Labour plan to cap rental increases

Ed Miliband has announced that private landlords would be banned from above-inflation rent rises over a three-year period if Labour wins power after the May 7 General Election.

The move forms part of a plan to help the growing number of people – known as Generation Rent – who are stuck in rented accommodation as home ownership falls to its lowest level for 30 years.

Landlords and letting agents would be required to disclose the rent paid by previous tenants, to allow renters to negotiate the best possible deal at the start of a contract.

And rogue landlords would lose buy-to-let tax relief if properties do not meet basic standards.

Speaking ahead of an address today in which he will spell out details of the plans, Mr Miliband described Labour’s blueprint as “a plan for a stable, decent, prosperous private rental market where landlords and tenants can succeed together”.

The move was welcomed by homelessness charity Shelter, which said that the current rental market was “not fit for purpose” because of short-term contracts, sudden rent rises, and huge lettings fees.

Tories call Labour’s rent cap proposals a ‘gimmick’

Housing minister Brandon Lewis, Communities Secretary Eric Pickles and London Mayor Boris Johnson are among some of the Tories opposing Labour’s cap on rents.

Mr Johnson told the BBC One Andrew Marr Show rental control would hit supply and ultimately increase prices.

He said: “I have some brilliant housing officials in City Hall. Let me tell you, they are not by any means all paid-up Conservative supporters, to put it mildly, and they all to a man and a woman think a policy of trying to impose rent controls is pure nonsense, a gimmick, wouldn’t work.”

Mr Johnson said he “sympathised deeply” with Londoners struggling to afford rising rents but said tackling problematic landlords was the key policy.

Are rent caps the answer?

Cordelia Lynch reports that Labour’s shadow housing minister, Emma Reynolds, told Channel 4 News that rent controls would not work in practice:

In Jan, shadow housing minister Emma Reynolds told #c4news rent controls wouldn’t work. Today, Miliband backed them.

— Cordelia Lynch (@CordeliaLynchC4) April 26, 2015

 

Labour pact: is Ukip considering doing a deal?

Ukip deputy chair, Suzanne Evans, tells Krishnan Guru-Murthy that she would not rule out a confidence-and-supply deal with Labour after the election:

Ed Miliband rules out ‘confidence and supply’ SNP deal

The latest poll in Scotland shows Labour remain on course for heavy losses to the Scottish nationalists in its heartlands north of the border.

Pressed on whether he would consider a confidence-and-supply deal with the SNP to ensure backing for a Queen’s Speech and Budget if he failed to secure an overall majority, Ed Miliband told BBC1’s Andrew Marr Show: “I am not interested in deals, no.”

Mr Miliband had already ruled out a formal coalition but had so far declined to comment on a potential looser arrangement with the Scottish nationalists – which had been seized on by the Conservatives.

He accused the SNP and the Conservatives of wanting to “set England and Scotland up against each other”, promising his party will represent the whole of the UK.

But SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon told Sky News: “I suspect Ed Miliband will change his tune once the votes are cast.”

Cameron cranks up the heat in economy speech

Protecting the economic recovery “matters more than anything”, David Cameron declared as he hit back at critics of his election campaign in a passionate rallying cry to Tory activists in Somerset.

In a punchy speech, he defended the decision to focus on risks posed to the economy by Labour and the SNP, insisting there was no “lack of drive” and saying claims he favoured the wealthy should be stuck “where the sun don’t shine”.

Life, politics and election in the last commercial shipbuilder on the Clyde

• Alex Thomson Chief Correspondent

“So that will all come down,” says Jim McColl airily, pointing at the handsome old red-brick facade and entrance to the shipyard.

“Yes – it’s a shame in a way but we need more room to expand the slipway and the yard.”

Wha? Stop. Cut. Rewind.

But yes – you got me right first time.

Here at Inverclyde, near Greenock, a shipyard boss is talking about expansion! Tell me when you last heard that word in relation to a shipyard anywhere in these islands?

A new hybrid ferry for CalMac – the Scottish government-owned island ferry company – is being welded together on the slipway beside us. Launching in December, Monaco-based Scot Jim McColl is in expansive mood as we talk about the excitement of a new ship going down a Clyde slipway.

Read more from Alex Thomson’s blog

Have Labour U-turned on rent controls?

Ed Miliband’s announcement that a Labour government would cap rents for private tenants have been attacked by Tories and landlords’ groups, but what do renters say? Cordelia Lynch founds out: