Rent controls lead massive clampdown on landlords by Green Party

The Green Party has released details of its first manifesto for the May elections – and it shows a fiercely anti-landlord stance.

The manifesto for the 2026 Welsh Senedd election, to be held on May 7, contains a series of pledges about the private rental market.

Many seek to copy the provisions of Labour’s Renters Rights Act which comes into force in England next month.

The Greens in Wales want:

• Rent controls, with the manifesto saying: “We will introduce a one-year rent freeze, including between tenancies, to provide immediate relief. This will be followed by rent controls, allowing Welsh Ministers to approve local authority Rent Pressure Zones where rent caps apply to keep housing affordable. Rent increases will only be permitted where landlords deliver genuine improvements to homes, particularly upgrades that improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions”;

• A ban on Section 21 evictions; 

• A non-specific pledge to “stabilise rents and give tenants the protections they deserve”;

• A ban on rental bidding wars “with penalties of up to £7,000 for accepting offers above the listed price”;

• The creation of an independent Housing Ombudsman “to resolve disputes and challenge unfair charges”;

• An extension of the existing Welsh Housing Quality Standard to the private sector “with stronger protections against damp, mould and unsafe conditions”;

• Ensuring landlords cannot unreasonably refuse tenants the right to keep pets;

• “Clarify landlords’ responsibilities to act on delivering reasonable adjustments for disabled tenants in properties which should include appropriate facilities for washing and bathing”;

• The existing Rent Smart Wales enforcement agency “will collect and publish rental data so local authorities can monitor rents and enforce caps effectively.”

This article is taken from Landlord Today