Landlords warn Sadiq Khan's rent controls plan could hit housing supply

Landlords in the capital on Tuesday threw cold water over plans by Sadiq Khan to introduce rent controls if he is re-elected as Mayor of London.

Khan launched his re-election campaign by declaring the election is a “referendum on rent controls”, in a move the property industry cautioned could deter investors from building new homes.

The Labour mayor has previously called on the government for extra powers to cap rents in London.

He said if re-elected in May it represents an “undeniable and irresistible” mandate for the introduction of rent controls. He said: “The Prime Minister will have to give us the powers we need.”

But James Saunders, chief executive of Quintain, which is building thousands of rental flats in Wembley, said: “London hasn’t been building enough new homes for decades... rent controls will only make this situation worse.

“If rent controls were introduced into the build-to-rent sector, investment would diminish and once again renters would be left to deal with amateur private landlords.”