The Green Party of England and Wales has passed a controversial motion at their annual conference calling for the complete abolition of private landlords, a move that would fundamentally reshape Britain's housing market and affect millions of tenants and property owners.
Radical Housing Overhaul Proposed
Delegates voted overwhelmingly in favour of phasing out the private rental market entirely, advocating instead for a massive expansion of social housing and community-led housing cooperatives. The motion represents one of the most radical housing policies proposed by a mainstream political party in recent history.
What the Green Party's Plan Entails
The proposed measures include:
- Implementing an immediate rent freeze followed by the introduction of rent controls
- Giving tenants a 'right to buy' their rented homes from landlords
- Establishing a new national register of landlords with strict licensing requirements
- Phasing out 'no-fault' Section 21 evictions immediately
- Massive expansion of council and social housing building programmes
Internal Divisions Surface
The motion has exposed divisions within the party itself, with Green MP Caroline Lucas reportedly renting out her own London flat. When questioned about this apparent contradiction, party co-leader Adrian Ramsay defended the position, stating that current MPs operate within the existing system while working to change it.
Industry Backlash and Warnings
Property industry representatives have reacted with alarm to the proposals. The National Residential Landlords Association warned that such measures would 'decimate the private rented sector' and reduce housing availability at a time when rental properties are already in short supply.
Political Context and Reaction
The motion comes amid growing concern about Britain's housing crisis, with rising rents and soaring house prices putting home ownership out of reach for many young people. However, critics argue that abolishing private landlords would create more problems than it solves, potentially leading to a mass sell-off of rental properties and reduced investment in housing maintenance.
The Conservative Party has condemned the proposals as 'extreme left-wing ideology' that would damage the housing market, while Labour has distanced itself from the Green Party's approach, focusing instead on its own house-building targets.
What Happens Next?
While the motion now becomes official Green Party policy, it remains to be seen how prominently it will feature in their next election manifesto. The party's growing influence in some local councils suggests these ideas could begin to influence housing policy at a local level, even if national implementation remains unlikely in the immediate future.
