City Hall poll shows support for Sadiq Khan’s cap on rent hikes

Sadiq Khan’s hopes of replacing Boris Johnson as Mayor received a major boost after a City Hall poll revealed widespread support for his policy of limiting rent increases.

The Tooting MP and Labour mayoral candidate hopes to turn next year’s election into a “referendum on housing” and has announced a raft of policies aimed at helping the capital’s two million private renters.

One of his key pledges is to campaign to be allowed to limit rent rises, a power he says would make housing more affordable for Londoners but which critics claim could reduce the supply of homes available to rent.

A poll conducted in July and published on City Hall’s website last week suggests the policy could be a major vote winner for Mr Khan and boost his chances in next May’s mayoral election.

1,003 Londoners were asked a number of questions about life in the capital, including their views on how rent increases should be determined.

39% of respondents said increases “should be capped at a locally defined limit” while a further 32% said they should be “linked directly to the rate of inflation”.

Just a quarter of those asked thought “landlords and tenants should negotiate rent increases freely without limits.”

The poll is one of a regular series of surveys aimed at gauging public opinion and ensuring the mayor’s policies address Londoners’ concerns and priorities.

Speaking after it was published, Mr Khan said current mayor Boris Johnson had “failed to protect or support Londoners from rocketing rents, poor standards and unfair practices by lettings agencies.”

If elected he promised to be “a champion for the two million Londoners who rent – taking on rogue landlords and lettings agencies, establishing a London-wide not for profit lettings agency and demanding the power to limit rent rises.”
 
Last week a YouGov poll suggested Khan had a narrow lead over Tory rival Zac Goldsmith in the race to succeed Mr Johnson.