In the 20th Century, successive UK governments understood rent control measures to be essential to provision of affordable homes. From 1917, governments legislated for England & Wales accordingly. Both World Wars saw comprehensive rent freezes to prevent exploitation during housing shortages. But our current, market-based system leaves limited rent control mechanisms remaining for only those renters who have held the same tenancy since before the 1988 Act came into effect.
1915
Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (War Restrictions) Act
The first major rent control legislation, introduced during World War l, to prevent landlords from exploiting wartime housing shortages. Restrictions applied mainly to smaller, unfurnished, ‘working class’ homes.
Key Measures Froze rents at pre-war levels, restricted evictions, applied to properties under £35 annual value in London (equal to £2119 in October 2025) and £26 (approx. £1574 in October 2025) elsewhere.
1918
Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest etc. (Restrictions) Act
Restricted landlords’ ability to evict renters for their own occupation.
Key Measure Prevented anyone from buying a rented property and immediately evicting the tenants to use it for their own occupation.
1920
Increase of Rent and Mortgage Interest (Restrictions) Act
Extended rent controls post-WWI and raised the rateable value thresholds for controlled properties to cover nearly all rented homes.
Key Measures Increased thresholds to £70 in London (about £3695 in 2025) and £52 (£2744 in 2025) elsewhere, allowed some rent increases for improvements.
1923
Rent and Mortgage Interest Restrictions Act
1939
Rent and Mortgage Interest Restrictions Act
Reintroduced comprehensive rent controls at the outbreak of World War II, to prevent wartime profiteering.
Key Measures Froze rents at September 1939 levels, extended controls to previously decontrolled properties and strengthened eviction protection.
1946
Furnished Houses (Rent Control) Act
Extended rent control to furnished lettings for the first time, addressing post-war housing shortages.
Key Measures Created rent tribunals for furnished properties, established “reasonable rent” concept and provided security of tenure.
1957
Rent Act 1957
Major decontrol legislation that removed rent restrictions from more expensive homes, as well as from all new tenancies after a landlord secured vacant possession. This lead to the exploitation and intimidation of tenants by unscrupulous landlords, as they were incentivised to remove sitting tenants.
Key Measures Decontrolled properties over £40 rateable value (£846 in 2025), removed security of tenure for many tenants and allowed ‘market rents’ on vacant possession.
1965
Rent Act
The Labour government regulated tenancies with long-term security of tenure and fair rents assessed by
independent rent officers. The expectation of rent regulation, rather than rent control, was that rents would be set by the market and where landlords and tenants disagreed either could refer the rent to the rent officer service.
Key Measures Introduction of a ‘fair rent’ system and independent adjudication of rents to a formula.
Key Measures Brought furnished tenancies under the regulated tenancy regime; unified rent control system; strengthened harassment and eviction protections.
1974
Rent Act
Brought furnished rentals within the regulated rent regime and excluded tenancies with a resident landlord. Strengthened tenant protection and extended rent regulation to previously exempt categories.
Key Measures Expanded rent regulation to furnished homes; created ‘excluded occupiers’; increased penalties for harassment; expanded grounds for possession proceedings.
1977
Rent Act
Major consolidation. This legislation brought together previous rent control legislation together into a single, comprehensive framework.
Key Measures Consolidated regulated tenancy system, established statutory succession rights, created a comprehensive fair rent framework still in use today, in older tenancies.
1988
Housing Act
Legislation that largely ended rent control for new tenancies, introducing assured and assured shorthold tenancies.
Key Measures Created assured shorthold tenancies with ‘market rents’, ended new regulated tenancies, introduced rent assessment committees for assured (housing association) tenancies.
1996
Housing Act
Made assured shorthold tenancies (ASTs) the default form of private tenancy, further reducing rent control mechanisms.
Key Measures ASTs became the automatic default, simplified possession procedures, maintained limited rent challenge rights for tenants.
2016
Housing and Planning Act
Introduced standardized rent setting measures for social housing, including mandatory rent reductions.
Key Measures 1% annual rent reductions for social housing (2016-2020), new rent setting framework for social landlords.
2020
Coronavirus Act 2020 & Related Measures
Temporary rent control measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, including eviction moratoriums and weak rights to negotiate rent payment deferrals.
Key Measures Extended notice periods for evictions, temporary ban on evictions, right to negotiate rent payment holidays, with protection for commercial tenants.
today
‘the rent easts first…’
…as Eric Sirota wrote. He was referring to the situation in USA but the same is true here in London. In 2025, rents consume a disproportionately high percentage of income, compromising our access to other basic needs. As academic lawyer Dr Jessie Hohman said
‘It is quite clear, we are in breach of our UN obligations….It is possible to take policy steps to protect the most vulnerable and marginalised but the UK government has decided not to do that.’
History tells us how things could be very different and much better. As part of our right to an adequate standard of living, we want and need fairly-priced homes. Now, let’s stand together and fight for adequate housing; our human right.
