Created on
03 May 2017
The Mayor, Sadiq Khan, wants to help the two million plus people who live in London’s private rented sector. That’s more than a quarter of all Londoners. Many have seen huge increases in the cost of renting in recent years and while most landlords offer a good service, a minority do not.
Sadiq knows that in the long-term we need to build more genuinely affordable homes for Londoners to rent and buy. In the short-term, he’s doing all he can to help Londoners who rent. The Mayor has:
- launched a new Rogue Landlord and Agent Checker and landlord reporting tool – the Checker and reporting tool will empower renters, support local councils and others to use their enforcement powers, and deter private landlords and letting agents from behaving unlawfully
- lobbied government to ban letting agent fees – He’s now working with the government to ensure this happens as quickly and effectively as possible
- helped over 100,000 Londoners get access to tenancy deposit loans – Thanks to his ‘Employer Pledge on Housing’ many London businesses now offer their employees interest-free tenancy deposit loans to help with the cost of renting in the capital. The Mayor has signed up all the GLA group organisations too, including the Metropolitan Police and Transport for London
- started building new homes at a London Living Rent – This is a new type of affordable rent set at below-market levels. Rents are based on a third of average local incomes. Paying less rent will put cash into people’s pockets so they can save up the deposit for a home of their own. Find out more about London Living Rent
- helped councils root out criminal landlords – He’s brought all the London boroughs together to form a new partnership to improve standards in the private rented sector. Sadiq is supporting councils who want to introduce local licensing schemes and target rogue landlords. He recently visited Newham to see one of these schemes in action
Find out more about the Mayor’s Homes for Londoners plans.