Senior UK ministers deride Rachel Reeves’s reported plan of year-long rent freeze

Senior ministers have poured scorn on the idea of freezing private sector rents for a year, less than 48 hours after the Guardian revealed Rachel Reeves was considering it. Steve Reed, the housing secretary, and Matthew Pennycook, the housing minister, became the latest government figures to criticise the idea, which has since been ruled out by No 10. The government’s split over the idea has fed speculation about Reeves’ job after reports over the weekend that Keir Starmer was intending to sack her after the local elections. Keir Starmer failed to guarantee she would remain in place during Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions, though Downing Street insists she retains the prime minister’s support. Pennycook said on Wednesday about the rent freeze: “We are not doing this. It’s not a credible or serious policy proposition.” He added: “I can’t remember how many times I’m on record of saying this government has no intention, does not agree with rent controls, and there are really good reasons for that. “We exhaustively went through the evidence of countries like Sweden, Germany, cities like San Francisco. Look at the Scottish experience. Now look at what happens to rent increases outside of tenancies where you have that form of control.” Some experts argue that rent controls bring down rents for regulated homes, but push up those that fall outside the policy, whether they are in the same area or nearby. …