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Zack Polanski Fights for Survival at Greens Conference
The Green leader will argue the cap would give renters breathing room as average UK private rents rose 3.5% to £1,377, the ONS said.
On Friday, Green Party leader Zack Polanski addressed the party's conference in Brighton, calling for a three-year "emergency brake" on private rent increases to shield tenants from sudden hikes.
According to the Office for National Statistics, average UK private rents increased 3.7% in the 12 months to July 2026, while annual wage growth excluding bonuses stood at 3.5%.
Polanski proposed limiting annual rent hikes to the lowest of Consumer Prices Index inflation, wage growth, or 2%, alongside a "fair rents guarantee" to keep housing affordable after the brake expires.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies warned rent controls could trigger "unintended consequences" including demand exceeding supply, though Green MP Carla Denyer argued the policy would provide a "much-needed reset."
This proposal comes as the Green Party navigates questions over its national polling and relationship with Prime Minister Andy Burnham's Labour government, which recently enacted the Renters' Rights Act.