The Mayor of London promised to build more than 6,000 rent-controlled homes and “pursue dodgy landlords” who don’t follow the rules by getting up to two years of rent back for tenants.
Labour’s Sadiq Khan says he will build these affordable homes with rents strictly linked to keyworker incomes if he is re-elected on 2 May.
The homes will largely be built by councils and housing associations, which will be responsible for identifying land for development.
However, in the private sector, Khan pledged to work with a future Labour government to ensure “licensing powers can be used to take action against the poorest-performing landlords.
“Tory ministers have previously blocked boroughs from using licensing powers that would allow them to take tougher action against dodgy landlords.”
Khan adds that he will support renters that chase bad landlords who don’t follow the rules to get up to two years of rent back.
The Mayor of London has no formal powers over the private rented sector.
However, Khan says he has previously funded council landlord and property license checkers and protected tenants against illegal eviction by making available cash for specialist support and Met police officer guidance.
He also renewed his call on the government to introduce a rent freeze across the capital.
Khan says: “Renters are at the sharp end of the country’s housing crisis and need a Mayor who’s prepared to fight their corner.
“I’ve been calling for the power to freeze rents in the capital for years, but the government has refused. I’m not willing to stand by and do nothing so I commit to delivering new rent control homes across London, with 6,000 in the first phase.
“These will be homes for rent which key workers and middle-income Londoners can afford.”
Khan is the front-runner to again lead City Hall, ahead of Conservative candidate Susan Hall.
However, reports say it has agreed to amendments from Conservative MPs that will pause parts of the legislation that paves the way to end no-fault evictions, also referred to as 21 repossessions.
Khan has accused the government of “selling renters down the river”.
But National Residential Landlords Association chief executive Ben Beadle said: “The government has a mandate to end section 21 repossessions.
“Our focus has been on ensuring that the replacement system works, and is fair, to both tenants and responsible landlords.
“The changes being proposed would achieve this balance.”
Also, last month, housing secretary Michael Gove told Khan to review the capital’s housing plan as it lags more than 25,000 homes a year behind target.
Gove wrote to Khan saying new housebuilding in London would need to jump by 37,200 homes a year to more than 62,300 homes to meet the capital’s current targets.
The housing minister said early findings of the review should be submitted to him by the end of June, followed by a full report by 30 September.
