years, any attempts to address the cost-of-living crisis without regulating rent will be like trying to fill a leaking bucket.

“Whether or not you rent your home, everyone is paying for this cost-of-renting crisis, as unaffordable rents drive up poverty and homelessness and create huge costs for councils and the government.”

Policies to cap rent rises have strong support, with over seven in 10 people backing controls in 2024 Ipsos polling and 78 per cent in YouGov polling this year.

Research from Common Wealth has found 44 per cent of landlords also support controls.