The Government looked to have drawn the battle lines against London Mayor Sadiq Khan yesterday when Felicity Buchan, Under Secretary of State for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, with responsibility for the Private Rented Sector, laid out her red lines and said rent controls led to “disinvestment in the sector”.

Delivering her first speech as Minister to the National Residential Landlords Association (NRLA) annual conference Buchan said that the Government does not support rent controls, warning that such a policy would lead to “disinvestment in the sector, which is not good for anyone”.

The pointed comments will come as a blow to London Mayor Sadiq Kahn who earlier this week reignited his calls for rent controls in the capital.

Critics of Khan argue rent controls would merely ‘wreck the market’ and cause a mass shortage of homes.

Speaking at the conference Buchan also said that the Government had accepted NRLA proposals to tackle anti-social tenants causing misery for neighbours and fellow tenants alike.

Addressing delegates, the Minister outlined the Government’s commitment to ensure its plans to reform the private rented sector work for responsible landlords as well as tenants.

Concerns

She made clear that the Government understood concerns about the impact its plans could have on the student housing market and pledged to look at what could be done to ensure they don’t damage this part of the market.

Likewise, she made clear the importance of the court system working “properly and efficiently” when Section 21 is abolished.

Ben Beadle, Chief Executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, says: “The NRLA has made clear that more needs to be done to ensure the behaviour of anti-social tenants can be tackled effectively when Section 21 goes.

“We therefore welcome the Minister’s acceptance of our proposal for a roundtable on the issue. It is vital that all key stakeholders representing landlords, tenants, the police and others can develop clear and workable plans to ensure neighbours and fellow tenants alike are not left at the mercy of nightmare tenants.”