Rent control campaigners have been criticised by a leading industry figure for ‘not listening’ and being unwilling to take part in any form of sensible debate about the nation’s housing challenges.

Paul Shamplina has made the comments after visiting the 100^th edition of the National Landlord Investment Show in London (main image).

During the demonstration a group of vocal and radical protestors gained entry to the show and shouted unpleasant slogans at visitors – including that all landlords are ‘parasites’ and ‘shove passive income up your arse’ while calling for ‘rent controls now’.

Meaningful debate

Shamplina tells The Neg that he tried to engage one of the protestors in meaningful debate.

However, the man instead “just shouted in my face so I walked away before it got ugly”, says Shamplina.

The protestors, who hailed from both the ACORN and London Renters Union organisations, have celebrated ‘crashing’ the exhibition and conference in Billingsgate, saying: “While landlords and property investors were thinking up the best ways to line their pockets, we took the microphone to demand rent controls and force them to listen to the realities of renting in London.”

The event was also attended by former Conservative housing minister Eddie Hughes, who told one of the conference sessions that although the Renters’ Rights Act was intended to ‘level the playing field’ between tenants and landlords, it was renters who were likely to be the immediate beneficiaries of its new regulations.