Greens propose three-year cap on private rent rises 

“That’s why today I’m calling for a three year emergency brake on private rents.”

He added: “No rent rises above CPI, wage growth or 2% – whichever is lower. 

“No sudden hikes. No evictions under the guise of rent rises. No more fear and uncertainty.

“That emergency brake would give renters vital breathing space.”

He said: “Let wages begin to catch up with the rents that have outstripped them for too long. 

“And give the government time to develop a national Fair Rents Guarantee – to keep rents fair and affordable for everyone, forever.”

Carla Denyer, Green MP for Bristol Central, said: “I am so pleased that Zack has made a Fair Rents Guarantee a key part of his conference speech – keeping up the pressure on government on behalf of the millions of private renters in this country who have no choice but to transfer an unsustainable and growing proportion of their income straight into the bank accounts of landlords.

“The Green Party are leading the way on ending unaffordable rents in this country. 

“This is an issue I have pushed the government on every day that I’ve been an MP, and I have found their empty words and half-measures wanting.”

Denyer added: “It is totally unacceptable that ordinary people are forced to limit themselves and their life chances to try to keep up with sky-high rent payments. 

“This system is fundamentally broken, and the emergency brake would provide a much-needed reset while we work out the best long-term system of rent controls for our country.

“Successive governments have allowed ‘housing’ to trump homes, and prioritised the market over people’s wellbeing. This has to stop now.”

Timothy Douglas, head of policy and campaigns at Propertymark, said: “Tenants are facing genuine affordability pressures but rent caps do not address the underlying shortage of homes or the rising costs of providing and maintaining them.

“If policymakers want to make renting more affordable in the long term, the priority must be increasing housing supply and creating the conditions for responsible investment in the private rented sector.

“Propertymark has consistently warned against rent controls because they can have unintended consequences.”

Douglas added: “In Scotland, our members have reported rent increases between tenancies, stalled investment and landlords leaving the market following temporary rent caps. 

“Evidence from rent-control schemes internationally also suggests they can reduce investment and the supply of rental homes.

“Any policy to support tenants must therefore consider both the immediate impact on renters and the longer-term need to maintain and increase the supply of homes in an already constrained market.”