CaCHE evidence paper on rent controls published as part of Welsh Government’s drive to improve the rental market
As part of the Welsh Government’s recent Housing Green Paper consultation on securing a path towards adequate housing, a briefing paper commissioned from the UK Collaborative Centre for Housing Evidence (CaCHE) has been published.
Drawing upon CaCHE’s extensive recent research on different approaches to rent control in the private rented sector, the paper considers the debate around the implementation of some form of rent control in a Welsh context. It also looks at recent developments in Scotland relevant to these current debates in Wales.
The Welsh Government launched its Green Paper Consultation on June 6 in a bid to better understand the rental market in Wales, including the factors that influence both landlord and tenant behaviour, affordability, rent setting and high-level approaches to improving the supply and adequacy of rented housing. Committed to delivering affordable, good quality housing for all, the Welsh Government seeks to make private renting affordable for local people on lower incomes.
The briefing paper, authored by CaCHE Director Prof Kenneth Gibb and Knowledge Exchange Broker (Wales) Dr Bob Smith, is designed to help inform the consultation process. However, it makes the point that the private rented sector doesn’t exist in isolation; it’s part of the wider housing system. It also notes any form of rent control is not a cheap policy option and that robust data and good local market analysis are crucial in relation to developing an effective private rented sector.
It is also important that, if rent controls were to be introduced, there should be ready to use complementary policies, such as expanded social housing supply or practical ways for social landlords to acquire empty PRS stock.
Dr Bob Smith commented:
“The Green Paper is a welcome development, and it’s good to see our briefing paper and other recently commissioned Welsh Government research published concurrently to inform the consultation.
“We look forward to contributing to what I’m sure will be lively debates over the next few months. At the same time, Wales will need to consider how to address the need to fill the gaps in evidence and good quality data to inform future policy developments in the private rented sector.”
The Green Paper consultation will run until September 15 and will include workshops held around Wales to gather stakeholders’ views.
You can view the CaCHE briefing paper here.
Date: June 15, 2023 1:22 pm
Author(s): Glenn Corrigan
Categorised in: Governance
