Proposals by the Mayor of London to introduce rent controls have been dealt a critical blow as figures show rents across the capital falling in real terms.

According to Office for National Statistics data published recently, in the 12 months to October 2019 private sector rents in the capital increased by an average of 0.9%. This is lower than inflation, which was 1.5% as measured by CPI and 2.1% as measured by RPI over the same period.

Research by the RLA has shown that around the world rent controls have been proved not to work, leading to a lower standard of housing and less choice for tenants. David Smith, policy director at the RLA, said: “(The) figures show how absurd proposals for rent controls are. Rents in London are falling in real terms yet the Mayor is failing to acknowledge this.

“If he wants to make renting cheaper it would be better to work constructively with good landlords to provide the new homes to rent the capital desperately needs. Without this, supply will fall, rents will go up, and tenants will have even less choice about where they live.”