A Labour government would aim to address what it sees as a power imbalance between landlords and renters by introducing ‘indefinite’ tenancies, the shadow housing secretary John Healey has announced.

Labour sees German-style indefinite tenancies as the answer to fixing what Healey described as a “broken housing market”, as it would offer renters greater security. Around one in five of tenancies are currently ended by landlords rather than tenants, he added.

Private tenancies in Germany last an average of 11 years, compared with about four years in England. Labour’s latest proposal marks a change from its pledge at the 2017 general election, when it committed to making private tenancies three years by default. The scheme is also intended to reduce the extent of rent increases.

Healey commented: “People shouldn’t be living in fear of losing their homes. The insecurity of renting is a power imbalance at the heart of our broken housing market, where tenants are afraid to report problems in case they are evicted, and families with children are forced to move at short notice. Many landlords provide decent homes that tenants are happy with, but the government is allowing rogue landlords to take advantage of good tenants. Renters deserve better.”