Housing secretary rules out rent controls
The housing secretary ruled out implementing rent controls, while the Prime Minister held his first meetings at Number 10 North in Manchester.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Housing secretary Angela Rayner has ruled out introducing rent controls in England, saying the government is not looking to implement them. Speaking as Prime Minister Andy Burnham held his first meetings at the new Number 10 North office in Manchester, Rayner said rent controls had not worked in Scotland and would not be adopted. She also described the Labour government's target of building 1.5 million homes over five years as 'challenged'.
Rayner, who returned to the role of housing secretary after a reshuffle, made the comments during a visit to the new Downing Street satellite office in Manchester. The office is intended to shift decision-making away from Whitehall and give more attention to regions that have felt overlooked. Up to 300 civil servants are expected to work there part-time.
The Prime Minister's first week in office has been marked by a series of cost-of-living announcements, including a £2 cap on bus fares across most of England from January and a cut to VAT on electricity bills. But the housing secretary's remarks on rent controls signal a clear limit to government intervention in the private rental market.
Rayner said: 'That is not something that we're looking to do because we've seen what's happened in areas like Scotland. It hasn't necessarily brought rents down.' She pointed to existing measures such as allowing tenants to challenge rent hikes at a tribunal and ending bidding wars for rentals as more effective ways to help renters.
The decision to rule out rent controls comes despite Burnham having previously spoken in favour of them. The Prime Minister has not commented directly on the issue since taking office.
Burnham's use of Number 10 North is part of his promise to run a more decentralised government. Critics have suggested his early focus on local transport and housing policies reflects a mayoral mindset rather than a national one, but the Prime Minister insists the new office represents a deeper change in how Britain is governed.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC One | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The government said the bus fare cap would be funded by reallocating spending, with reported costs around £450-500 million. | ||||
| Bus fares in most areas of England will be capped at £2 per single journey from January 2027. | · | |||
| The Prime Minister stated that there is no immediate change to tax thresholds, but it will be considered in the budget. | · | |||
| Andy Burnham held his first meetings at Number 10 North in Manchester. | · | · | · | |
| Andy Burnham's first visit as prime minister outside London was to Bath. | · | · | · | |
| Angela Rayner ruled out rent controls in England. | · | · | · | |
| Burnham said the bus fare cap was originally his policy as Mayor of Greater Manchester and that he worked with Boris Johnson to take it national. | · | · | · | |
| Burnham said the government would look at the personal tax allowance in the budget but did not commit to changing it. | · | · | · | |
| Lower income passengers felt the most financial benefit from the previous bus fare cap. | · | · | · | |
| Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride questioned the funding of the bus fare cap, saying the government's claims were vague and noting no money had been allocated to the digital ID programme. | · | · | · | |
| The government aims to build 1.5 million homes in five years, a target Angela Rayner described as challenging. | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This channel provided the most comprehensive coverage of the housing secretary's rent controls ruling and the opening of Number 10 North. It included direct quotes from Angela Rayner and analysis of the PM's early priorities, while also noting criticism that his ambition remains at a mayoral level.
- “The housing secretary Angela Rayner has ruled out rent controls in England to help with the cost of living”
- “That is not something that we're looking to do because we've seen what's happened in areas like Scotland It hasn't necessarily brought rents down”
- “the criticism that his level of ambition is still that of the mayor of Greater Manchester, but he's not talking about other big issues”
Sky News focused almost entirely on the bus fare cap announcement and the Prime Minister's interview, with no mention of rent controls or Number 10 North. The tone was neutral but included critical questions from the opposition about funding.
- “It was actually my policy originally as mayor of Greater Manchester, but I worked with Boris to take it national.”
- “I will always be honest with the public, that's my style.”
- “No commitment, no unfunded promise.”
ITV1's coverage across its lunchtime, West Country, and evening bulletins concentrated on the bus fare cap and the Prime Minister's stance on the personal tax allowance. The West Country edition highlighted the PM's visit to Bath and his commitment to devolution. No coverage of rent controls or Number 10 North.
- “It's simple, but it saves people money every day.”
- “He's hit the ground running, but he's certainly creating a lot of difficult trade-offs for his first budget.”
- “Andy Burnham has said he wants to do politics differently and his main crux within that is that he wants more devolution.”
5 News took a slightly more informal tone, highlighting the contrast between the two cost-of-living announcements and noting the Prime Minister's apparent surprise at the scrutiny over his tax threshold comments. No mention of rent controls or Number 10 North.
- “You wait ages for a cost of living policy and then two come along at once.”
- “Andy Burnham has come across as being slightly surprised that it was being talked of in this way.”
- “He's been in two guys. What he's got to do is make himself popular to the people.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.