The landlords’ main trade body is directly challenging a Tory MP who has called for a rent freeze.

Natalie Elphicke - in an article on the Conservative Home website - says she wants to see “a newly shaped Department for Housing and Households” which would “robustly challenge the total costs of household bills.”

She calls for the “freezing all rents at their current rates for up to two years. In addition, no property could be re-let at a higher price during that period. This would ensure that the rent freeze cannot be circumvented by re-letting.” She claims this would save around £2,000 for the average renter, and up to £4,000 in London.

Full Article: https://www.landlordtoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2022/9/landlords-challenge-tory-mp-on-call-for-two-year-rent-freeze

But Ben Beadle, chief executive of the National Residential Landlords Association, saying that he agrees with Elphicke’s analysis of a shortfall in rental property supply. But he then asks directly: “I should be grateful if you could outline how this [two year rent freeze] would help address the supply crisis that tenants now face.” 

Beadle also gives chapter and verse on how rent controls in the Republic of Ireland have failed to improve supply or indeed the situation of tenants.