Landlords and agents to vote on rent controls after city’s U-turn
Lawyers at Bristol City Council changed their advice after initially saying anyone with financial interest in rental property could not vote.
Landlords and tenants are to be allowed to vote at Bristol City Council after a ban was overturned, it has been reported.

Around 16 councillors were stopped from voting on and debating proposed rent controls in the city because council lawyers said there was a conflict of interest.
Now, the officials have changed their advice allowing the elected members who own property or are renting to cast their vote and join the discussions.
In the debate Labour and Green councillors backed a move to bring in rent controls in Bristol, and it was agreed, despite opposition from Conservatives.
The council does not have the legal power to introduce rent controls, but the City’s leaders are lobbying the government to change the law.
Other measures agreed included a rogue landlord database so tenants in Bristol could see which landlords have broken rules, and a living rent index.
Financial benefit
Councillors are not allowed to vote on issues where they could financially benefit, known as a ‘pecuniary interest’. But councils can make exceptions with a dispensation. The council’s values and ethics sub-committee is now likely to grant a four-year dispensation.
A report to the committee says: “A number of councillors had disclosable pecuniary interest as either tenants or landlords in the [rent controls] motion, and were therefore unable to participate in the debate or vote on the motion.
“There is a strong argument in favour of granting a dispensation”
“In the interests of ensuring that all relevant viewpoints can be expressed in such matters, there is a strong argument in favour of granting a dispensation to all councillors who have a disclosable pecuniary interest in land whether as an owner, landlord or tenant of public or privately owned property.”
Last year, Bristol said it wanted to lead a campaign to introduce PRS rent controls.