Green Party leader Zack Polanski has called on the government to introduce a triple lock-style guarantee to limit rent rises and ease housing costs for young adults.
Speaking at the party conference in Brighton, Polanski said: “Today we are calling on this government to put in place a three-year emergency brake on private rents. No rent rises above CPI, wage growth or 2% – whichever is lower. No sudden hikes. No evictions under the guise of rent rises. No more uncertainty, no more fear. That emergency brake would give renters vital breathing space. Let wages begin to catch up with the rents that have outstripped them for far too long.”
Long-term Fair Rents Guarantee
Polanski outlined a longer-term plan to keep rents affordable for everyone, forever. “And in the long term, we’ll put in place a national Fair Rents Guarantee – to keep rents affordable for everyone, forever. That doesn’t just mean cheaper homes, it doesn’t just mean government savings. It will mean that people can stay in the places they love, close to their family and friends.”
Impact on young people and families
The Green leader said the measure would help young people take “those first amazing, exhilarating steps into independence” and allow young families to live near relatives. “Young families able to live around the corner from the in-laws, not crammed into their spare room.”
