Nationalists propose rent controls in Wales
Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru and its leader Rhun ap Iorwerth risk angering landlords and letting agents by proposing a rent freeze or cap in its General Election manifesto.
Nationalist party Plaid Cymru would introduce rent controls in Wales if it won power in a move that would anger landlords and letting agents.
The party’s manifesto for the General Election says action is needed to ensure local people are not priced out of the rental market.
System of fair rents
“Our proposed Right to Adequate Housing Bill in Wales would include powers to introduce rent controls,” the manifesto says.
“Within the private rental sector, we believe in a system of fair rents and rent control so that they are affordable to local people on local incomes, and that individuals and families are not priced out of the area where they currently live.”
Strong opposition
Current Welsh housing minister Julie James, who is a Labour member of the Parliament, must end any prospect of rent controls in Wales, letting agents insisted when she was reappointed to the role in March.
Propertymark voiced strong opposition to a rent freeze or cap proposed by Labour, as was introduced in Scotland by the SNP.
Reacted angrily
And landlords reacted angrily to a proposed rent freeze or cap in Wales last year, warning it could “decimate” the rental sector.
A Welsh Government green paper suggested a limit on rent increases may help tenants as the cost of living crisis bites hard.
Plaid Cymru, led by Rhun ap Iorwerth (main picture), is currently the third largest party in the Welsh Parliament, with Labour ruling as a minority government, and the next elections are due in two years’ time.
